Best forMicrosoft 365 users
THE SIMPLE VERSION
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot can draft in Word, analyse in Excel, create a starting presentation, summarise Outlook and Teams, and answer over permitted Microsoft Graph content. It follows the signed-in user's access, so the quality and safety of results depend heavily on existing file permissions and source quality.
✓ A good fit if you want to…
- Already use Microsoft 365 for daily work
- Need help across documents, email and meetings
- Can audit permissions and verify cited files
– Choose another tool if you…
- Work mainly in Google Workspace
- Want a free standalone AI
- Expect Copilot to repair messy permissions or data
YOUR FIRST 10 MINUTES
Start in three steps
- 1Check eligibility and permissionsConfirm the base licence, enabled apps and files your account can reach.
- 2Use one approved sourceAsk for a summary that cites the exact files it used.
- 3Verify before actingCheck citations, calculations, recipients and meeting decisions yourself.
TRY THIS FIRST PROMPT
Using only the [approved Microsoft 365 files] I can access, create a one-page briefing. Cite each claim and list missing information separately.
POPULAR USES
What can it help with?
PLANS
Free or paid?
The published standard annual price for Copilot added to an eligible Microsoft 365 business plan.
Best when the organisation already has an eligible base plan.A current yearly bundle combining Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Copilot.
Best for a small business buying both together.Organisation deployment with licensing and controls matched to the tenant.
Best for centrally managed larger deployments.✓Free is enough if…you only need the separate consumer Copilot experience and not AI grounded in company Microsoft 365 content.
+Consider paid if…Microsoft 365 already holds the organisation's documents, email and meetings and permissions are actively managed.
*US annual prices checked on 24 August 2026. Microsoft displayed a temporary $18 Copilot Business promotion; we show the $21 standard price. Eligibility, auto-renewal, taxes and local pricing vary.
GOOD TO KNOW
Safety and privacy
No foundation-model training
Microsoft says prompts, responses and Microsoft Graph data are not used to train foundation LLMs.
Copilot follows permissions
It cannot repair files that were already shared too broadly.
Verify the work
Open cited files and check formulas, email recipients, slides and meeting decisions before use.
STILL CHOOSING?See the important differences side by side.
OFFICIAL EVIDENCE
Sources and freshness
We use official product and help pages for plan, access and privacy claims.
Microsoft 365 Copilot for businessCopilot pricingMicrosoft 365 Copilot privacyCopilot data and security
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams
- Business add-on, bundle and promotion wording
- Graph access, training and permission safeguards