Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's AI assistant in Windows, Edge and Microsoft 365, from quick answers to drafting in Word and Excel.
- Category
- Chat and research
- Free version
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
- Website
- copilot.microsoft.com
Best for
- Windows and Edge users who want AI one click away
- Drafting and summarising in Word, Outlook and PowerPoint
- Analysing data in Excel with plain-language questions
- Companies already on Microsoft 365
Pros
- Free assistant built into Windows and Edge
- Deep integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on paid plans
- Business versions follow Microsoft 365 security and compliance
- Image creation and voice conversations included
Cons
- The best features require a Microsoft 365 subscription
- Several products share the Copilot name, which is confusing
- Less flexible outside the Microsoft ecosystem
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is the name of Microsoft’s AI assistant family. For consumers it’s a free chat assistant built into Windows, the Edge browser and a standalone app. For people with Microsoft 365, Copilot also appears inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, where it drafts documents, summarises email threads, builds presentations and analyses spreadsheets. For companies, Microsoft 365 Copilot connects to work data and respects the organisation’s permissions.
Key features
- Everyday assistant. Ask questions, get web-sourced answers, rewrite text and brainstorm ideas for free.
- In Word. Draft a document from a short brief, rewrite paragraphs in a different tone or summarise a long file.
- In Excel. Ask questions about your data in plain language, create formulas and highlight trends.
- In PowerPoint. Turn a document or an outline into a first version of a presentation.
- In Outlook. Summarise long threads and draft replies.
- Images and voice. Generate images and talk to Copilot in voice mode.
- In Edge. Summarise the page you are reading or compare information across tabs.
How to get started
- Open the Copilot app in Windows, go to copilot.microsoft.com or install the mobile app.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account to keep your chat history.
- Try a practical task: paste meeting notes and ask for a summary with action items and owners.
- If you have Microsoft 365 with Copilot, open Word and ask it to draft a document from a short description.
- In Edge, open the Copilot sidebar on a long article and ask for the key points.
Who Copilot is for
Copilot makes most sense for Windows users who want quick AI help without another app, and for businesses already paying for Microsoft 365, since Copilot works right inside the tools employees use all day. Office workers who spend hours in Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint get the most value.
Tips to get more from Copilot
- Reference your files. In Microsoft 365 apps, point Copilot at specific documents so drafts use your real content.
- Ask Excel for explanations. “Explain this formula” helps you understand inherited spreadsheets.
- Clean data first. Before analysis, remove repeated rows from pasted lists with the free remove duplicate lines tool.
- Standardise headings. Fix inconsistent capitalisation in document titles with the case converter.
Copilot vs alternatives
ChatGPT is the more versatile standalone assistant. Gemini is the equivalent choice for teams on Google Workspace. Claude is strong for long documents and writing quality. Notion AI is better if your team’s knowledge lives in Notion.
Is Microsoft Copilot worth it?
The free Copilot is a good, convenient assistant for Windows users. The paid Microsoft 365 integration is where Copilot really earns its place: if your day is spent in Outlook, Word and Excel, having AI inside those apps saves time on every email, report and spreadsheet. If you rarely use Microsoft’s apps, a standalone assistant is usually the better choice.
Holsha’s free text tools, such as the word counter, are handy companions for any document work. Compare assistants in the AI tools catalog.
Microsoft Copilot alternatives
- ChatGPTThe general-purpose assistant from OpenAI.
- GeminiGoogle's assistant, connected to Gmail, Docs and Search.
- ClaudeAnthropic's assistant, strong at long documents and writing.
- Notion AISearch, write and summarise inside your Notion workspace.
- PerplexityAnswers questions with sources you can click and check.
- NotebookLMUpload your files and ask questions about them.
Free Holsha tools that help
Microsoft Copilot: common questions
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes. The Copilot app and website are free with a Microsoft account. Using Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook requires a Microsoft 365 plan that includes it.
What is the difference between Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Copilot is the consumer assistant anyone can use. Microsoft 365 Copilot is the business version that works with your organisation's emails, files, chats and meetings under company security controls.
Is Copilot the same as GitHub Copilot?
No. GitHub Copilot is a separate product for programmers that suggests code inside code editors. Microsoft Copilot is a general assistant.
Can Copilot create images?
Yes. Describe an image in the chat and Copilot generates it. Designs can also be created in Microsoft Designer.
Does Copilot work on Mac and phones?
Yes. Copilot is available on the web, as apps for iPhone and Android, and on Mac, in addition to being built into Windows.