ChatGPT vs Copilot: A Comparative Analysis of Leading AI Assistants

'I readily prefer this one': What I learned testing Copilot Pro and ChatGPT Plus side by side

Is one better than the other? It depends on what you're trying to do. It feels like artificial intelligence is in everything these days -- TVs, laptops, phones, websites, even PDF editors -- and that big boom can be attributed to the wild success of OpenAI's ChatGPT. Microsoft is doing its best to compete with its own Copilot AI chatbot, and both ChatGPT and Copilot are pretty good at providing answers, generating text and images, and holding conversations. Most importantly, they're both free to use. Related: Real ways I use ChatGPT to improve my life But ChatGPT and Copilot both offer paid plans in the form of ChatGPT Plus and Copilot Pro, respectively. Why would you pay for them when they're freely available? Are the extra benefits worth it? Well, if you're thinking about ponying up some cash on a premium AI chatbot and wondering which one is better for you, here's what you need to know about ChatGPT Plus versus Copilot Pro, based on what they offer and my own experience using each. Copilot Pro is a $20-per-month subscription that grants "priority access to [Copilot's] latest AI models, higher usage limits, and early access to new features." Basically, Copilot Pro is a more advanced and more capable version of the basic Copilot AI chatbot available for free. Copilot Pro first launched in January 2024 and has been updated several times since, integrating new GPTs and adding new features as they're released. For example, it got support for OpenAI's GPT-4o model in May 2024, and has since built on top of that with additional training to further differentiate it from ChatGPT's offerings. Signing up for Copilot Pro unlocks priority access to new models, allowing you to take advantage of better generative AI for more useful results; meanwhile, free users are sometimes restricted and don't have access to the latest AI models, mainly during peak times (e.g., when lots of people are using Copilot). On top of that, Copilot Pro users can use the Copilot Voice feature to speak with the AI chatbot in conversational mode, and they get 100 daily credits for creating images with Copilot (versus 15 for free users). You can also craft your own custom GPTs, which can be great for completing more specific tasks or acting a certain way based on your prompts. The real selling point of Copilot Pro, though, is its integration with Microsoft 365 applications. In Word, Copilot can draft, rewrite, and summarize documents. In Excel, Copilot can generate formulas, analyze data, and create visuals. In PowerPoint, Copilot can generate slides and outlines. In Outlook, Copilot can draft emails according to tone and summarize long email threads. In OneNote, Copilot can summarize notes, create to-do lists, and help you plan for the future. Microsoft is expected to further expand Copilot Pro integration throughout Microsoft 365 apps next year. But you'll need a Microsoft 365 subscription to make the most of Copilot Pro. Related: Microsoft 365's new Pages feature makes Copilot Pro crucial for teams ChatGPT Plus is a $20-per-month subscription that unlocks a number of additional capabilities in OpenAI's ChatGPT AI chatbot. For starters, it grants greater access to the latest GPT-4o model and better access to the service overall. If there's server downtime, free users are likely to be restricted but Plus subscribers aren't. You can also build custom GPTs for a range of uses. I've made a few of my own over the past year, but there are also a number of third-party GPTs that you might find useful for coding, travel planning, working with spreadsheets, teaching you languages, and much more. ChatGPT Plus can work with a range of data, too. You can upload documents, images, or PDF files for it to trawl through. It can summarize them, answer questions based on them, and in the case of images, it can edit them or even generate new images based on your prompts. It also understands multiple programming languages and has a Canvas editing tool where you can work on documents and code within a ChatGPT window while discussing it with the AI chatbot. ChatGPT Plus also has Advanced Voice, which lets you converse directly with ChatGPT in fluid conversational style with realistic intonations. You can choose from a range of voice options, both male and female, from different parts of the world. It can also adjust its tone and pacing, and it's even able to be sarcastic at times. ChatGPT Plus also has its own memory functions, which allow it to remember what you've talked about for improved contextual understanding of your prompts. Related: ChatGPT has its own AI search