Microsoft Copilot: Reviews, Pricing, and the Best Way to Get It in 2026

Microsoft Copilot has established itself as one of the most widely used consumer AI assistants, with over 100 million monthly active users by early 2026 (Microsoft News, 2026). Powered by OpenAI’s GPT-4o technology and integrated directly into Word, Excel, Outlook, and Windows 11, Copilot promises to save users hours each week. But at €22 per month for the Pro version, the cost adds up quickly.

Is it worth paying for Copilot Pro on your own? How useful are the features, really? And most importantly, is there a smarter way to get Copilot without breaking the bank? Here’s our full review, covering an angle that few articles touch on: the version included in Microsoft 365 Family, which is perfectly legal to share.

Key takeaways

• Microsoft Copilot will surpass 100 million monthly users by 2026 (Microsoft, 2026) and is powered by GPT-4o.
• Three consumer plans: Free, Copilot Pro for €22/month, and Copilot included in Microsoft 365 Family for €10.99/month.
• The Copilot Pro subscription alone cannot be shared. However, Microsoft 365 Home (which includes Copilot) can be shared with up to 6 people.
• Sharing Microsoft 365 Home via Spliiit Copilot, the full Office suite, and 1 TB of OneDrive storage each for a fraction of the price of an individual plan (see the Spliiit marketplace).

What exactly is Microsoft Copilot in 2026?

Microsoft Copilot is a generative AI assistant based on OpenAI’s GPT-4 and GPT-4o, officially launched in November 2023 under the name “Bing Chat” and later renamed. By 2026, it claims to have over 100 million monthly active users (Microsoft, 2026). It functions as a conversational chatbot and productivity assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 apps.

In practical terms, Copilot combines three key components. First, a conversation engine that understands natural language, generates text, summarizes documents, translates, and codes. Second, an image generator powered by DALL·E 3. Finally, deep integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams that transforms Office apps into active assistants.

According to a Gartner study published in 2025, 67% of Fortune 500 companies have deployed at least one Copilot pilot within their teams (Gartner, 2025). For the general public, the easiest way to access Copilot remains the Copilot mobile app and the copilot.microsoft.com website.

UNIQUE INSIGHT: Unlike ChatGPT, Copilot displays its web sources at the bottom of each response and consistently cites its references. For anyone who wants to verify the accuracy of information, this is a real advantage over the lack of transparency found in other assistants.

For a comprehensive comparison of these AI assistants, check out our comparison of ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Grok.

What are the versions and prices of Microsoft Copilot in 2026?

Microsoft offers three consumer plans in 2026. The Free plan provides access to basic features. Copilot Pro costs €22 per month for individual users. Finally, the Microsoft 365 Family plan, priced at €10.99 per month, now includes Copilot with a generous monthly quota (Microsoft, 2026).

Here is the detailed price list:

PlanPriceAI ModelsOffice AppsSpliiit SharingFree Copilot€0GPT-4 (limited access, off-peak hours)NoNot applicableCopilot Pro (solo)€22/monthGPT-4 priority access, DALL·E 3InWord/Excel/PowerPoint/OutlookNot shareableM365Personal + Copilot€9.99/monthMonthly Copilot quota includedAll apps + 1 TB OneDriveNo (1-person account)M365 Family + Copilot€10.99/monthMonthly Copilot quota includedAll apps + 1 TBeachYes, up to 6 people

The conclusion is clear. Paying €22 per month for Copilot Pro on its own costs twice as much as the M365 Family plan, which also includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and a total of 6 TB of cloud storage. For the same annual budget, you go from €264 (Copilot Pro solo) to €132 (M365 Family), with Copilot included and the entire Office suite as a bonus.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: In January 2026, our team switched from Copilot Pro Solo to a shared Microsoft 365 Home subscription. The result: access to all AI features, the full Office suite on five devices, and a bill that’s one-sixth of what it used to be. The only downside: the monthly Copilot quota per person is capped, whereas Pro offers unlimited access.

What are Copilot's truly useful features?

Beyond traditional chat, Copilot offers five unique features in 2026. According to Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index study, 70% of Copilot users at work report increased productivity thanks to these integrated tools (Microsoft WorkLab, 2024).

The features that really stand out:

• Copilot in Word: generates a draft article, summarizes a 30-page document into five bullet points, or rewrites a paragraph in a specific tone.
• Copilot in Excel: analyzes a table, creates complex formulas using natural language, generates charts, and automatically detects trends.
• Copilot in Outlook: summarizes threads of up to 20 emails, drafts replies, and schedules meetings based on free-form text.
• Copilot in PowerPoint: converts a Word document into slides, provides a consistent design, and generates speaker notes.
• DALL·E 3 Image Generation: Royalty-free illustrations in seconds, available for free (with a waitlist) or with priority access for Pro users.

The real game-changer is integration. Unlike ChatGPT, which remains an external chatbot, Copilot is built right into the apps you already use. Just right-click in Excel, and you get an analysis. No copying and pasting, no switching back and forth between windows.

