Short answer: No, Copilot and ChatGPT are not the same. ChatGPT is OpenAI's own chat product, while Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's assistant that runs on OpenAI's models plus Microsoft's own AI. They share a lot of technology, but they are made by different companies, live in different places, and have different pricing.
What they have in common
ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot both build on large language models from OpenAI, currently the GPT-5 family. Both can write texts, answer questions, generate images, and work through a simple chat interface: you ask a question, and the AI responds in natural language. This shared foundation is why the two often feel similar.
Who makes them
- ChatGPT is built and run by OpenAI. It is a standalone product with its own website and app.
- Microsoft Copilot is built by Microsoft. It uses OpenAI's GPT models through the Microsoft and OpenAI partnership, but Microsoft has increasingly added its own MAI models and, for some enterprise reasoning tasks, also offers Anthropic's Claude models. So Copilot is no longer simply "ChatGPT inside Microsoft" — it has grown into a multi-model assistant.
Copilot vs ChatGPT at a glance
| Aspect | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Microsoft | OpenAI |
| Underlying models | OpenAI GPT models plus Microsoft's own MAI models (and Anthropic Claude for some enterprise tasks) | OpenAI GPT models (GPT-5 family) |
| Pricing (2026) | Free tier; consumer AI features via Microsoft 365 Premium (about 20 USD/mo); Microsoft 365 Copilot for business about 30 USD/user/mo | Free tier; ChatGPT Plus about 20 USD/mo; Pro tiers up to 200 USD/mo |
| Best for | Working inside Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and Windows | Standalone chat, writing, brainstorming and coding help |
The main differences
Where they are used
- ChatGPT works via its own website or app. You open it, type your question, and get an answer.
- Microsoft Copilot is built directly into Microsoft products. You find it in Windows, the Edge browser, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
- Additionally, there is GitHub Copilot specifically for programmers (which we will not go into detail about in this article).
What data they can access
- ChatGPT only sees what you type directly into the chat window or upload yourself. It can also search the web.
- The free Copilot works similarly and includes live web search.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot (the paid business version) can access your emails, documents, calendars, and Teams chats — depending on your permissions — to generate personalized responses.
Main purpose
- ChatGPT is a flexible idea generator and explainer for almost any topic, independent of specific programs.
- Copilot is a productivity assistant within the Microsoft ecosystem, supporting you directly in Word, Excel, or Outlook.
- Especially in a professional environment, Copilot can save a lot of time if you work regularly with Microsoft programs.
Our tip:
If you mainly need creative help or general answers, ChatGPT is the better choice.
If you use Microsoft programs daily, the paid Microsoft 365 Copilot can be worth it. Not sure whether the free tier is enough? We cover that in detail in is Copilot AI free.
Costs in 2026 – a quick overview
- ChatGPT Free: Free. Includes a current GPT model, web search, and image generation, with usage limits.
- ChatGPT Plus: About 20 US dollars per month. Offers faster responses, higher usage limits, and earlier access to new models. Higher Pro tiers go up to 200 US dollars per month.
- Copilot Free: Free. Provides web search and image generation, integrated into Edge and Windows.
- Microsoft 365 Premium: Around 20 US dollars per month. This consumer plan replaced the retired Copilot Pro in late 2025 and bundles the Copilot AI features with the Office apps and cloud storage.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot (business): Roughly 30 US dollars per user per month, on top of an existing Microsoft 365 license. Enables deep integration into Office programs and access to organizational data.
Prices are approximate, quoted in US dollars, and vary by region and currency.
Data protection at a glance
- With Microsoft 365 Copilot for business, your organizational data stays within your own system (tenant) and is not used for AI training.
- With ChatGPT Free and Plus, inputs may be used to improve the models. Therefore, sensitive information should not be entered into the chat.
- ChatGPT Enterprise offers a data protection standard similar to Microsoft 365 Copilot and is specifically designed for businesses.
Which tool fits which situation?
If you want to write creative texts, brainstorm ideas, or translate content, ChatGPT is ideal.
If you work a lot in Word, Excel, or Outlook and want to become more efficient, you should use Microsoft 365 Copilot.
If you program regularly in development environments like Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot is the best helper.
For quick queries in the browser, the free Copilot in Edge or Windows is sufficient. If you are mostly deciding between the two, our detailed take on whether Copilot is better than ChatGPT can help.
What about meeting notes?
Neither Copilot nor ChatGPT joins your calls and transcribes them automatically. For that you need a dedicated meeting assistant. Sally joins your meetings in Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Webex, then transcribes, summarizes, and turns them into clear notes and tasks. It is GDPR-compliant, hosted on German servers, and already used by more than 5,000 companies. So you can keep ChatGPT or Copilot for writing and analysis, and let Sally handle the record and follow-up of every meeting.
Conclusion
ChatGPT is a standalone all-round chat assistant suitable for a wide range of tasks.
Microsoft Copilot, on the other hand, is an embedded assistant inside Microsoft programs, particularly strong in professional settings.
Both build on OpenAI technology, but they are made by different companies and differ significantly in where they are used, what data they access, and their pricing models. Depending on what you need, you can quickly find the right tool.
You can also continue reading here about AI transcription tools that make your life easier.
