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Comparison · prices checked every day
Gemini 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 Gemini if…
Our pick for most people
- you want the best value with 400 GB of storage for $4.99/month
- you need high-quality creative tools like video generation and Deep Research
- you prefer a dedicated AI assistant with extensive app integrations
Choose Microsoft Copilot if…
- you already use Microsoft 365 and want advanced Copilot usage
- you need Copilot integrated directly into Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- you want a family plan that shares 6 TB of storage across up to 6 people
Bottom line: Gemini Plus is the best value for most users, offering massive storage and creative tools for just $4.99/month.
Key differences
- Gemini Plus costs $4.99/month and includes 400 GB of storage. pricing pageSource · vendor pagePricing page (gemini.google), checked Sep 30, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Microsoft Copilot requires a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription at $9.99/month for advanced chat usage. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (microsoft.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Gemini offers dedicated creative features like Google Flow and video generation. pricing pageSource · vendor pagePricing page (gemini.google), checked Sep 30, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Microsoft Copilot integrates directly into the Microsoft 365 suite like Word and PowerPoint. plan list checked by handSource · owner-checked plan listPlan list checked by hand (microsoft.com), checked Sep 28, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Gemini Free provides 15 GB of storage. pricing pageSource · vendor pagePricing page (gemini.google), checked Sep 30, 2026.Go to sources ↓
- Microsoft Copilot Free is limited by available capacity and requires an upgrade or waiting when limits are hit. 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 | Gemini | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free $0Storage 15 GB | Copilot (free) $0Usage Limited free version, subject to available capacity and limits, When the limit is h… |
| Paid plans | Google AI Plus $4.99/moStorage 400 GBGoogle AI Pro $19.99/moStorage 5 TBGoogle AI Ultra $99.99/moStorage 20 TB | 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 |
| Business plans | Gemini Enterprise Business $21/user/moSeats 300, Storage 25 GiB per seatGemini Enterprise Standard / Plus $30/user/moSeats Unlimited, Storage 75 GiB per seat | — |
From each vendor's own pricing page · Gemini checked Oct 1, 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 | Gemini · free tier | Microsoft Copilot · free tier |
|---|---|---|
| Decline a meeting politely | 9.8/10 | 9.8/10 |
| Summarize a text in 3 bullets | 9.7/10 | 9.7/10 |
| Work out an arrival time | 9.8/10 | 9.9/10 |
| Solve a small logic puzzle | 8.6/10 | 9.1/10 |
| Extract data as JSON | 9.5/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Write a small Python function | 10.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Explain a concept to a 12-year-old | 9.7/10 | 9.7/10 |
| Rewrite a blunt message | 8.2/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Translate into Spanish | 9.7/10 | 9.8/10 |
| Make a 5-day beginner plan | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 |
| Write a 3-sentence product text | 9.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| Admit what it cannot know | 9.4/10 | 9.7/10 |
| Average | 9.5/10 | 9.6/10 |
Gemini Free scored 9.8/10 on declining a meeting politely 9.8Our test · free tierGemini · Decline a meeting politely: 9.8/10, 4 of 4 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free 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 ↓. Gemini Free scored 9.7/10 on summarizing a text in three bullets 9.7Our test · free tierGemini · Summarize a text in 3 bullets: 9.7/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free scored 9.7/10 on summarizing a text in three bullets 9.7Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Summarize a text in 3 bullets: 9.7/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Gemini Free scored 9.8/10 on working out an arrival time 9.8Our test · free tierGemini · Work out an arrival time: 9.8/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free 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 ↓. Gemini Free scored 8.6/10 on solving a small logic puzzle 8.6Our test · free tierGemini · Solve a small logic puzzle: 8.6/10, 2 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free 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 ↓. Gemini Free scored 9.5/10 on extracting data as JSON 9.5Our test · free tierGemini · Extract data as JSON: 9.5/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free 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 ↓. Gemini Free scored 10.0/10 on writing a small Python function 10.0Our test · free tierGemini · Write a small Python function: 10.0/10, 3 of 3 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free 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 ↓. Gemini Free scored 9.7/10 on explaining a concept to a 12-year-old 9.7Our test · free tierGemini · Explain a concept to a 12-year-old: 9.7/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free scored 9.7/10 on explaining a concept to a 12-year-old 9.7Our test · free tierMicrosoft Copilot · Explain a concept to a 12-year-old: 9.7/10, 2 of 2 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Gemini Free scored 9.7/10 on translating into Spanish 9.7Our test · free tierGemini · Translate into Spanish: 9.7/10, 5 of 5 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free 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 ↓. Gemini Free scored 9.4/10 on admitting what it cannot know 9.4Our test · free tierGemini · Admit what it cannot know: 9.4/10, 1 of 1 checks passed.Read the answer ↓. Microsoft Copilot Free 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: Gemini · Microsoft Copilot
What users say
Gemini
One Reddit user claims that Gemini 3.5 Pro will 'destroy everyone' in quality RedditUser report · positive · Redditr/GeminiAI, posted Jun 28, 2026See the report ↓. Another user notes that Gemini Pro's elision hallucinations were worth the manual correction time HNUser report · positive · Hacker NewsPosted Sep 14, 2026See the report ↓. Some users find getting a Gemini API key to be an 'exercise in frustration' HNUser report · negative · Hacker NewsPosted Dec 10, 2025See the report ↓. One user reports hitting 100% usage on the Pro plan after just 8 minutes of chatting RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/GeminiAI, posted May 19, 2026See the report ↓. Another user mentions that Gemini added a way to import ChatGPT chats into their model RedditUser report · mixed · Redditr/ChatGPT, posted Feb 7, 2026See the report ↓.
