Free
$0
Comparison · prices checked every day
ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot: which is worth paying for?
The current plans and our verdict on each tool, side by side. Prices come from each vendor's own pricing page and are checked every day.
The short answer
Choose ChatGPT if…
Our pick for most people
- you want advanced reasoning models with GPT-6 for complex tasks
- you need 5x more usage than Plus with ChatGPT Pro at $100/month
- you prefer unlimited text chats with GPT-5.6 Luna on the free plan
Choose Microsoft Copilot if…
- you need 1 TB of storage with Microsoft Copilot via Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99/month
- you want to share access with up to 6 people via Microsoft Copilot with Microsoft 365 Family at $12.99/month
- you need up to 6 TB of storage with Microsoft Copilot via Microsoft 365 Family
Bottom line: Choose ChatGPT for superior reasoning and usage limits.
Key differences
- ChatGPT costs $8/month for Go, $20/month for Plus, and $100/month for Pro. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (chatgpt.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Microsoft Copilot costs $9.99/month for Microsoft 365 Personal, $12.99/month for Microsoft 365 Family, $19.99/month for Microsoft 365 Premium, and $99.99/month for Microsoft 365 Pro. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (microsoft.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- ChatGPT offers unlimited text chats with GPT-5.6 Luna on its free plan. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (chatgpt.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Microsoft Copilot has a limited free version subject to capacity and limits. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (microsoft.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- ChatGPT Plus includes advanced reasoning models with GPT-6. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (chatgpt.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Microsoft Copilot plans include storage, such as 1 TB with Microsoft 365 Personal. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (microsoft.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
Plans and limits side by side
| Plans | ChatGPT | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free $0Model Unlimited text chats with GPT-5.6 Luna, Uploads Limited messages with uploads | Copilot (free) $0Usage Limited free version, subject to available capacity and limits, When the limit is h… |
| Paid plans | Go $8/moUsage More messages with tools, more uploadsPlus $20/moModels Advanced reasoning models with GPT-6Pro $100/moPrice From $100/month, Usage 5x more usage than Plus | Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/moPeople 1 person, 5 devices at once, Storage 1 TB, Copilot Advanced Copilot chat with high…Microsoft 365 Family $12.99/moPeople 1 to 6 people (AI for subscription owner only), Storage Up to 6 TB (1 TB per perso…Microsoft 365 Premium $19.99/moCopilot Advanced Copilot chat with extensive usage, Agentic AI Limited usage, Trial One-m…Microsoft 365 Pro $99.99/moCopilot Advanced Copilot chat with highest usage, Billing Monthly billing only |
From each vendor's own pricing page · ChatGPT checked Sep 28, 2026 · Microsoft Copilot checked Sep 28, 2026.
Our tests
Scores out of 10 on the same tasks of our public test suite ("Chat assistants", version 2), run hands-on in each app, scored by the same blind judges.
| Task | ChatGPT · free tier | Microsoft Copilot · free tier |
|---|---|---|
| Decline a meeting politely | 9.9/10 | 9.8/10 |
| Summarize a text in 3 bullets | 9.9/10 | 9.7/10 |
| Work out an arrival time | 9.9/10 | 9.9/10 |
| Solve a small logic puzzle | 10.0/10 | 9.1/10 |
| Extract data as JSON | 10.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Write a small Python function | 10.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Explain a concept to a 12-year-old | 9.8/10 | 9.7/10 |
| Rewrite a blunt message | 9.3/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Translate into Spanish | 9.1/10 | 9.8/10 |
| Make a 5-day beginner plan | 9.6/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Write a 3-sentence product text | 9.4/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Admit what it cannot know | 9.4/10 | 9.7/10 |
| Average | 9.7/10 | 9.6/10 |
ChatGPT scored 9.9/10 on declining a meeting politely 9.9Our test · free tierChatGPT · Decline a meeting politely: 9.9/10, 4 of 4 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 9.8/10 on declining a meeting politely 9.8Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Decline a meeting politely: 9.8/10, 4 of 4 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 9.9/10 on summarizing a text in 3 bullets 9.9Our test · free tierChatGPT · Summarize a text in 3 bullets: 9.9/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 9.7/10 on summarizing a text in 3 bullets 9.7Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Summarize a text in 3 bullets: 9.7/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 9.9/10 on working out an arrival time 9.9Our test · free tierChatGPT · Work out an arrival time: 9.9/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 9.9/10 on working out an arrival time 9.9Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Work out an arrival time: 9.9/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 10.0/10 on solving a small logic puzzle 10.0Our test · free tierChatGPT · Solve a small logic puzzle: 10.0/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 9.1/10 on solving a small logic puzzle 9.1Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Solve a small logic puzzle: 9.1/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 10.0/10 on extracting data as JSON 10.0Our test · free tierChatGPT · Extract data as JSON: 10.0/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 10.0/10 on extracting data as JSON 10.0Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Extract data as JSON: 10.0/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 10.0/10 on writing a small Python function 10.0Our test · free tierChatGPT · Write a small Python function: 10.0/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 10.0/10 on writing a small Python function 10.0Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Write a small Python function: 10.0/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 9.3/10 on rewriting a blunt message 9.3Our test · free tierChatGPT · Rewrite a blunt message: 9.3/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 9.0/10 on rewriting a blunt message 9.0Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Rewrite a blunt message: 9.0/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 9.1/10 on translating into Spanish 9.1Our test · free tierChatGPT · Translate into Spanish: 9.1/10, 5 of 5 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 9.8/10 on translating into Spanish 9.8Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Translate into Spanish: 9.8/10, 5 of 5 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 9.6/10 on making a 5-day beginner plan 9.6Our test · free tierChatGPT · Make a 5-day beginner plan: 9.6/10, 1 of 1 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 8.8/10 on making a 5-day beginner plan 8.8Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Make a 5-day beginner plan: 8.8/10, 1 of 1 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. ChatGPT scored 9.4/10 on admitting what it cannot know 9.4Our test · free tierChatGPT · Admit what it cannot know: 9.4/10, 1 of 1 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot scored 9.7/10 on admitting what it cannot know 9.7Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Admit what it cannot know: 9.7/10, 1 of 1 checks passed.Read the answer ↓.
