Last updated: April 2026​​​​​​​

Copilot is an AI assistant designed to help you complete tasks faster and more efficiently. It uses large language models (LLMs) to respond to your questions or prompts. Copilot is integrated into many different Microsoft apps and services including Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and you might need help understanding what works best for your needs and what you might already have access to.

This article describes the differences between the free version of Copilot, and the version of Copilot included in individual and business Microsoft 365 subscriptions. 

  • Microsoft Copilot (free) - This version of Copilot is available free of cost and is ideal for general questions and answers, people trying AI for the first time, and web-based tasks. You can access Copilot in your web browser at copilot.microsoft.com, download as an app on your desktop or mobile device, or use directly in Copilot in Edge.

  • Copilot in eligible individual Microsoft 365 plans - Copilot is available in individual subscriptions such as Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium and subscribers can access Copilot Chat in their web browser at microsoft365.com or download the app to your mobile device. The subscription owner has access to Copilot in the desktop apps which includes deep integration with documents, emails, spreadsheets, calendars and more. Usage limits apply (AI credits and limits for Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium).

  • Copilot in Microsoft 365 business subscriptions - Access to Copilot in eligible Microsoft 365 business subscriptions depends on your type of license. Users with a business subscription have access to AI chat grounded on the web, pay-as-you-go agents, built-in IT controls, enterprise data protection, and agent management. Depending on how your organization is configured you might also have access to Copilot directly in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote.

Learn more about each of these versions in the sections below.

In this article:

Microsoft Copilot (free)

Microsoft Copilot is available at no cost at copilot.microsoft.com.

Microsoft Copilot is your AI companion and understands your questions and requests, provides direct answers, assists with writing, and even creates images. Sign in isn't required, but signing in with your personal account gives you access to chat history, image creation, longer conversations, voice interactions, and other Copilot features. 

Access Copilot on Windows, macOS, mobile devices (iOS and Android), and Microsoft Edge header.

Microsoft Copilot (free) allows you to:

  • Chat with AI for help with writing, brainstorming, summarizing, and more.

  • Get real-time answers based on web search.

  • Use Copilot in Edge for webpage summarization and insights.

Learn more at Getting started with Microsoft Copilot.

  Screenshot showing free version of Copilot for user not signed in

Tip: Copilot features, functionality, and availability may vary by region. Learn more in Supported regions and languages in Microsoft Copilot.

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Individual Microsoft 365 plans: Copilot in Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium

The Copilot features available in individual plans such as Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium depend on which subscription you have and if you're the subscription owner.

To access Copilot in Microsoft 365, sign in with your Microsoft account at microsoft365.com, or download the app to your mobile device. Subscription owners can also access Copilot within the Microsoft 365 desktop apps.

Screenshot showing microsoft365.com home page when signed in with a Microsoft account that has a Microsoft 365 (home) subscription 

Tip: If Microsoft 365 Family or Premium is shared with you, you can access Chat at microsoft365.com by signing in with the Microsoft account associated with your subscription. Other AI benefits, such as Copilot in the desktop apps are limited to the subscription owner.

Subscription owners of Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium have access to Copilot in the Microsoft 365 desktop apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. AI usage limits apply. Learn more at Understanding AI Credits.

Microsoft 365 Premium users also have exclusive access to:

Learn more about Microsoft 365 Premium.

If your version of Microsoft 365 Family or Premium is through sharing, AI benefits such as Copilot in the desktop apps are limited to the subscription owner, but you can still access Chat at microsoft365.com by signing in with the Microsoft account associated with your subscription.

Not sure what subscription you have? Learn more in What Copilot license do I have.

Important: Copilot features in Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium subscriptions are subject to limits and can be used by subscription owner only. See Understanding AI Credits.

Learn more about Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, and Premium features and pricing.

Microsoft 365 business plans: Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot

What you can do and what you have access to with Copilot in Microsoft 365 business plans depends on how your organization is configured and the type of license your admin assigned you. Those with an eligible Microsoft 365 license will have access to Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat which gives you secure, enterprise-ready AI Chat. Your admin might also choose to assign you a Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on license which can help to increase employee productivity and streamline processes.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Copilot Chat is automatically included and available to organizations with an eligible Microsoft 365 license. With Copilot Chat, you have:

  • AI chat grounded on the web and powered by the latest models

  • Ask questions and do research

  • Summarize documents and web pages

  • Create images

  • Use pay-as-you-go agents for task automation

Copilot Chat includes standard access to capabilities like file upload, image generation, and LLMs.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an add-on license which includes all the features in Copilot Chat along with advanced AI benefits such as:

  • AI-powered Chat that can respond using your work data like files, emails, chats, people, and more.

  • Included access to agents based on your work data and to reasoning agents like Researcher and Analyst

  • Advanced features both in-app and in Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 apps

  • Meeting summaries and recaps in Microsoft Teams (if available)

  • Premium AI search and creation functionality

  • More security, privacy, and compliance features for IT admins

The Microsoft 365 Copilot license includes priority access for faster response times and more consistent availability.

Learn more in How Copilot Chat works with and without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

For details about features and pricing see Microsoft 365 Copilot. 

For privacy information see:

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