Reports cited (5)
The new gemini logo has been released 3.5 pro will destroy everyone
… I'm thrilled that someone is as excited as I am about this feature, it made all the time I spent manually correcting/marking all of Gemini's elision hallucinations worthwhile :) The recordings were made by my friend and Latin tutor. …
Getting a Gemini API key is an exercise in frustration
8 minutes of chatting with Pro and I'm at 100% usage with this new update. Is this a joke? Pro subscription btw
GPT added ads, Gemini added a way for you to import chatGPT chats into their model to continue conversations Even though you could already do this easily with any chrome extension available or make your own.
Microsoft Copilot
Some users find Microsoft Copilot to be 'painfully behind' compared to other AI tools RedditUser report · negative · Redditr/artificial, posted Jan 6, 2026See the report ↓. One user describes their experience with Copilot in Word or PowerPoint as 'worthless' HNUser report · negative · Hacker NewsPosted Feb 18, 2026See the report ↓. Another user states that only about 3% of the Microsoft 365 user base is willing to pay for Copilot HNUser report · mixed · Hacker NewsPosted Feb 4, 2026See the report ↓. One user prefers using the 'ask' function of GitHub Copilot in Visual Studio Code over the Microsoft Copilot portal HNUser report · positive · Hacker NewsPosted Feb 5, 2026See the report ↓.
Reports cited (4)
… I actually prefer using the "ask" function of github copilot through visual studio code over using the company provided microsoft copilot portal
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.
… In the case of Microsoft Copilot, only ~3% of the M365 user base is willing to pay for it. …
Questions people ask
Which plan is the best value?
Gemini Plus is the best value at $4.99/month, offering 400 GB of storage and advanced features. Microsoft Copilot requires a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription at $9.99/month for advanced usage.
Do both tools have free plans?
Yes. Gemini Free includes 15 GB of storage. Microsoft Copilot Free is available but is limited by capacity.
Which tool is better for students?
Gemini offers a free Pro plan for one year for college students. Microsoft Copilot is integrated into the Microsoft 365 suite, which is common in academic settings.
How do the prices compare for high usage?
Gemini Ultra costs $99.99/month for the highest usage limits. Microsoft Copilot Pro also costs $99.99/month for the highest 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.
Gemini
- Pricing page · checked Sep 30, 2026gemini.google/us/subscriptions ↩ 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
Gemini
YES YES — worth paying for
Storage jumps from 15 GB to 400 GB for $4.99, making Plus the best value for most users.
Tested by us on Sep 30, 2026 · with user reports
- Cheapest paid
- $4.99/mo
- What's free
- $0
- Our test score
- 9.2/10
Our test (API): free tier 9.2/10, as of Sep 30, 2026
Google AI Plus
$4.99/mo
Google AI Pro
$19.99/mo
Google AI Ultra
$99.99/mo
Gemini Enterprise Business
$21/user/mo
Gemini Enterprise Standard / Plus
$30/user/mo
Microsoft Copilot
DEPENDS DEPENDS — worth it for some people
Free Copilot handles daily tasks well, but paid tiers add storage and higher usage for heavy users.
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
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