Microsoft Copilot: what it is, pricing, and how to use it at work
In plain words: Microsoft's AI built into Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and Windows. The business version (Microsoft 365 Copilot) works across your company's email, files, and meetings and can run agents for routine work.
Free tierYes (consumer app)
PriceFree app; M365 Copilot Business $21/user/mo
Ease of use●●●●○
Acts on the webPartly
Who it's for
Businesses that run on Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Excel, Teams).
Pricing tiers
| Copilot (free app) | Free consumer app (check site for limits) |
|---|---|
| Copilot Pro | About $20/month for individuals (check site) |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Business | $21/user/month annual or $25.20 monthly; up to 300 users; needs an eligible Microsoft 365 business license |
Checked on the official site or help pages in October 2026. Prices change often; confirm on copilot.microsoft.com before buying.
Daily-use examples by profession
Business owners
- Recap a Teams meeting and list action items
- Build an Excel pivot from a sales export by asking
- Draft Outlook replies in your tone
Doctors & medical offices
- Summarize long Outlook threads with vendors
- Turn Excel billing exports into a summary chart
- Draft staff meeting agendas in Word
Real estate
- Build a commission tracker in Excel
- Summarize a transaction email chain
- Draft a listing agreement summary in Word
Trainers & coaches
- Analyze membership churn in Excel
- Draft newsletters in Word
- Recap staff meetings
Restaurants & bars
- Build a labor-cost sheet in Excel
- Draft schedules and SOPs in Word
- Summarize supplier emails in Outlook
Trades & home services
- Track jobs and margins in Excel
- Draft proposals in Word
- Summarize customer emails
Pros and cons
Pros
- Works inside the Office apps you already use
- Meeting recaps in Teams
- Business data stays in your Microsoft tenant
Cons
- Business version needs a Microsoft 365 business license too
- Pricing/bundles are confusing
- Best value only if you're all-in on Microsoft
Bottom line
Microsoft Copilot is best for: Outlook/Excel/Teams offices. Start on the cheapest plan that fits, give it one real task from the list above, and check its work before relying on it.