TL;DR
- What it is (2 sentences): Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant embedded across Microsoft products (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, Windows, etc.) and sold as part of Microsoft 365 or as a Copilot add-on; ChatGPT (OpenAI) is a standalone conversational AI platform (with Free, Plus, Pro/Business tiers and an API) that you can use via chat.openai.com, apps, or API. Microsoft+1
- Who it’s for: Choose Copilot if your work lives inside Microsoft 365 and you need context-aware, enterprise-controlled assistance; choose ChatGPT if you want a flexible, multi-purpose conversational assistant, API access, or a wider ecosystem of GPTs/plugins. Microsoft+1
- What you’ll learn: integration differences, top features, pricing reality, real-user pros/cons, and clear recommendations.
- Estimated reading time: ~8 minutes.
Last updated: October 22, 2025
About This Review: My Research Methodology
Full transparency: This is a research-based review. I read official product + pricing pages, dug into user discussions on Reddit & Product Hunt, and checked recent reporting on privacy and marketing claims. I did not run heavy production tests on large enterprise installs. Sources used include Microsoft Copilot docs/pricing, OpenAI ChatGPT pages, GitHub Copilot pages, Reddit threads, Product Hunt reviews, and news coverage. Product Hunt+5Microsoft+5Microsoft+5
What I couldn’t personally verify: enterprise rollout performance in your tenant, exact ROI figures inside your org, and long-term model drift in real-world classified data.
What is Each Tool? (The Simple Explanation)
Copilot (Microsoft)
Copilot is Microsoft’s family of assistants that embed large-language-model capabilities across Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and related services — designed primarily for workplace productivity and enterprise governance. It’s marketed as an assistant that can summarize meetings, draft documents from data in your tenant, and generate spreadsheet insights. Microsoft
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
ChatGPT is a conversational AI platform and API that answers questions, drafts content, helps with code, and powers custom “GPTs” and integrations. It’s platform-agnostic (web, mobile, API) and aimed at a broad audience: individuals, professionals, and developers. OpenAI also offers paid tiers (Plus, Business, Pro) and APIs for deeper integration. ChatGPT+1
Key difference in one line: Copilot = context-aware assistant inside Microsoft ecosystem with enterprise controls; ChatGPT = flexible conversational AI and developer platform used anywhere.
How They Actually Work (Short, Practical)
Copilot (approach): Microsoft layers LLMs into apps and links them to your tenant data (OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook, Teams) under enterprise governance and identity (Microsoft Entra). That lets Copilot answer questions about your documents and meetings using internal context, subject to admin controls and data policies. Microsoft+1
ChatGPT (approach): OpenAI provides chat interfaces and APIs that accept prompts and return responses from their models (GPT-4.x / GPT-4o family and others). Developers can build specialized GPTs or integrate GPTs into apps via API; users can augment ChatGPT with plugins, the browser-enabled Atlas features, and memory settings (depending on plan). The Guardian+1
What this means practically: Copilot is optimized when your information already lives in Microsoft systems; ChatGPT is best when you need a flexible, cross-platform conversational surface or custom models/plugins.
Key Features Breakdown
| Feature | Microsoft Copilot | ChatGPT (OpenAI) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | Deep integration inside Microsoft 365 (docs, email, meetings) | General-purpose chat, creative writing, coding, API integration |
| Tenant-aware (reads org data) | Yes (with admin controls) — reads OneDrive/SharePoint/Teams when allowed. Microsoft | Not by default — only if user explicitly uploads or via connectors/plugins; memory & data controls vary by plan. The Guardian |
| Deployment model | Add-on to Microsoft 365 / built-in to apps | Web app, mobile apps, API, custom GPTs/plugins |
| Enterprise controls & compliance | Designed for enterprise governance, Azure + Entra identity | Business/Enterprise tiers with controls but different compliance model from Microsoft |
| Developer offering | GitHub Copilot for coding (separate product) | APIs and GPT-building tools for custom assistants |
| Offline / on-device options | Some Copilot features tied to Windows/Copilot+ PCs (Recall etc.) | Research into on-device models exists but general service is cloud-based |
(Sources: Microsoft Copilot docs, OpenAI product pages, GitHub Copilot docs.) Microsoft+2ChatGPT+2
What Real Users Report (Based on Reddit + Product Hunt + community threads)
Where users report success
- Time saved in meetings & summaries – Users report Copilot speeds up meeting summaries and follow-ups when Teams/Outlook data is indexed correctly. Reddit+1
Interpretation: If your org has well-structured data and governance, Copilot can cut routine admin time. - Versatility and creativity with ChatGPT – ChatGPT users praise it for copywriting, brainstorming, coding help, and its flexibility across devices. Many say Plus/Pro gives better uptime/latency. Product Hunt+1
Where users report issues
- Indexing & governance headaches for Copilot – Several admins complain about unclear indexing and security configuration; poor governance can render Copilot noisy or risky. Reddit+1
Why this matters: Copilot’s value depends heavily on correct setup — otherwise results may be irrelevant or expose poorly organized content. - Pricing & perceived value – Some users feel Copilot’s licensing (or bundles like Microsoft 365 + Copilot add-ons) can be expensive for small teams; ChatGPT Plus users debate whether $20/mo (or regional variants) is worth it depending on usage. Microsoft+1
- Occasional factual errors / hallucinations — Both platforms can produce inaccurate material; users warn to verify outputs for important tasks. (Community threads across platforms.) Product Hunt+1
Pricing Reality Check (As of Oct 22, 2025)
Microsoft Copilot (high-level): Copilot is available as an add-on to Microsoft 365 and in various bundles (Personal, Business). Microsoft also provides Copilot Chat at no additional cost to eligible Microsoft Entra ID users with qualifying Microsoft 365 subscriptions — but many advanced features/agents may require Azure subscriptions or metered capacity packs. Business bundles that include Copilot features have prices that vary by region (example: Microsoft 365 Business with Copilot shows ~$42.50/user/month in Microsoft’s US business listing). Always check your regional Microsoft pricing page. Microsoft+1
ChatGPT (OpenAI): OpenAI offers a Free tier, ChatGPT Plus (commonly $20/month historically, but regional tests/promotions vary), and Business/Enterprise tiers with more controls and API access billed separately. Pricing and available model access can change, so check OpenAI’s pricing pages for current rates. ChatGPT+1
GitHub Copilot (developer-focused): GitHub Copilot has its own pricing for developers and organizations (free tier, Copilot Pro, Copilot Pro+ tiers — e.g., Pro historically around $10/month individual, Pro+ variants higher). If you’re a developer, GitHub Copilot is the Copilot product to evaluate. GitHub+1
Hidden costs to consider: admin setup, Azure metered agent usage, extra storage or security add-ons, and the time/cost to clean and govern tenant data for Copilot; for ChatGPT, costs come from API usage or paying for Pro/Enterprise tiers when scaling.
