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ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot

Usage limits compared (ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot): message caps, reset windows and which plan you need → AI usage limits: which plan do you need?

See alternatives: ChatGPT alternatives · Microsoft Copilot alternatives

ChatGPT pricing

ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot compared with prices from official pricing pages (per-tool checked dates): plans, free tiers and which is better value.

Which should you pick?

Pick ChatGPT if price matters: $1.99/mo ($23.88/yr) less than Microsoft Copilot on monthly billing.

Free plan, refunds, privacy and more: see what else differs ↓

Price on monthly billing
ChatGPT $8/mo · Microsoft Copilot $9.99/mo (+$1.99/mo, +$23.88/yr)
Real free plan
ChatGPT: yes · Microsoft Copilot: yes
ToolPick Best Value pick
Neither — for ai assistants it is Le Chat (Mistral)

Rule: we only compare prices when the tools do the same main job (from what each official site says it does), and only on the same billing (monthly with monthly, billed-yearly with billed-yearly). A real free plan on only one tool comes first. Prices from official pricing pages, each with its own checked date below. No ratings or reviews. The cheaper pick comes from price alone; the Best Value label is shown separately and never replaces it — the same rule as on each tool page.

ChatGPTMicrosoft Copilot
What it isGeneral-purpose AI assistant: writing, research, images, voice.Microsoft's assistant; paid AI features come with Microsoft 365 plans.
All plansGo $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro from $100/mo (3 tiers); Business $25/seat/mo ($20 billed annually); monthly billingCopilot Pro no longer sold; Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/mo ($99.99/yr); Microsoft 365 Premium $19.99/mo ($199.99/yr), advanced Copilot (US prices)
Free tierFree: $0 (unlimited text chats on GPT-6, limits on tools)Free Copilot available
Checked2026-10-24 · pricing page2026-10-20 · pricing page

Beyond the price: ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot

Free plan limits, yearly savings, student and team deals, refunds and whether your data trains their AI, side by side. Every fact is from the tool's official page, with its source and the date we read it.

What matters to you?

Tap what matters to you. We tally which tool is ahead using only the facts in the table below.

ChatGPT vs Microsoft Copilot: free plan, yearly billing, student deal, team plan, refunds and data training
What you getChatGPTMicrosoft Copilot
Free plan
Free plan limits →
Yes: Free: $0 (unlimited text chats on GPT-6, limits on tools)source for ChatGPT (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-24Yes: Free Copilot availablesource for Microsoft Copilot (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-20
Yearly billing
Monthly or yearly? →
Plus: $20/mo, monthly only (no yearly plan)source for ChatGPT (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-11-01Not in our checks yet
Student deal
Student discounts →
None on its official pagesource for ChatGPT (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-24Ahead
50% off: 50% off Microsoft 365 Personal (includes Copilot)source for Microsoft Copilot (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-24
Team plan
Team plan costs →
Ahead
Business (standard seat): $25/seat/mo monthly ($20 billed yearly); from 2 seatssource for ChatGPT (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-26
Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on): $25.2/seat/mo monthly ($21 billed yearly)
Add-on: you also need a Microsoft 365 business plan (not included), so it isn't ranked. Yearly list price $21; the page shows a limited offer of $18.source for Microsoft Copilot (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-26
Refunds and cancelling
Refund rules →
Refund window: Possible within 7 days of the charge, if the subscription is unused (their call).
Cancel: Settings → Billing (or Account) → Cancel plan → Cancel (at least 24 hours before your next billing date)source for ChatGPT (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-27
Not in our checks yet
Trains on your data?
Data privacy →
Yes, by default (you can switch it off)
Free, Plus and Pro: OpenAI may use your chats to train its models unless you turn it off.
Opt out: Settings → Data controls → turn off “Improve the model for everyone”. Or ask “Do not train on my content” in OpenAI's Privacy Portal. Temporary chats aren't used for training.
Team plans: not used for training by defaultsource for ChatGPT (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-29
Ahead
No (doesn't train on your content)
New Copilot app (from August 18, 2026), personal account: your prompts, responses and files aren't used to train foundation models.
Team plans: not used for training by defaultsource for Microsoft Copilot (opens in a new tab) · checked 2026-10-29

“Ahead” means better on that row only, by a fixed rule: a free plan beats none; the bigger yearly saving; free student plan, then discount; the lower per-seat price on the same billing; a stated refund window, then case by case, then none; not training on your data, then opt-in, then opt-out, then no opt-out. No row is called when a tool hasn't been checked. See how we pick.

Who should pick which

Pick ChatGPT if…

  • You're buying seats: Business (standard seat) is $25/seat/mo on monthly billing (vs Microsoft Copilot $25.2).
  • You also need writing assistant and image generation (from what its own site says it does).

Pick Microsoft Copilot if…

  • You're a student: 50% off (50% off Microsoft 365 Personal (includes Copilot)).
  • You'd rather your chats and files weren't used for AI training by default.

More: best AI ai assistants tools · all ai assistants tools · cost calculator

Comparisons

FAQ

How much does ChatGPT cost?

Per its official pricing page (checked 2026-10-24): Go $8/mo; Plus $20/mo; Pro from $100/mo (3 tiers); Business $25/seat/mo ($20 billed annually); monthly billing.

Does ChatGPT have a free plan?

Free: $0 (unlimited text chats on GPT-6, limits on tools) (checked 2026-10-24).

How much does Microsoft Copilot cost?

Per its official pricing page (checked 2026-10-20): Copilot Pro no longer sold; Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/mo ($99.99/yr); Microsoft 365 Premium $19.99/mo ($199.99/yr), advanced Copilot (US prices).

Does Microsoft Copilot have a free plan?

Free Copilot available (checked 2026-10-20).

What is ToolPick's best-value pick for ai assistants?

Le Chat (Mistral): Pro at $14.99/mo, plus a free plan.

Which should I pick, ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot?

Pick ChatGPT if price matters: $1.99/mo ($23.88/yr) less than Microsoft Copilot on monthly billing (ToolPick rule using prices checked on official pricing pages).

Writing about this? Embed this price card — it updates when we re-check prices.