Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes, the basic Microsoft Copilot chatbot is free to use at copilot.microsoft.com or in the app, with no subscription. You can ask questions, generate images, and analyze files, subject to daily limits. Advanced features inside Word, Excel, and Outlook require a paid plan starting around $9.99/month for individuals as of 2026-07.
Why — the first-principles explanation
There are really two Copilots, and the free-versus-paid confusion comes from mixing them up. The first is the standalone assistant (website, app, and Edge sidebar), which Microsoft offers free to attract users and showcase its AI. The second is Copilot built into Microsoft 365 apps like Word and Outlook, which is a paid add-on.
The reason the standalone version can be free is strategic. Microsoft wants a huge audience using its AI, both to compete with rivals and to gather usage that improves the product. Serving each query costs money, so the free tier comes with usage limits, for example caps on how many advanced responses or image generations you get per day. Signing in with a Microsoft account raises those limits.
The reason the in-app version costs money is that it does something far more valuable: it connects to your actual work data, summarizing your specific emails, meetings, and documents with enterprise security. That deep integration and the compute behind it justify a per-user fee, and businesses will pay for the productivity gain.
So the honest answer is layered. Free for casual chat, image creation, and web questions. Paid ($9.99/month and up for individuals, or a business add-on) when you want Copilot working inside your Office files and inbox. You never have to pay to try it.
An example that makes it click
Think of a gym with a free lobby and a members-only floor. Anyone can walk into the lobby, use the water fountain, and try a couple of machines for free, that is the free Copilot chatbot. Great for a quick workout, though there's a sign that says "three sessions a day, please."
But the private training floor upstairs, where a coach knows your history and builds a plan around your body, that requires a membership. That is Copilot inside Word and Outlook working with your own files. The lobby is genuinely free; you only pay when you want the personalized coaching upstairs.
Key facts
- The standalone Microsoft Copilot chatbot is free at copilot.microsoft.com and via apps, with no subscription required.
- Free use includes chat, web search, image generation, and file analysis, subject to daily usage limits.
- Signing in with a Microsoft account raises free usage limits.
- Copilot features inside Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams require a paid plan.
- As of 2026-07, paid individual plans with Copilot start at $9.99/month (Microsoft 365 Personal), and a free business Copilot Chat exists for eligible Microsoft 365 customers.
Microsoft's assistant across Windows, Edge, and Microsoft 365.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.▶ The 60-second explainer (script)
Is Microsoft Copilot free? Yes, and also no, so let me clear it up. There are two Copilots. The first is the free chatbot you get at copilot.microsoft.com or in the app. It costs nothing, no subscription, and you can ask questions, create images, and even upload files for analysis. There are daily limits, but signing in with a free Microsoft account raises them. That covers most casual users completely. The second Copilot is the one built directly into Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, where it works on your actual documents and emails. That version is a paid add-on, starting around 9.99 dollars a month for individuals, because it connects securely to your own data. So the bottom line: if you just want an AI assistant to chat with and make images, it's genuinely free. You only open your wallet when you want Copilot working hands-on inside your Office files.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
What can I do with free Copilot?
Chat, ask web-connected questions, generate images, and upload files for analysis, all within daily usage limits.
What do I get by paying for Copilot?
Paid plans add Copilot inside Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams to work on your own documents and emails, plus higher usage limits.
Is there a free Copilot for businesses?
Yes. Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is available at no extra cost to eligible existing Microsoft 365 business customers.
Do I need to enter a credit card to use free Copilot?
No. You can use the free chatbot with just a Microsoft account, or even without signing in for limited use.