Copilot vs ChatGPT (2024) – Choosing the Right AI Assistant

This comparison of Copilot vs. ChatGPT shows the similarities and differences between these two related AI chat assistants.

Both AI chatbots offer free and paid access to users for powerful AI-backed results. I was impressed with one of them after using both Copilot and ChatGPT for a few days.

In this article, I have tested both sides and included my test results so you can decide which one is right for you!

Note here —This AI chatbot outshines the other, even with its free plan access. 

Please stick with me till the end to reveal the best AI chatbot amongst Copilot vs ChatGPT!

What Does Copilot vs. ChatGPT Have In Common – In A Nutshell

If you can’t wait to go through the detailed breakdown written further down, you can get a glimpse of the differences that Copilot and ChatGPT have from the table below:

Features	Copilot	ChatGPT
Language Model Used	GPT 4	GPT 3.5
Internet Access With	Bing Search	❌
GPT model Access	Limited to 4	❌
Extensions and plugins	Limited to 6	❌
AI image generation	With DALL E 3 + Editing features	❌
Free access	✅	✅
Paid subscription	Starts at $20/mo for Copilot Pro	Starts at $20/mo for ChatGPT Plus

But hey! If you want to learn the real differences and see the actual use cases of both AI chatbots, keep scrolling!

Understanding Copilot And ChatGPT

Let’s get to understand what these chatbots stand for, their key features, use cases, and what their premium plans give access to.

What Is Copilot?

Copilot is at the core of Mircosoft’s development into AI. Mircosoft has Copilot in the form of Mircosoft 365, Copilot with Windows, and an AI-powered assistant that is for comparison in this article.

Microsoft’s Copilot lends the AI language model GPT-4, which is the most capable AI language model developed by OpenAI, as a base for its working.  

Although there is limited information about the priority of access to this language model for copilot users.

Even with the use of the same language model, Copilot is poles apart from ChatGPT. Have a look at the features it offers.

Features:

• It provides results in three conversational styles: more creative, balanced, and precise.
• Grants access to 4 different GPT models. 
• Select up to 3 plugins from a list of 6 plugins.
• Get user-focused results with relevant images and sources. 
• It can take audio and images as a prompt apart from text.
• Generate AI image with DALL E 3.

Use Cases:

• Coding assistant
• Get internet search-backed results.
• Content Generation
• AI image generation
• Generate AI audio with the “Suno” plugin.

Premium Access: 

Copilot Pro is a paid subscription priced at $20/mo, providing priority access, faster AI image generation, and integration abilities with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc. 

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is OpenAI’s exclusive chat assistant, which was first launched in November 2022. Soon, ChatGPT gained immense popularity and broke the record for having the largest number of user signups.

Unlike Copilot, ChatGPT still uses GPT 3.5 for its free version, which does not quite compare to GPT 4. It still has a knowledge limitation till January 2022, which means that GPT 3.5 is trained only till data and events occur till that period. 

Also, ChatGPT, without a paid subscription, cannot access the internet, generate images, or use plugins and GPTs. Yet, it still offers powerful AI solutions that can make the user’s life easy.

Features:

• Get powerful AI-assisted results trained on over 175 billion parameters.
• Remembers user context to provide relevant results.
• Trained in almost 26 languages.
• Set custom instructions to get desired responses. 

Use Cases:

• Write Code.
• Generate Content for varying lengths, style, and tone. 
• Ideal for conducting in-depth research on topics.
• Use as a grammar checker and fixer.

Premium Access:

You should get the ChatGPT Plus subscription priced at $20/mo to access further advanced features. 

5 Major Differences In Copilot Vs. ChatGPT Compared!

If you haven’t experienced it yet, Copilot and ChatGPT are very different, with one offering a bunch of advanced features for free! To categorize these differences, I shall be comparing them side-by-side.

Let’s have a look.

1. Difference In The Technology 

The major difference between Copilot and ChatGPT is the technology they’re based on. While both are based on Generative AI and LLMs, the AI language models used by both free versions are different.

The free version of Copilot uses Open AI’s powerful GPT 4, while ChatGPT with the free version is a step behind with GPT – 3.5.

2. Difference In User Interface

There’s also a visible difference in the user experience that both chatbots provide. 

Copilot’s interface is much more visual, with visual conversation starters, a separately colored interface for the chosen conversation styles, access to the Bing search engine right beneath, etc

Copilot interface: 

With ChatGPT, though, that’s not the case. It cannot provide Internet-backed results or separate conversation styles to choose from. ChatGPT’s user interface is simple and straightforward, which might as well come off as very plain and boring. 

ChatGPT interface: 

3. Difference In Providing Search Results

Coming towards a more exciting parameter for comparison, Copilot offers way better search results than ChatGPT. 

Microsoft Copilot’s results: 

Copilot understands the importance of effective information relaying. Hence, its results for the prompts often have credible sources, highlighted bold points, and an explore section with relevant images and information for a query.

Here’s an example of the way Microsoft Copilot provides a result:

ChatGPT’s results:

As I stated above, the interface of ChatGPT can be boring, but here, in the case of result generation, ChatGPT misses out on a lot. 

In the image below, you can see that ChatGPT gave precise information about the prompted query, but it limited the results to just the solution. ChatGPT’s results do not include any source or visual elements to make the result more interactive. 

4. Differences In AI Image Generation

Copilot’s free version gives the user the ability to generate a text-to-image output, i.e., it can generate an AI image based on a prompt given by the user. 

Not just that, this DALL E 3 powered feature called “Designer” also allows you to edit an image with hands-on controls.

Copilot’s generated image:

Prompt Used: Generate an image of a sunny-side-up egg preparation that’s been cooked in the Sun in the solar system. 

ChatGPT’s generated image:

ChatGPT, with its free access, is incapable of generating AI images and gives another big difference compared to Copilot. 

5. Difference In Using Plugins And GPT Models

Coming to the last bit of the comparison on Copilot vs ChatGPT, the final evident difference between them is the access to plugins and GPT models. 

A GPT model is an exclusive structure set for specific purposes. These GPTs can be used for cooking, travel, shopping, you name it!

Microsoft Copilot plugins and GPT models:

With Copilot, the GPTs that can be accessed are – Desgner, Vacation Planner, Cooking Assitant, and Fitness Trainer. 

As far as the plugins, Copilot offers – Instacart, Kayak, Klarna, OpenTable, Shop, and Suno as plugins.

ChatGPT plugin and GPT models:

ChatGPT, with the free GPT 3.5 model, again falls short in terms of offering access to plugins or GPT models. 

Related Read:

• Gemini Advanced vs ChatGPT Plus
• Top ChatGPT Competitors

Verdict: Copilot Vs ChatGPT – Copilot Does A Better Job 

My verdict undoubtedly favors Microsoft’s Copilot. ChatGPT lacks the advanced features that Copilot does. To be able to compete, a user has to get on board with a premium ChatGPT Plus subscription of $20/month.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s free AI companion, Copilot, beats ChatGPT even without you having to spend a single penny! 

Save up on the money and use some really high-end features that Microsoft Copilot offers for free!

FAQs