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Is Microsoft Copilot free? (what we know so far)

Your rundown on Microsoft's latest launch
Last Updated on March 21, 2023
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Despite being kept behind closed doors, many are wondering – Is Microsoft Copilot free to use? Unfortunately, it is highly unlikely that the new AI service will be free – although we cannot be certain.

The only way to access Microsoft’s suite of apps for free is through their specialized online platform or via your college or university. Otherwise, it requires a paid subscription.

How much could this new version cost? Sadly, we don’t know just yet. Although, Microsoft has released a statement in a blog post, mentioning the “specifics on pricing and licensing will be shared soon”. So, it seems as though we will just have to wait and see.

The new Microsoft 365 Copilot features all the best bits of AI technology. Embedded with OpenAI’s GPT-4 language model, Copilot will become your very own personal assistant. According to Microsoft, the new AI tool will essentially allow you to automate a bunch of tasks – covering the entire Microsoft 365 suite.

For example, it can help you generate real-time summaries and devise actionable tasks during Teams meetings. But, that’s not all. Copilot can also find insights, analyze trends and create stunning data visualizations in Excel.

Is Microsoft Copilot free for students?

At the moment, Microsoft offers students free access to Office 365 Education. This includes the majority of applications in their suite such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and more. To qualify for this your school or university must be paying for the Office 365 apps already – most normally do. And, you must have a valid school email address.

It is not completely clear if Microsoft will include Copilot in Office 365 Education. And, if they do whether they will offer it for free. One can hope though.

Final Thoughts

So, is Microsoft Copilot free? Well, we don’t really know. Considering the tech giant’s latest statement, it would be wise to assume that the new Copilot feature will come at a premium. How much extra will it cost, though? Again, we will have to wait for an official statement from Microsoft to find out.

Funmi joined PC Guide in November 2022, and was a driving force for the site's ChatGPT coverage. She has a wide knowledge of AI apps, gaming and consumer technology.