ChatGPT vs Copilot in Outlook

ChatGPT and Copilot in Outlook overlap on work tasks and share 2 tasks. The verdict below is calculated for each role from the tasks, the role fit and the price.

Short answer

ChatGPT wins for 20 of 20 roles in our data. ChatGPT starts at $20/mo and Copilot in Outlook at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.

Verdict by role

Side by side

ChatGPT: All-purpose chat assistant with web search, file and spreadsheet analysis, voice and custom GPTs.

Copilot in Outlook: Summaries of long email threads, reply drafts and meeting prep right in Outlook.

Tasks both handle

• Write a business letter
• Log incoming correspondence with a short summary

Only ChatGPT covers

• Categorize a bank statement by cash flow line
• Get a spreadsheet formula from a plain-language request
• Analyze budget variances, actual versus plan
• Write a job ad and a job description
• Write a customer FAQ
• Write a sales proposal
• Reconcile the trial balance with the bank and source documents
• Prepare a reply to a tax authority request

Only Copilot in Outlook covers

• Clear your morning inbox in half an hour
• Find a meeting time with several participants
• Plan your week in the calendar with focus blocks

Pitfalls to watch at work

ChatGPT

• On the free and personal paid plans, chats may be used for training by default: in Settings, Data controls, turn off Improve the model for everyone before your first work task
• Employee names and tax IDs, account details, amounts and contract terms go into the chat only anonymized: replace them with [Employee 1], [Counterparty], [X]
• The model invents statute numbers, court decisions and links in a confident tone: check every such fact in the primary source

Copilot in Outlook

• A thread summary misses attachments and late edits in quoted text: check amounts and dates in the email itself
• The reply draft picks up the tone of the previous email, including a sharp one: reread before sending
• A personal Copilot Pro subscription on a work mailbox takes company email outside its tenant: work mail needs a business license

FAQ

Is ChatGPT or Copilot in Outlook better for work?

In our data ChatGPT is the better choice for 20 of 20 roles. The table above shows the reason for each role.

Which is cheaper, ChatGPT or Copilot in Outlook?

ChatGPT starts at $20/mo and Copilot in Outlook at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.

Do ChatGPT and Copilot in Outlook have free plans?

ChatGPT: Yes. The default model with a limited number of messages every few hours, after which it switches to a lighter model; file uploads and image generation with small limits; no Projects with large files and no full Deep Research. Copilot in Outlook: No.

Compare ChatGPT with

• ChatGPT vs Claude
• ChatGPT vs Copilot in Word
• ChatGPT vs Gemini in Google Sheets
• ChatGPT vs NotebookLM
• ChatGPT vs Gemini

Compare Copilot in Outlook with

• Copilot in Outlook vs Gemini in Gmail
• Copilot in Outlook vs Superhuman
• Copilot in Outlook vs Copilot in Word
• Copilot in Outlook vs Gemini in Google Docs
• Copilot in Outlook vs ABBYY FineReader PDF

Alternatives to ChatGPT · Alternatives to Copilot in Outlook · ChatGPT pricing · Copilot in Outlook pricing