engine now I've used both Copilot Pro and ChatGPT Plus for a range of tasks over the past few months, and I've found them both to be effective, capable AI assistants. They each have some unique features, though, and one is sometimes better at certain things than the other. When it comes to software integration and availability, Copilot Pro definitively has an edge. It's available on mobile devices, on the web, in Windows, in Microsoft Edge, and across Microsoft 365 apps (if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription). Although I personally tend towards open-source software, you might find Copilot Pro to be exceedingly useful if you spend hours per day in Word, Excel, or Outlook. It's great for finding insights in your data, quickly drafting emails and documents, and summarizing items you'd normally waste a lot of time reading. Related: What can Microsoft 365's premium AI tool do? ChatGPT Plus comes out ahead as far as math and coding are concerned. I've used both tools to help me on game development projects, and though both were useful and both made mistakes at times, I found ChatGPT Plus was just more accurate overall. As a quick test, I asked both premium AI chatbots to help me calculate the odds of a certain outcome from certain dice rolls in a game I was playing. (I play board games with mathematicians and data scientists who can do this in their head. Sue me.) In asking: "On four d10s, what are the odds for getting one success, two success, three success, and four success, when trying to roll 3 or higher." Copilot Pro immediately told me: "When rolling four d10s, and needing a 3 or higher, each die has a 70% chance of success (since 8 out of 10 possible results meet this criterion)." Since there are eight possible successes out of 10, that's wrong; it's actually an 80% chance of success. ChatGPT Plus didn't make the same mistake and actually provided me with a more detailed breakdown of the odds at hand. (See screenshot above.) I then added further complexity in the form of dice being removed on failures, and it managed that, too. Copilot Pro worked fine after I corrected its mistake, but the issue is that I had to correct it in the first place. If I wasn't knowledgeable enough to spot the error, I'd be in trouble and not even know it. (You can imagine how bad that could be depending on what you're asking.) When I asked Copilot Pro to perform more advanced tasks, it refused -- until I enabled the "Think Deeper" mode, at which point it agreed and completed the task successfully. It was pretty slow, though. Both premium AI chatbots have capable voice modes, but again, ChatGPT Plus feels more fleshed-out and capable. It has a wider range of voices to choose from, and there's a more natural lilt to the way it speaks. Both services can change their tones and styles of speaking and can handle sarcasm, but Copilot still sounds like a program. ChatGPT Plus feels much more akin to a real person. It interrupts you, jumping in on pauses in your speech, treating them as its own turn to speak -- which can be annoying, but is far more realistic. Copilot Pro has a habit of being quite self-referential, so when asking it to roleplay as a dwarf in a tavern, it would say, "As a dwarf: I am [dwarf-name] and I..." rather than simply jumping into character. Related: Ways I used ChatGPT to improve my life this year One plus I will give to Copilot Pro is that it's definitely faster when not using Think Deeper mode. While ChatGPT Plus has become faster in its responses over the past year, its latest GPT-4o model takes a beat to think through its answers. Copilot Pro is almost instantaneous, despite being based on the same underlying language model. As far as image generation, both tools are effective -- and Copilot Pro can even search through free stock images for you when used within Microsoft 365 apps. Again, that's another point in favor of Copilot Pro for users who rely heavily on Microsoft's Office products. As capable as Copilot Pro and ChatGPT Plus are, they're both imperfect tools that need to be used in the right way, for the right purposes, in order to benefit from them. They're both great for augmenting your work and playing with a little AI assistance. Neither can operate entirely independently without editing or curation, and neither is strictly better than the other. But for my own needs, ChatGPT wins -- I readily prefer this one. I've found that ChatGPT Plus is generally more accurate and more capable, especially when using its Advanced Voice mode, and I don't use Microsoft 365 enough to truly mine Copilot for all it's worth. That said, if you're heavily into the Office ecosystem, Copilot Pro may be better for you, especially if you're already paying for M365.

