Microsoft Copilot Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Microsoft Copilot pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $20 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Microsoft Copilot's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- GPT-4 Turbo access (non-peak hours)
- AI-powered web search
- Image generation with DALL-E 3
- 15 boosts per day for faster image creation
- Access to Copilot GPTs (Designer, Vacation Planner, Fitness Trainer, Cooking Assistant)
- Conversation history
- Content creation and summarization
- Available on web, mobile, Windows, and Edge browser
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Higher usage than free for select Copilot features
- Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook)
- 1TB OneDrive cloud storage
- Advanced security features
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| imageBoosts | 15 per day | Unlimited/Higher |
| peakAccess | Limited GPT-4 Turbo access during peak hours | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Higher usage than free for select Copilot features or Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook)
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Microsoft Copilot branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Microsoft 365 Personal (with Copilot) Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Microsoft 365 Personal (with Copilot) $9.99/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 8 included | 4+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Microsoft Copilot branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Casual users exploring AI assistance without budget constraints | Individual users needing Office apps with enhanced Copilot access |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes, Microsoft Copilot offers a forever free plan with 8 core features included. However, there are limits on imageboosts, peakaccess that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Microsoft Copilot's free plan?
Microsoft Copilot's free plan includes: GPT-4 Turbo access (non-peak hours), AI-powered web search, Image generation with DALL-E 3, 15 boosts per day for faster image creation, Access to Copilot GPTs (Designer, Vacation Planner, Fitness Trainer, Cooking Assistant), and 3 more features. Key limits include imageBoosts: 15 per day, peakAccess: Limited GPT-4 Turbo access during peak hours.
03 What's NOT included in Microsoft Copilot's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Higher usage than free for select Copilot features, Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook), 1TB OneDrive cloud storage, Advanced security features. You'll also have Microsoft Copilot branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Microsoft Copilot's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Higher usage than free for select Copilot features or Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook), require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $9.99/month.
05 Is Microsoft Copilot's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Microsoft Copilot's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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