Microsoft Copilot: what it does, what it costs, where it struggles
Microsoft's assistant, free on its own and built into Word, Excel, Outlook and Edge with a Microsoft 365 plan.
- Made by
- Microsoft
- Kind
- work assistant
- Free to try
- Free Copilot with limits; one-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Premium
- Where
- web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Edge, inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
What it does
The free Copilot app and website chat, write and answer questions. With a Microsoft 365 plan, Copilot works inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Cowork, in preview for personal accounts, can draft and send email, manage your calendar, edit Office files and use a browser by clicking and typing; for now it uses Edge on your own computer, and a remote browser is 'coming soon'. Copilot Tasks is moving into Cowork.
For businesses, Microsoft sells Copilot add-ons and bundles, and Autopilot (formerly Scout), an agent with its own identity, memory, computer and workspace.
Microsoft retired Copilot Podcasts, Deep Research and Group chat on August 18, 2026, and Copilot on TVs ends December 1, 2026.
Main features
- Free Copilot app and website
- Built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook with Microsoft 365
- Cowork: sends email, manages calendar, edits files, uses a browser (preview)
- Copilot in Edge
- Autopilot agents for businesses
What it costs
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot (free) | $0 | Chat with limits |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99/month or $99.99/year | Copilot in Office apps; no Cowork |
| Microsoft 365 Premium | $19.99/month or $199.99/year | Limited agentic use, includes Cowork; one-month free trial |
| Microsoft 365 Pro | $99.99/month | Monthly billing only; highest agentic usage |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Business add-on | $18/user/month | Was $21 |
| Business Standard with Copilot | $23.50/user/month | Yearly commitment |
| Business Premium with Copilot | $32/user/month | Yearly commitment |
Who it's for
- People who already use Word, Excel and Outlook
- Small businesses on Microsoft 365
- Windows and Edge users
Where it struggles
- Cowork for personal accounts is still in preview, and its remote browser is not live yet (Microsoft support).
- Microsoft warns Cowork may make mistakes or be deceived by malicious hidden instructions (Microsoft support).
- On Family plans, Copilot features go to the subscription owner only, and Personal and Family lose Cowork (Microsoft plans page and support).
- Texting and email channels for Copilot Tasks are not available in Cowork (Microsoft support).
- Microsoft has retired several features (Podcasts, Deep Research, Group chat) in 2026, so features can disappear (Microsoft support).
At a glance
| Microsoft Copilot | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Microsoft's assistant, free on its own and built into Word, Excel, Outlook and Edge with a Microsoft 365 plan. |
| Price | Copilot (free): $0; Microsoft 365 Personal: $9.99/month or $99.99/year; Microsoft 365 Premium: $19.99/month or $199.99/year |
| Free to try | Free Copilot with limits; one-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Premium |
| Does the task itself | partly Cowork sends email and uses a browser, in preview, on Premium and Pro; the free app mostly answers |
| Its own email address | no it sends from your own Outlook account |
| You can text it | no texting channels for Tasks are not available in Cowork |
| Its own computer and browser | partly personal Cowork uses Edge on your computer for now; business Autopilot agents get their own computer |
| Remembers you | Not confirmed for consumer Copilot on the pages checked; business Autopilot agents have their own memory |
| Where it lives | web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Edge, inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook |
Listed in: The best AI email assistants in 2026, The best AI agents for small business owners in 2026, The best ChatGPT alternatives in 2026.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Copilot free?
- Yes, the Copilot app and website are free with limits. Copilot in Office comes with Microsoft 365 Personal ($9.99 a month) and up.
- Can Copilot send email for me?
- Cowork, in preview on Microsoft 365 Premium and Pro, can draft and send email from your account.
- What is Copilot Cowork?
- A preview feature that does work for you: email, calendar, Office files and browsing in Edge.
Checked 2026-11-08 on Microsoft's own pages: Microsoft Copilot Plans for Individuals, Copilot Pricing Plans for Individuals, Microsoft Copilot Plans and Pricing for Business, Get started with Microsoft Copilot Cowork for personal accounts (Preview), Copilot App Updates for Personal, Work, and School Accounts, Introducing the new Copilot with Home, Code and Autopilot. Prices change; check the maker's pricing page before you buy.
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