OpenAI has finally launched its ChatGPT app for Windows -- here's how it compares to Copilot

With the recent launch of the ChatGPT app for Windows, users now have direct access to the popular AI model on their desktops. At the same time, many users have discovered Microsoft Copilot while using apps such as Word, Excel, and Teams, as it has already been deeply integrated into Microsoft's ecosystem. Both tools are powered by large language models (LLMs) and offer significant productivity boosts, but how do they compare? Let's take a look at their similarities and differences as well as which one is best suited for different users. Both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot assist with content generation, automation, and data analysis based on user prompts because they both use natural language processing (NLP) powered by OpenAI's GPT architecture. Because the content output will be similar, though not the same, you may find you simply prefer one type over the other. I found that ChatGPT's responses were friendlier and more conversational, which naturally made me drawn to it. However, some users may find a no-nonsense approach fits their style. ChatGPT's free tier provides basic access to its capabilities, so for users who want premium options including faster responses the latest GPT-4 model would be a better option. Similarly, the free version of Microsoft Copilot does minimal tasks, but more robust features can be found integrated into the Microsoft 365 subscription level. Where the models differ most is in their integration with existing software. Microsoft Copilot is seamlessly integrated within the Microsoft ecosystem and can pull data from one app to another. In addition, Copilot can access personalized data through Microsoft Graph, allowing it to do everything from draft emails and summarize documents to generate reports. The deep connection makes this AI model perfect for professionals who are already heavy users of Microsoft's tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. Yet, ChatGPT operates alone. It is a standalone app that can integrate with third-party applications via APIs. So, while it is not already integrated within an ecosystem, for that very reason, it is far more flexible and has a wider range of task capabilities. Its versatility allows it to handle everything from coding to creative content generation without the limits of a structured ecosystem. The versatility of ChatGPT may appeal to general users who aren't regularly using business applications since integrating ChatGPT into enterprise systems takes more effort. Another key distinction is the processing and utilization of data. Copilot excels in providing personalized, context-aware responses because it is so highly integrated within Microsoft apps. It can pull from emails, documents, or meeting notes and invites to provide tailored insights and suggestions. Because of this, Copilot is excellent when it comes to streamlining workflows to remain highly efficient in a business setting. ChatGPT, on the other hand, generates responses based on its extensive training data but lacks real-time access to personal or enterprise-specific information. Since the AI model is not integrated within an internal system, it is less able to offer contextual insights. Where it shines in creativity and generalized tasks, it lacks where personalized data is critical. Microsoft offers Copilot Studio, a platform where businesses can create custom AI solutions within the Microsoft framework, fine-tuning the AI to their specific workflows. ChatGPT also provides customization options via its APIs and a recently introduced no-code builder, but implementing these often requires more technical knowledge than the average user has compared to Copilot's plug-and-play model. The choice between ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot largely depends on your specific use case. Microsoft Copilot's strengths lie in enhancing productivity, particularly for those who rely on Microsoft 365 for daily operations. ChatGPT, on the other hand, offers broader applications across a wider range of tasks. Its flexibility makes it useful for developers needing coding assistance, writers looking for creative support, or general users who want help with their queries. Its multimodal capabilities, including DALL-E for image generation and Code Interpreter for data analysis, add further versatility. Both ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot are powerful AI assistants, but they cater to different needs. If you're deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem and need a productivity tool that fits seamlessly into your workflow, Microsoft Copilot is the ideal solution. However, if you're looking for a more versatile AI assistant capable of handling a variety of tasks from creative to technical, then you'll probably find yourself leaning on ChatGPT as your AI model. The decision ultimately depends on whether you prioritize integration and productivity or flexibility and customization.

4 things you can do in the ChatGPT Windows app that it does better than Copilot

Now that ChatGPT has its own Windows app, the question of whether it's worth picking over Microsoft's Copilot, which is already threaded throughout Windows 11, is front and center. With the two sharing the stage, you should learn where ChatGPT shines versus Copilot. So, we've assembled four reasons why you might prefer the ChatGPT app on Windows and where it stands out. Speedy access to a tool is always a major selling point, which is why Copilot's native home on Windows is appealing. But, with the ChatGPT app, you just have to press Alt + Space to open a chat window instantly. That's true regardless of what you're already doing or if you're juggling a bunch of other tasks. Imagine you're writing a document and want to ask AI for help improving your word choice or checking the grammar. You don't need to open the Copilot app; just press Alt + Space, type your query, and get an answer. Copilot often requires opening an app; even with a single button to open it, it still feels a little slower than the ChatGPT app. As someone who uses multiple devices that don't all use Microsoft operating systems, the most obvious benefit of the ChatGPT app is that it syncs my account and chat history to the web portal, my mobile app, and anywhere else I use ChatGPT. If I am using ChatGPT on my desktop computer with the Windows app and want to continue the conversation while taking the train, I can pull the conversation up and keep going, and vice versa, once I return home. On the other hand, Copilot is pretty integrated into Microsoft 365, which is fantastic for staying within Word or Excel but doesn't let me carry a conversation from my desktop to my mobile. So, if I ask Copilot to help brainstorm some ideas for a party, I'll need to wait until I'm on another Windows device before I can continue the conversation. ChatGPT's ability to stay connected across devices makes a big difference if you work on the go and want to keep all your AI conversations contained in one platform. One of the best ChatGPT features is its ability to analyze images you upload. Drop in a photo, and the AI will interpret what's going on in the image - something Copilot doesn't currently offer. I've regularly used this feature on the mobile app with complex charts or multiple seemingly contradictory parking signs on a street post, even with recipe photos to work out the ingredients. This kind of image-based assistance isn't part of Copilot's toolkit yet, so when visuals are all you have, and words aren't enough, ChatGPT is the go-to option. This is still more anticipation than actual reality, but the ChatGPT app for Windows will get access to OpenAI's GPT Store along with the plugins built by other companies to work with the AI chatbot. That means more customization and new ways to use the AI chatbot are on the horizon. For instance, you might link a content calendar plugin to ChatGPT to get its responses and other specialized tools. Copilot is great for how it blends with Microsoft's apps, but it otherwise doesn't have the kind of flexibility provided by the GPT Store (albeit still speculatively for now). So, while both the ChatGPT Windows app and the built-in Copilot provide Windows users with many AI tools and features, ChatGPT has enough unique perks to make it more enticing in many cases. That could certainly change as Microsoft continues to improve Copilot, but I suspect you'll see a spike in Windows ChatGPT usage and a drop in Copilot for the foreseeable future.