Can you share a Microsoft Copilot subscription?

The short answer: Copilot Pro Solo cannot be shared. Microsoft’s terms of use tie the Pro subscription to a single personal Microsoft account (Microsoft Services Agreement, 2025). However, the version of Copilot included in Microsoft 365 Family can be shared with up to 5 other people, each using their own account.

That’s the key difference. Microsoft 365 Home is specifically designed to be shared among up to six separate Microsoft accounts. Each member gets their own 1 TB of OneDrive storage, their own Office apps installed on up to five devices, and now their own personal Copilot quota. It’s the only 100% legal way to get Copilot at a discounted price.

Our recommendation: Instead of paying €22/month for Copilot Pro alone, opt for Microsoft 365 Family shared via Spliiit. You get Copilot + the full Office suite + 1 TB of cloud storage, all for a fraction of the price of the standalone plan. It’s the same company (Microsoft), the same AI (GPT-4), and sharing is permitted under the Terms of Service.

To learn the full process, read our tutorial on how to share your Microsoft 365 Family subscription.

Microsoft Copilot vs. ChatGPT: Which One Should You Choose?

Both products use OpenAI technology (GPT-4o and GPT-5), but differ in their approach. ChatGPT remains the most powerful tool for pure chat and benefits from a richer ecosystem of plugins, with 900 million weekly users by 2026 (TechCrunch, 2026). Copilot, on the other hand, shines in Office and is included for free with an M365 subscription, which many people already have.

Here are the selection criteria for 2026:

• Choose ChatGPT if your primary use cases are chat, coding, and conversational search, and you want the most advanced model (GPT-5, o-series).
• Choose Copilot (via Microsoft 365 Home) if you spend your days in Word, Excel, and Outlook, and you’d prefer a built-in assistant rather than an external chatbot. Bonus: The full Office suite is included.
• Both? That's possible if you combine Microsoft 365 Family (Copilot + Office at a discounted price) with ChatGPT Free or Plus, depending on your needs.

To explore the AI comparison further, check out our comprehensive guide to the most affordable AI productivity tools in 2026, and to better understand ChatGPT in particular, read our article “ChatGPT App: Shareable Alternatives.”

How can I get Copilot at the best price legally?

The smartest way to go in 2026: share a Microsoft 365 Family subscription via Spliiit. You get access to Copilot (with a monthly quota sufficient for normal use), Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and 1 TB of OneDrive storage—all for up to 70% less than any individual plan. It’s 100% legal, since Microsoft explicitly encourages this family sharing.

The steps are simple:

1. Create an account on spliiit.com (free).
2. Search for "Microsoft 365 Family" in the marketplace and select an available plan.
3. Pay your monthly share and receive an email invitation from the manager.
4. Accept the invitation in your Microsoft account, install the apps, and enable Copilot in Word, Excel, and Outlook.

To explore other affordable office productivity tools, check out our comprehensive guide to shared software and our Spliiit AI guide. If you’re a student, our Microsoft 365 for Students article details the eligible free version, and for those on a tight budget, take a look at Microsoft 365 Free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Microsoft Copilot be shared?

Not with Copilot Pro on its own for €22/month, which is strictly limited to a single Microsoft account. Yes, via Microsoft 365 Family, which includes Copilot and can be legally shared among 6 separate Microsoft accounts. This is the only method that is 100% compliant with Microsoft’s Terms of Service for reducing the price of Copilot.

What is the difference between Copilot Free and Pro?

Copilot Free provides access to GPT-4 with usage limits during peak hours, no Office integration, and a queue for image generation. Copilot Pro, priced at €22/month, unlocks priority access to GPT-4, unlimited DALL·E 3, and integration with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook (Microsoft, 2026).

Is Copilot really included in Microsoft 365 Home?

Yes, starting in mid-2025. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family now include a monthly quota for Copilot requests in Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, at no additional cost (Microsoft, 2026). The quota is more than sufficient for standard use. For heavy use, Copilot Pro is still required.

Does Copilot use GPT-4 or GPT-5?

Copilot primarily uses OpenAI's GPT-4 for the Pro version and M365 subscribers. GPT-5 will be reserved for ChatGPT Plus and Pro in 2026. Microsoft is also developing its own models (MAI-1) to reduce its reliance on OpenAI, which will be gradually integrated into Copilot.

Is there a free trial for Copilot Pro?

Yes, Microsoft generally offers a 1-month free trial for Copilot Pro; a credit card is required, and you can cancel before the trial ends. Please note that the subscription automatically renews at €22 per month. The free version, however, remains available without a credit card.

Conclusion

Microsoft Copilot is arguably the AI assistant best integrated into office software in 2026. But paying €22 a month on your own for Copilot Pro is rarely the best option. For the vast majority of users, the version included in Microsoft 365 Family—shared via Spliiit—offers Copilot, the full suite of Office apps, and 1 TB of cloud storage at a fraction of the price, all completely legally.

Ready to split the bill? Find your Microsoft 365 Family plan on the Spliiit marketplace and activate Copilot in your Office apps today.