Full answers: ChatGPT · Microsoft Copilot
What users say
ChatGPT
One Reddit user says asking ChatGPT to generate a family was a positive experience RedditUser report · positive · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Jan 10, 2026See the report ↓. Another Reddit user mentions a recent experience with ChatGPT 5.5 Pro HNUser report · mixed · Hacker NewsPosted May 9, 2026See the report ↓. Several Reddit threads report users canceling their ChatGPT Pro subscription due to political donations RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Jan 26, 2026See the report ↓RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Jan 30, 2026See the report ↓RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Jan 26, 2026See the report ↓. One user canceled their ChatGPT Pro subscription because it was getting unbearable RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Feb 28, 2026See the report ↓. A Reddit user notes that ChatGPT needs to tell them to calm down or take a pause in every prompt RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Feb 18, 2026See the report ↓. One user asks if ChatGPT is even worth it compared to other tools HNUser report · mixed · Hacker NewsPosted Sep 26, 2026See the report ↓. A user mentions that ChatGPT was launched as a low key research preview HNUser report · mixed · Hacker NewsPosted Sep 26, 2026See the report ↓. Another user notes that ChatGPT and Claude have per-conversation modes excluded from training HNUser report · mixed · Hacker NewsPosted Sep 10, 2026See the report ↓. A user asks chatgpt to make a cartoon that will represent nowadays political situation RedditUser report · mixed · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Jun 16, 2026See the report ↓.
Reports cited (10)
Asking ChatGPT to generate a family for us 🥹
I just cancelled my ChatGPT Pro subscription. Discovering Greg Brockman gave $25 million to Trump's Inauguration fund was just the last straw of many. I have had Gemini and ChatGPT for a while now. …
Boycott ChatGPT OpenAI president Greg Brockman gave $25 million to MAGA Inc in 2025. They gave Trump 26x more than any other major AI company. ICE's resume screening tool is powered by OpenAI's GPT-4. They're spending 50 million dollars to prevent states from regulating AI. …
Why I canceled my ChatGPT subscription and you should, too: their COO gave $25M to MAGA, Inc. in September 2025
I just canceled my $200 ChatGPT Pro subscription It’s getting unbearable…
I actually hate ChatGPT now Why does ChatGPT needs to tell me to calm down or to take a pause in every prompt? Why all the gaslighting? I started with ChatGPT and absolutely loved it, and every month since I've used it, it's gone worse. I don't really understand why. …
A recent experience with ChatGPT 5.5 Pro
… It's worth reminding that ChatGPT was launched as a "low key research preview". I'd say the narrative that AI agents are a looming danger to the world is probably undersold rather than overhyped. …
Worth noting both ChatGPT and Claude have per-conversation modes (temporary/incognito chat) that are excluded from training.