(Pricing sources: Microsoft Copilot pricing pages; OpenAI ChatGPT pricing pages; GitHub Copilot pages — check live pages for region-specific numbers). Microsoft+2ChatGPT+2
How They Compare (Quick matrix)
| Feature | Copilot (Microsoft) | ChatGPT (OpenAI) | GitHub Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Microsoft-centric workplaces | General users, teams needing flexible assistant + API | Developers coding in IDEs |
| Ease of setup | Needs tenant config and governance | Plug-and-play web UI; API requires dev work | IDE plugin install |
| Enterprise controls | Strong (Azure, Entra) | Business tiers exist; different model | Org billing + security options |
| Access to web / browsing | Copilot pulls tenant web/data; agent features may use web | ChatGPT has browser/agent modes (Atlas/Agent) for web tasks (plans dependent). The Guardian | N/A |
| Pricing model | Add-on / bundled | Free + subscriptions + API billing | Freemium + paid tiers |
Honest Limitations (What They Don’t Advertise)
1. Copilot: governance gap can be a hard requirement
The problem: Copilot’s usefulness depends on good data hygiene, indexing, and admin setup. Without that, outputs may be off-track. Users and admins on forums note unclear indexing/status UIs. Reddit+1
2. ChatGPT: flexibility means less tenant-context by default
The problem: ChatGPT won’t automatically read private org data unless you connect it via approved connectors or upload content; the onus is on the user/IT to integrate securely. The Guardian
3. Both: hallucinations and overconfident answers
The problem: Neither system is perfectly reliable — both can invent facts or present out-of-date info. Always fact-check critical outputs. (Community threads and Product Hunt reviews report occasional inaccuracies.) Product Hunt+1
4. Privacy & marketing scrutiny (specific to Microsoft Copilot)
The problem: Microsoft has faced scrutiny about marketing claims and privacy features (e.g., “Recall” concerns, advertising claims flagged). If privacy or screenshotting features are enabled, evaluate legal and compliance risks. TIME+1
Who Should Use Which?
Choose Microsoft Copilot if:
- Your organization lives in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and wants an assistant that accesses tenant data with enterprise controls. Microsoft
- You need centralized admin controls, Azure identity integration, and compliance frameworks.
Choose ChatGPT if:
- You want a flexible, cross-platform assistant for brainstorming, coding help, research, or building custom GPTs and APIs. ChatGPT+1
- You’re a developer or builder who needs API access and multi-model experimentation.
Choose GitHub Copilot if:
- You are a developer who spends time in IDEs and wants code completion, code generation, and in-editor assistance. GitHub
Questions My Research Couldn’t Answer (Needs Hands-On)
- How much measurable time/ROI Copilot produces in a specific 500-person tenant after governance work.
- Real-life latency and cost of Azure-metered Copilot agents at scale for heavy document processing.
- Long-term cost comparison for a high-API-usage ChatGPT workflow vs a Copilot-based internal workflow.
If you’ve used these in production, please share benchmarks in the comments.
FAQ (5 quick ones)
Q: Is Copilot free if I already have Microsoft 365?
A: Some Copilot Chat features are available to eligible Microsoft Entra+Microsoft 365 accounts at no extra cost, but advanced agent features, capacity packs, or bundled Copilot subscriptions can incur charges — check Microsoft’s regional pricing pages. Microsoft
Q: Is ChatGPT Plus still $20/mo?
A: $20/month has been the commonly quoted baseline for ChatGPT Plus historically, but OpenAI tests regional pricing and offers multiple tiers — always verify on OpenAI’s pricing page. OpenAI
Q: Can ChatGPT access my company’s SharePoint files?
A: Not by default. Copilot is built to access tenant data; ChatGPT can access external data only via explicit connectors/plugins you configure. Microsoft+1
Q: Which is better for developers?
A: For coding in the IDE: GitHub Copilot. For broader automation, custom assistants, or API-driven workflows: ChatGPT (OpenAI). GitHub+1
Q: Are there major privacy concerns?
A: Both vendors emphasize enterprise controls, but some Microsoft features (e.g., Recall) and how Copilot indexes data have prompted privacy discussion; review your legal/compliance team’s advice. TIME
About the Author
Zeref — I research AI productivity tools and produce research-based reviews focusing on integrations, pricing reality, and practical recommendations. This article synthesizes official documentation, user reports (Reddit, Product Hunt), and recent reporting to give you a decision-ready comparison. Last updated Oct 22, 2025.
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