Microsoft 365 Copilot vs. Copilot Pro: Which AI Tool Should You Use?
Editor’s note: This blog was written before the recent introduction of Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, which is the same offering as Microsoft 365 Copilot but slightly cheaper and made for small businesses.
AI is changing the way companies work, and integration appears to be the way of the future for organizations small and large. But its high price can be a barrier for some.
Microsoft 365 Copilot, for example, is $30 per user, per month, so it’s understandable why some small businesses are hesitant to jump in, especially considering Microsoft forces you into a one-year commitment.
Microsoft offers a second paid version of Copilot called Copilot Pro for $20 per user, per month. Even though Microsoft confusingly chose to name it “Pro,” it’s actually not your best choice as a small business, and we’ll explain why.
Let’s break down the two premium versions of Copilot, what they can do and who might use them.
M365 Copilot vs. Copilot Pro at a Glance
Feature | Copilot Pro | Microsoft 365 Copilot |
Price | $20/user/month | $30/user/month (paid yearly) or $31.50/user/month (paid monthly) |
M365 license requirements? | No | Yes |
Knowledge Source | Internet | Internet and organization's data (emails, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams) |
Subscription Type | Monthly | Monthly or yearly |
Integration with Office apps | Web versions only1 | Desktop and web versions |
Enterprise data protection? | No | Yes |
Perfect for | AI power users, entrepreneurs, creatives | Employees of SMBs needing productivity boosts with secure AI assistance |
1If you have an existing Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, you have access to Copilot in the desktop apps.
Copilot Pro is designed for consumers, as it lacks advanced security features organizations need to keep their data safe. Microsoft 365 Copilot, on the other hand, protects your chat data.
Now, let’s take a look at what each version offers.
Copilot Pro
What is it?
Copilot Pro is the premium, consumer version of Copilot that can be used by anyone with a personal Microsoft account. It is integrated with the web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote, but integration with the desktop versions is only possible if you have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription.
Copilot Pro offers preferred access to AI models during peak times, early access to experimental AI features and 100 prompts for image generation.
Chat responses are grounded in the internet, but you can upload files for help with proofreading or summarizing.
Copilot Pro offers a month-to-month subscription, so you can cancel anytime.
Who would use it?
Individuals who use Copilot regularly, like entrepreneurs getting started with their business or freelancers who need help with projects.
It’s not meant for small business employees — if you have a Business or Enterprise license, you cannot even use Copilot Pro — as it doesn’t have the advanced security features to keep chat data secure.
It also doesn’t have access to your work data or enterprise data protection to secure work data. Be careful about what files you upload or text you paste.
Copilot Pro is designed for consumers, as it lacks advanced security features organizations need to keep their data safe. Microsoft 365 Copilot, on the other hand, protects your chat data.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
What is it?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is the premium, business version of Copilot that can be added to any existing Business license (Basic, Standard or Premium). It is integrated with both the web and desktop versions of Office apps, including Teams.
It also features enterprise data protection, meaning any text or files used in prompts are secured and cannot be accessed by Microsoft. Additionally, your prompts are not used to train the AI model.
Chat responses are grounded in the internet and your organization’s work data, so Microsoft 365 Copilot has access to your emails, SharePoint files, OneDrive files and Teams messages.
Even though Microsoft forces you into a one-year commitment, you do have the option to pay monthly for a little bit more.
Who would use it?
It is designed for employees of small to medium-sized organizations who are looking to improve productivity and efficiency. The enterprise data protection ensures company data isn’t made public or used to train the AI model.
However, you must have a Microsoft business account to use this version of Copilot.
Increase Productivity and Efficiency with Copilot
As an MSP, we would never offer Copilot Pro. But it’s important to know that despite “Pro” in its name (the business version of Windows also is named Pro), Copilot Pro is not suitable for a business setting.
Do you think your organization could benefit from a Microsoft 365 Copilot license? Contact us to schedule a consultation and discover how Copilot can transform your workflow.
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