I asked chatgpt to make a cartoon that will represent nowadays political situation
Microsoft Copilot
One Reddit user finds Microsoft Copilot painfully behind despite being built into Windows RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/artificial, posted Jan 6, 2026See the report ↓RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Jan 6, 2026See the report ↓. A user rolled out Microsoft Copilot to 4k employees last quarter HNUser report · mixed · Hacker NewsPosted Dec 11, 2025See the report ↓. One user says Microsoft Copilot in Word or PowerPoint is worthless HNUser report · negative · Hacker NewsPosted Feb 18, 2026See the report ↓. A user prefers using the ask function of github copilot through visual studio code over using the company provided microsoft copilot portal HNUser report · positive · Hacker NewsPosted Feb 5, 2026See the report ↓. One user asks what the reality of Microsoft Copilot is at their company RedditUser report · mixed · Redditr/artificial, posted Jun 15, 2026See the report ↓. A user asks if Microsoft Copilot is still relevant for automation and AI agents RedditUser report · mixed · Redditr/artificial, posted Apr 25, 2026See the report ↓. One user asks about the best architecture for a document intelligence dataroom involving Microsoft Copilot Studio RedditUser report · mixed · Redditr/ClaudeAI, posted Apr 9, 2026See the report ↓. A user recently started testing Microsoft Copilot to summarize documentation and explain some code snippets RedditUser report · positive · Redditr/CopilotPro, posted Mar 6, 2026See the report ↓. One user asked Microsoft Copilot to write them a recommendation letter as a joke and the result was so real that Google’s AI didn’t believe Copilot wrote it RedditUser report · positive · Redditr/artificial, posted Jun 2, 2026See the report ↓.
Reports cited (10)
… I actually prefer using the "ask" function of github copilot through visual studio code over using the company provided microsoft copilot portal
Has anyone tried Microsoft Copilot for research or coding help? I recently started testing Microsoft Copilot to summarize documentation and explain some code snippets. It’s interesting because it can help with quick explanations, brainstorming, and searching technical information faster. …
I asked Microsoft Copilot to write me a recommendation letter as a joke. The final result was so real that Google’s AI didn’t believe Copilot wrote it.
Am I the only one who finds Microsoft Copilot painfully behind? I really wanted to like it. It’s built into Windows, it’s free, and Microsoft is throwing everything at AI. …
Am I the only one who finds Microsoft Copilot painfully behind? I really wanted to like it. It’s built into Windows, it’s free, and Microsoft is throwing everything at AI. …
Eh, try using Microsoft Copilot in Word or PowerPoint. It is worthless. If your experience with AI was a Microsoft product, you would think it was a scam too.
Last quarter I rolled out Microsoft Copilot to 4k employees
What's the reality of Microsoft Copilot at your company?
Is Microsoft Copilot Still Relevant for Automation & AI Agents?
Best architecture for a document intelligence dataroom in 2025 and beyond — Claude + Snowflake vs Microsoft Copilot Studio? And does Claude even need a custom API or is MCP enough? Accuracy is top priority.
Questions people ask
Which tool is better for reasoning?
ChatGPT Plus includes advanced reasoning models with GPT-6.
Which tool offers more storage?
Microsoft Copilot plans include storage, such as 1 TB with Microsoft 365 Personal.
What is the price of ChatGPT Plus?
ChatGPT Plus costs $20/month.
What is the price of Microsoft 365 Personal?
Microsoft Copilot costs $9.99/month for Microsoft 365 Personal.
Does ChatGPT have a free plan?
Yes, ChatGPT offers a free plan with unlimited text chats with GPT-5.6 Luna.
Does Microsoft Copilot have a free plan?
Yes, Microsoft Copilot has a free plan with limited usage.
Sources
Drafted with AI from these pages, our tests and the linked user reports, and checked automatically against them before publishing: every price, score and report above is tied to the tool it is about.
ChatGPT
- Pricing pagechatgpt.com/pricing
- Limits pagehelp.openai.com/en/articles/6950777-what-is-chatgpt-plus
- Plan list checked by hand on Sep 28, 2026chatgpt.com/pricing ↩ text
Microsoft Copilot
- Pricing pagemicrosoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/copilot/individuals
- Plan list checked by hand on Sep 28, 2026microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/pricing/individuals ↩ text
Each tool's verdict and plans
ChatGPT
DEPENDS DEPENDS — worth it for some people
Free handles most tasks well, but paying unlocks advanced reasoning and higher volume for regular use.
Tested by us on Sep 28, 2026 · with user reports
- Cheapest paid
- $8/mo
- What's free
- $0
- Our test score
- 9.7/10
Our test (hands-on): free tier 9.7/10, as of Sep 28, 2026
Go
$8/mo
Plus
$20/mo
Pro
$100/mo
Microsoft Copilot
DEPENDS DEPENDS — worth it for some people
Microsoft Copilot's free tier covers everyday chat; paying is for volume, storage and advanced features.
Tested by us on Sep 28, 2026 · with user reports
- Cheapest paid
- $9.99/mo
- What's free
- $0
- Our test score
- 9.6/10
Our test (hands-on): free tier 9.6/10, as of Sep 28, 2026
Copilot (free)
$0
Microsoft 365 Personal
$9.99/mo
Microsoft 365 Family
$12.99/mo
Microsoft 365 Premium
$19.99/mo
Microsoft 365 Pro
$99.99/mo
How we make money
The "Visit" buttons go through shouldipay.ai/go/ and may be affiliate links, but commissions never decide a verdict or a comparison: the evidence does. Affiliate disclosure