Microsoft Copilot Plans Explainer
Are you interested in trying Microsoft Copilot but not sure where to start?
You’ve come to the right place!
Microsoft released its AI personal assistant in late 2023, gradually making it available to businesses, educators and consumers.
There are several ways you can use Copilot, whether it’s as a productivity booster, as a creative tool or by taking advantage of its integration with Microsoft 365.
Microsoft created five Copilot plans to cater to all users, from casual to highly technical, who want to customize their experience.
We’ll discuss them, how much they cost, what they include and why you might want to use that plan.
Copilot Versions at a Glance
Consumer Plans
- Standard Copilot (Free): Casual users testing AI for personal tasks
- Copilot Pro ($20): Power users, creatives, and entrepreneurs
Business Plans
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat (Free): General AI assistance grounded in web data that is free for Business license users.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot ($30): Businesses needing secure AI assistance grounded in work data and used for productivity
- Copilot Studio ($200): Organizations needing a fully customized AI assistant
Plan | Price | What It Includes | Who Would Use It? |
Standard Copilot | Free | Basic AI assistance; 15 AI image prompts per day; GPT-4 & GPT-4 Turbo (non-peak hours); Notebook feature for refining prompts; Copilot Voice | Consumers trying AI for basic tasks (emails, data organization, trip planning). Ideal for occasional users. |
Copilot Pro | $20/user/month | Everything in Standard Copilot plus: Priority access to GPT-4 & GPT-4 Turbo; 100 AI image prompts/day; Copilot in free web versions of M365 apps; Copilot in desktop apps (with M365 subscription) | Consumers who use AI daily (entrepreneurs, creatives). |
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat | Free for Business license users | Everything in Copilot Pro plus: Enterprise-grade security & compliance; protected chat; agent creation | Employees of SMBs looking to try web-grounded Copilot features. |
Microsoft 365 Copilot | $30/user/month (yearly) $31.50/user/month (monthly) | Everything in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat plus: Integration with Microsoft 365 apps & company documents; real-time Teams meeting summaries; unlimited AI image prompts | Employees of SMBs needing productivity boosts with secure AI assistance. |
Copilot Studio | $200/month | Build & customize your own Copilot; 25,000 messages/month; custom AI models using SharePoint, public sites or docs; generative AI plugins; enterprise-level security | Organizations or tech-savvy users needing a personalized AI assistant. |
Standard Copilot
What is it?
This is the free version of Copilot that anyone with a personal Microsoft account can use — even Mac users. It can be accessed on the web, Windows, MacOS, iPadOS, Apple phones and Android phones.
What does it include?
As it’s a free version, the features are limited. You can prompt Copilot with requests, just like ChatGPT, such as generating ideas for a blog post or finding recipes using certain ingredients. Copilot actually uses the same language model as ChatGPT, but the experience will look slightly different.
You also can:
- Generate and edit AI images (15 prompts per day)
- Gain access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo during nonpeak hours
- Use free plug-ins and GPTs (Designer, Vacation Planner, Cooking Assistant, Personal Trainer)
- Get access to the NoteBook feature, which helps with crafting, improving and revising prompts without chat dialogue
- Use Copilot voice, which allows you to speak to Copilot and hear it respond
Who would use it?
Standard Copilot is geared toward consumers who want to dip their toes into the world of AI. It allows you to get help with drafting an email, putting data into a table or finding fun things to do in a new city.
It’s important to note your chat data is not protected with the free version as it is in paid versions, so you don’t want to submit personal or proprietary information.
If you only plan to use Copilot occasionally and want to test out its features before diving in with a paid subscription, this is the plan for you.
Copilot Pro
What is it?
This is the paid version of Copilot ($20/user/month) that anyone with a personal Microsoft account can use. It’s available on all the same devices as Standard Copilot.
What does it include?
You get everything from Standard Copilot, plus a few bonuses that include extended usage of Copilot Voice and early access to experimental features.
You also can:
- Get priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo during times of peak usage
- Use 100 prompts per day for creating, editing and resizing AI images
- Get access to Copilot in the free web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook
- Get access to Copilot in the desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook if you have a separate Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription
“Microsoft released its AI personal assistant in late 2023, gradually making it available to businesses, educators and consumers. There are several ways you can use Copilot, whether it’s as a productivity booster, as a creative tool or by taking advantage of its integration with Microsoft 365.”
Who would use it?
Individual users who would use Copilot daily. It’s perfect for entrepreneurs who are jump-starting their businesses or creative individuals who need help with projects.
You still don’t have chat data protection benefits — unless you have a separate Microsoft 365 Personal or Family license — so be cautious about what you are submitting.
If you have a Business or Enterprise license, you cannot use Copilot Pro.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
What is it?
This is the free version of Copilot used for business purposes. It comes with any Business license (Basic, Standard or Premium) and is available on all the same devices as Standard Copilot.
What does it include?
Everything in Copilot Pro, plus protected chat that is not used to train the AI and Microsoft cannot access.
Advanced security features are what set this version apart from the previous two. It’s grounded only in web data, just like ChatGPT, but unlike ChatGPT, your chat data is protected.
You also get:
- Enterprise-grade security, privacy and compliance
- Copilot Pages: An interactive canvas that allows you to turn responses into editable and shareable pages.
- Copilot Agents: Mini versions of Copilot that have a defined knowledge base (specific websites, SharePoint folders/files, etc.)
Who would use it?
This version is solely meant for employees of small to medium-sized organizations who are looking to improve productivity and efficiency.
Since it comes with any Business license, it allows users to test out some of the Copilot features before they commit to the paid version.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
What is it?
This is the paid add-on of Copilot ($30/user/month paid yearly or $31.50/user paid monthly) used for business purposes. You must have a Business license (Basic, Standard or Premium) to utilize this version. It’s available on all the same devices as Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
What does it include?
Everything in Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, plus integration with Microsoft 365 apps.
It’s also grounded in web and your work data, meaning Copilot has access to your organization’s documents, emails and Teams chats to help you find what you’re looking for faster.
You also get:
- Real-time summaries and insights on meetings when using Microsoft Teams
- Unlimited prompts for creating, editing and resizing AI images
Who would use it?
This version is solely meant for employees of small to medium-sized organizations who are looking to improve productivity and efficiency.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is available without a Copilot add-on for Business license users, but the Copilot add-on allows it to be integrated with your organization’s Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
Copilot Studio
What is it?
A standalone platform ($200/month) that allows you to build your own “copilot” or personalize your own using pre-built templates. Whereas Microsoft 365 Copilot has access to everything in your organization, Copilot Studio starts from ground up, where you can expand its knowledge by giving it access to a public website, SharePoint sites or a specific document, personalizing the access that it has.
What does it include?
While technically it includes everything the other Copilot versions offer, it’s not really comparable, as you are starting from scratch to create something unique. Your data still is protected with enterprise-level security.
- Build, test and publish your copilots with 25,000 messages per month
- Customize Copilot for Microsoft 365 (Copilot for Microsoft 365 required)
- Access generative AI plugins to enhance copilot outputs
Who would use it?
An individual or organization that needs a Copilot experience personalized for their needs. It’s also great for technically savvy users who know a bit of coding and can use that experience to create their copilot. Coding knowledge is not required to use it, but it can help you build the copilot you want.
Increase Productivity and Efficiency with Copilot
Do you think your organization could benefit from a Copilot license? Contact us to schedule a consultation to see how AI can streamline your workflow.
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