Copilot vs ChatGPT — which one should you use?

This is the question I get asked more than any other.

And I understand why. You’ve heard of both. You’re not sure if they’re the same thing. You don’t know if you need one or both. And every article you’ve found so far has been written for people who already know the answer.

Let me just tell you.

What they both are

Copilot and ChatGPT are both AI assistants. They both understand plain English instructions and help you get things done faster. At a basic level they do similar things.

The difference is where they live and who makes them.

Copilot — Microsoft’s AI

Copilot is made by Microsoft. It lives inside Microsoft 365 — which means Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

If your company uses Microsoft 365 — and most do — Copilot is already sitting inside the tools you use every day. You don’t need to go anywhere new. You don’t need a new account. You just need to know where to find the button.

That’s its biggest advantage. It’s already there.

The catch: your company needs to have switched it on. And depending on your licence, there may be an additional cost. Check with your IT team.

ChatGPT — OpenAI’s AI

ChatGPT is made by OpenAI. It lives at chat.openai.com or in the ChatGPT app. It’s a standalone tool — you go to it, rather than it living inside your existing tools.

The free version is genuinely capable. The paid version — ChatGPT Plus at around $20 a month — gives you access to more powerful features.

ChatGPT is more flexible than Copilot. You can use it for almost anything — writing, research, analysis, coding, creative work. It doesn’t need a Microsoft licence. Anyone with an email address can use it.

So which one should you use?

Here’s the honest answer.

If you use Microsoft 365 at work, start with Copilot. It’s already in your tools. The learning curve is minimal. And the time savings — email summaries, meeting notes, first draft documents — are immediate.

If you don’t use Microsoft 365, or if you want an AI assistant for things outside work, start with ChatGPT. The free version is enough to begin with.

You don’t have to choose permanently. Most people end up using both — Copilot for work tasks inside Microsoft, ChatGPT for everything else.

But if you’re starting from zero and you work in a Microsoft environment: open Outlook, find the Copilot icon, and start there.

That’s what Module 1 of That Clicked is built around. If you haven’t tried it yet, the first two lessons are free.

— Anna