What you're about to discover (and why it's important)
Microsoft Copilot vs ChatGPT: two powerful AI assistants based on GPT-4, but fundamentally different in approach and application. In this article, you will discover which tool best suits your organization or way of working. We compare features, integration, price, language support and applications in understandable language, with advice.
Do you work in a corporate environment? Are you an independent professional? Or are you digitizing processes in education? choosing the right AI assistant can dramatically improve your work structure. This article helps you understand not only the technical differences, but also the strategic impact.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is not a separate app, but an integrated AI layer within Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams), GitHub and even Windows.
“Copilot doesn't just help you with answers, it does the work for you right in your documents.”
Copilot runs on OpenAI's GPT-4 and combines AI with your context: calendars, emails, documents, and Teams data. Think of smart assistance with reports, emails or presentations. The big advantage of Copilot is that it automatically adapts to your existing work environment, no need to learn new tools or interfaces.
Key features of Copilot:
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: helps you write reports, summarize emails and analyze data.
- GitHub Copilot: real-time code proposals for developers.
- Windows Copilot: an AI sidebar for settings, apps, and tasks.
- Business Chat: smart insight from your agenda, Teams and emails.
In addition, Copilot continuously grows with your workflow. For example, if you regularly prepare status reports on Monday morning, Copilot will suggest that you automatically prepare the corresponding documents, figures, and templates as soon as you start that day. Thanks to integration with Microsoft Graph, it can recognize patterns in your work and provide suggestions that go beyond text or numbers.
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a versatile AI chatbot from OpenAI. Unlike Copilot, it works independently of specific software. You use it via a browser or app, which means you can use it at any time, whether you're on the go, in the office or at home.
“From story writing to code debugging, ChatGPT is your creative, smart interlocutor.”
ChatGPT excels in flexibility. You can use it for a variety of tasks: brainstorms, explaining complex theories, marketing campaigns, content creation, rewriting emails or even preparing a presentation. It adapts to your input, without fixed formats.
ChatGPT versions:
- Free (GPT-3.5) — basic questions and simple conversations
- ChatGPT Plus (GPT-4) — $20/month for better answers, viewing, browsing, data analysis
- ChatGPT Pro — $200/month for professionals
- ChatGPT Enterprise — comprehensive privacy and integration for companies
For organizations, ChatGPT Enterprise offers additional benefits, including:
API integrations, which allows you to link ChatGPT to internal tools or processes.
Single Sign-On (SSO), so that employees can log in securely and quickly with their existing accounts.
Full data ownership, so that you decide how input and output are managed.
Detailed access control, which allows you to decide for each team or department who gets access to which AI capabilities.
New: Increasing AI literacy with ChatGPT workshops
Copilot or ChatGPT? Compare AI features
This table shows that both tools are not mutually exclusive, but rather complement each other. Copilot is optimal within a fixed environment. ChatGPT is powerful when you need versatility and creative input.
When to choose Copilot or ChatGPT?
Choose Microsoft Copilot if:
- You work daily with Word, Excel, Outlook or Teams
- You want to generate output directly in your tools
- Your organization has privacy and compliance requirements
- You work on the basis of your own documents/data
- You want to standardize processes without external tools
Copilot is particularly valuable for teams that work with sensitive information. Think of legal departments that want to automatically summarize and analyze contracts, HR teams who want to process confidential personnel documents efficiently, or financial departments that want to have complex spreadsheets calculated without this data leaving the organization and do not want to rely on external, unmanaged AI solutions. Think of legal departments, HR teams or financial professionals.
Want to learn more? Check out our AI Masterclasses about Copilot in practice
Choose ChatGPT if:
- You want to brainstorm ideas or create content
- You are looking for an accessible AI solution
- You use multiple languages, formats, or forms of writing
- You program, learn or research independently
- You prefer creative freedom and open structure over process-driven output
ChatGPT feels like a digital sparring partner. It can be used widely and suits a startup mentality or flexible work environment. Marketers, teachers, students and freelancers in particular get a lot of value out of this.
Book one AI brainstorming session with one of our experts
How well do Copilot and ChatGPT work in Dutch?
Both tools fully support Dutch.
- Copilot understands prompts like, “Summarize this report.”
- ChatGPT responds well to open questions such as: “What's the difference between Copilot and ChatGPT?”
The nuance in language processing is surprisingly good. ChatGPT can even teach dialects or jargon through contextual training. Copilot, on the other hand, is limited to the formal work environment, which is useful for consistency in business communication.
Copilot is your AI for work, ChatGPT your AI for thinking.
Practical examples
- Marketer: uses ChatGPT for campaigns & Copilot for presentations with real numbers.
- Student: learns with ChatGPT & programs with GitHub Copilot.
- Consultant: combines both tools smartly and context-oriented.
- HR manager: generates job descriptions in Copilot and brainstorms onboarding programs with ChatGPT.
- Developer: codes with GitHub Copilot, but asks ChatGPT for explanation and documentation.
Synthwave tip: The strength lies in the combination. Deploy both tools depending on the purpose: structure with Copilot, freedom with ChatGPT.
Conclusion: Which AI assistant is right for your team?
Both tools run on GPT-4.
- Microsoft Copilot: integrated productivity for professionals.
- ChatGPT: creative and open AI solution for everyone.
The smartest use? Combine them. Make AI work for you, not alongside you.
By using both tools strategically, you can use the full potential of generative AI. You combine the power of contextual productivity with Copilot and the creative freedom of ChatGPT. That makes your work faster, smarter and more flexible than generative AI. The future of work isn't either Copilot or ChatGPT, but a smart interplay between the two.