Microsoft Copilot
by Microsoft Corporation
About this app
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI assistant, built on OpenAI's GPT-4o model and available completely free for users. Originally launched as Bing Chat in early 2023, Microsoft rebranded and expanded it into Copilot — a unified AI layer across its entire product ecosystem, from Windows and Office to the standalone mobile app. The headline value proposition is straightforward: you get access to GPT-4o quality responses without paying $20/month. Microsoft subsidizes this through its deep partnership with OpenAI and its enterprise Microsoft 365 Copilot business. On mobile, Copilot also includes free DALL-E 3 image generation through the Designer feature, which produces high-quality images from text descriptions — a feature ChatGPT's free tier does not offer. For users deeply invested in Microsoft products like Outlook, Teams, and Word, Copilot's integration advantages are substantial.
Features
- →Free GPT-4o Access — Get responses powered by GPT-4o — OpenAI's flagship model — at no cost. Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI means you don't need a ChatGPT Plus subscription for high-quality AI.
- →DALL-E 3 Image Generation — Generate detailed, photorealistic images from text prompts using DALL-E 3 via the built-in Designer feature — completely free, no subscription required.
- →Voice Conversations — Speak naturally to Copilot and get spoken responses. Works well for hands-free queries while commuting, cooking, or exercising.
- →Microsoft 365 Integration — Subscribers to Microsoft 365 can use Copilot directly inside Word, Outlook, and Teams to draft documents, summarize email threads, and generate presentations.
Final take
Copilot's biggest selling point is also its simplest: it gives you GPT-4o for free. For casual users who don't want to pay for ChatGPT Plus, Copilot is a genuinely excellent alternative — especially if you want free image generation or already use Microsoft products. Where it falls short is in the depth of its ecosystem, the quality of its mobile-first experience, and its tendency to be overly cautious. It is not a replacement for ChatGPT Plus or Claude Pro for power users. But as a free daily driver for questions, writing, and image generation, it punches well above its price point.
Pros
- ✓Free access to GPT-4o powered responses — no subscription needed for basics
- ✓DALL-E 3 image generation included at no extra cost
- ✓Seamlessly integrated with Microsoft 365 apps if you're in that ecosystem
- ✓Designer tool helps create polished visuals from text descriptions
Cons
- ✗Microsoft account required — no guest or anonymous access
- ✗Lags behind ChatGPT and Claude in reasoning benchmarks
- ✗App feels cluttered with Microsoft branding and cross-promotion
