Microsoft 365 Copilot vs Gemini
Microsoft 365 Copilot and Gemini sit in the same category. The verdict below is calculated for each role from the tasks, the role fit and the price.
Short answer
Gemini wins for 11 of 20 roles in our data. Gemini starts at $14/mo and Microsoft 365 Copilot at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.
Verdict by role
| Role | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Accountant | Gemini | part of the role's core toolkit; cheaper entry plan |
| Lawyer | Either one | even on tasks, Gemini is cheaper to start |
| HR manager | Gemini | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 4; part of the role's core toolkit; cheaper entry plan |
| Finance manager | Microsoft 365 Copilot | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 1 |
| Manager | Microsoft 365 Copilot | higher total score on tasks and fit |
| Marketer | Gemini | covers 9 of this role's tasks against 6; part of the role's core toolkit; cheaper entry plan |
| Sales manager | Gemini | covers 9 of this role's tasks against 6; cheaper entry plan |
| Data analyst | Microsoft 365 Copilot | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 2 |
| Teacher | Microsoft 365 Copilot | higher total score on tasks and fit |
| Executive assistant | Microsoft 365 Copilot | part of the role's core toolkit |
| Logistics manager | Gemini | covers 10 of this role's tasks against 6; cheaper entry plan |
| Procurement manager | Gemini | cheaper entry plan |
| Secretary | Microsoft 365 Copilot | higher total score on tasks and fit |
| Recruiter | Gemini | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 4; part of the role's core toolkit; cheaper entry plan |
| HR administrator | Gemini | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 4; cheaper entry plan |
| Tax consultant | Gemini | cheaper entry plan |
| Auditor | Gemini | cheaper entry plan |
| Economist | Microsoft 365 Copilot | covers 5 of this role's tasks against 1 |
| Project manager | Microsoft 365 Copilot | higher total score on tasks and fit |
| Social media manager | Gemini | covers 9 of this role's tasks against 6; part of the role's core toolkit; cheaper entry plan |
Side by side
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | Gemini | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Microsoft | |
| Category | Chat assistants | Chat assistants |
| Free plan | Yes: Free Copilot in the browser and the Microsoft Copilot app, with no access to company files, no work inside Word and Excel, and limited strong models at peak hours | Yes: A fast model with no cap on ordinary requests, a few runs of Deep Research and the strong model per day, a limited number of files per request, no Gemini side panel in Docs and Sheets |
| Cheapest paid plan | Copilot Pro, $20/mo | Google Workspace Business Standard, $14/mo |
| Top plan | Microsoft 365 Copilot, $30/mo | Google AI Ultra, $249.99/mo |
| Tasks covered | 6 | 12 |
Microsoft 365 Copilot: Assistant inside Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and PowerPoint with access to company data.
Gemini: Google's chat with access to Drive, Gmail and Sheets, deep research and a localized interface.
Only Microsoft 365 Copilot covers
- Build a quarterly results presentation
- Write meeting minutes from an audio recording
- Write a business letter
- Write a weekly report to your manager
- Analyze budget variances, actual versus plan
- Find a document in your drive by its content
Only Gemini covers
- Run a quick counterparty check before a deal
- Build a competitor price review
- Write a job ad and a job description
- Write a series of company social media posts
- Prepare a structured interview
- Check a source document for required fields
- Write a sales call script
- Turn a scanned document into editable text
Pitfalls to watch at work
Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Copilot sees everything your account can access, including folders colleagues shared by mistake: review SharePoint and OneDrive permissions before rollout
- A Teams meeting summary is built from the transcript and may credit a decision to the wrong person: check it against the recording before sending
- Free Copilot in the browser and business Copilot in Word are different products with different data protection: work documents go only into the business version
Gemini
- In a personal account, turn off Gemini activity saving (Keep Activity), otherwise conversations may be reviewed by people and used for training
- When Gemini has access to Gmail and Drive it sees all your mail and files: use a corporate Workspace account for work data, keeping it off personal accounts
- Deep Research pulls sources from the web into the report: check that every link opens and really contains the stated claim
FAQ
Is Microsoft 365 Copilot or Gemini better for work?
In our data Gemini is the better choice for 11 of 20 roles. The table above shows the reason for each role.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft 365 Copilot or Gemini?
Gemini starts at $14/mo and Microsoft 365 Copilot at $20/mo on the cheapest paid plan.
Do Microsoft 365 Copilot and Gemini have free plans?
Microsoft 365 Copilot: Yes. Free Copilot in the browser and the Microsoft Copilot app, with no access to company files, no work inside Word and Excel, and limited strong models at peak hours. Gemini: Yes. A fast model with no cap on ordinary requests, a few runs of Deep Research and the strong model per day, a limited number of files per request, no Gemini side panel in Docs and Sheets.
Compare Microsoft 365 Copilot with
- Microsoft 365 Copilot vs ChatGPT
- Microsoft 365 Copilot vs Copilot in Word
- Microsoft 365 Copilot vs Gemini in Google Docs
- Microsoft 365 Copilot vs Claude
- Microsoft 365 Copilot vs Notion AI
Compare Gemini with
Alternatives to Microsoft 365 Copilot · Alternatives to Gemini · Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing · Gemini pricing
AI tools weekly for your role
One email a week: new tools, price changes and one tested prompt for your job. Free, unsubscribe in one click.