How to Use Microsoft Copilot: What's Free and How It Differs from ChatGPT (October 2026)
Curious about the Copilot button in Windows? Copilot's free tier still covers chat, image creation, and file uploads. Here's how to get started, what changed when Microsoft merged its Copilot apps in August 2026, how it compares with ChatGPT, and when a paid plan is worth it.
Have you noticed a "Copilot" button quietly appearing on your PC? Many people wonder how it differs from ChatGPT, and whether it's really free. This guide covers how to get started, what you get for free, and when to use Copilot vs. ChatGPT.
What Is It?
In short, Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant that answers your questions. You can use it on Windows PCs, in Microsoft's Edge browser, and through its mobile app. Under the hood, it also uses technology from OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT.
Getting started is easy. Open "copilot.microsoft.com" in a browser, or install the "Microsoft Copilot" app on your phone. Sign in with a Microsoft account (the same ID you use for Outlook or Windows) to keep your chat history.
What Changed?
On August 18, 2026, Microsoft rebuilt Copilot. The separate consumer and business apps were merged into a single "Microsoft Copilot" app. Personal and work accounts can live in the same app, but their data stays separated.
Some features were retired in the process.
| Feature | After August 18, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Chat, image creation, file uploads | ✅ Still free (with usage limits) |
| Podcasts | ❌ Retired |
| Group Chat | ❌ Retired |
| Deep Research (in-depth research reports) | Microsoft 365 Premium only (now called "Researcher") |
| "Mico" animated character | ❌ Reported as retired |
After the merge, files you use in Copilot are stored in OneDrive (Microsoft's online storage). Free OneDrive is capped at 5GB. If your photos already fill it up, check your available space first.
In short: quick questions and writing help are still free. Serious research, however, has moved to a paid plan.
How Can You Actually Use It?
Scenario 1: Catching up on the news on Monday morning
Try asking, "Summarize this week's yen exchange-rate moves in three lines." Copilot searches with Bing before answering and includes links to the pages it used. That means you can quickly verify the answer against the original articles.
Scenario 2: Drafting a work email
Ask, "Write a polite email asking a client to extend the deadline by one week." You get a draft in seconds, and only need to tweak it into your own words. ChatGPT's free tier can do almost exactly the same thing here.
Using ChatGPT only You open ChatGPT in a browser and switch tabs every time you have a question. For the latest news, you often end up searching again to double-check.
Adding Copilot to the mix Call it up instantly from the Windows taskbar or the mobile app. Use Copilot for research with source links, and ChatGPT for long-form writing and brainstorming.
Scenario 3: Making a cover for a family trip itinerary
Ask, "Create a cover illustration for our autumn trip to Kyoto," and Copilot generates an image. Image creation is available for free, but there's a daily limit on how many you can make. For a few family images, the free tier is plenty.
Copilot vs. ChatGPT at a Glance
| Point of comparison | Copilot (Free) | ChatGPT (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Microsoft | OpenAI |
| Easy access | Built into Windows and Edge | Open the app or website |
| Research | Bing search with source links | Supports web search |
| Chat volume | Usage limits apply | Effectively unlimited text chat since August 2026, per OpenAI |
| Word/Excel integration | Requires a paid Microsoft 365 plan | None (file uploads supported) |
Copilot's biggest strength is that it connects to the Windows and Office tools you already use. With Microsoft 365 Personal (¥2,130/month in Japan), Copilot also works inside Word and Excel.
What Does It Cost?
- ✓Chat, image creation, file uploads
- ✓Bing-powered answers with source links
- ✓Limits apply during busy times or heavy use
- ✓Not available inside Word or Excel
- ✓Full Office suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more
- ✓Copilot inside Office apps (monthly limits)
- ✓1TB OneDrive
- ✓1 user
- ✓Everything in Personal and Family
- ✓Higher Copilot usage limits
- ✓Researcher for in-depth research
- ✓Share with up to 6 people (AI for the owner only)
In the US, Microsoft 365 Premium is $19.99/month. For comparison, ChatGPT Plus costs $20/month. In Japan, there's also a cheaper "ChatGPT Go" plan at ¥1,500/month. If you already use Word and Excel for work, Personal is a good value since it bundles Office and Copilot.
Try free Copilot and free ChatGPT for a week each. Only consider Microsoft 365 once you find yourself wanting AI inside your Office apps.
Summary
Copilot is an AI assistant that offers chat, image creation, and file uploads even on its free tier. The August 2026 merge moved Deep Research behind a paywall, but everyday use is unaffected. Rather than picking one, we recommend using both: Copilot for research, ChatGPT for in-depth conversations.
Especially recommended for:
- People who use a Windows PC every day
- People who want to check sources (links) while researching
- People who want AI to speed up their Word and Excel work
For more on ChatGPT's free tier, see What You Can and Can't Do on ChatGPT's Free Plan. To compare Copilot with Gemini for work, check out Copilot vs. Gemini for Work.
Official site: Microsoft Copilot
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