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Head-to-head · AI Chatbots

Microsoft Copilot vs Perplexity

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 7 checks side by side
Higher score Microsoft Copilot #3 in AI Chatbots 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 6 of 6 features Visit site
Perplexity #4 in AI Chatbots 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 6 of 6 features Visit Perplexity

Microsoft Copilot leads on 0 checks, Perplexity on 0, and 7 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 7 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMicrosoft Copilot · 9.2/10
  • Free planboth

Microsoft Copilot scores higher on our rubric for ai chatbots: 9.2 against 9.1 out of 10; our editors rank them #3 and #4.

Microsoft Copilot is the better fit for microsoft 365 users and organizations. Perplexity is the better fit for citation-focused web research.

  • Microsoft Copilot fits best

    Microsoft 365 users and organizations

  • Perplexity fits best

    Citation-focused web research

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Side by side

Feature Microsoft Copilot 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Perplexity 9.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 9.1
Ranking #3 in AI Chatbots #4 in AI Chatbots
Best for Microsoft 365 users and organizations Citation-focused web research
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price $99.99/yr —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Docs Email, Live chat, Community, Docs
Integrations 11 integrations 400+ integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Microsoft Copilot 6/6 · Perplexity 6/6
Web search ✓ ✓
File uploads ✓ ✓
Image generation ✓ ✓
Mobile apps ✓ ✓
App integrations ✓ ✓
Team workspace ✓ ✓
Our review
Pros
  • Combines chat, Bing search, file analysis, and image generation
  • Works across Microsoft 365 apps, web, desktop, and mobile
  • Business plan adds organizational grounding and centralized governance
  • Real-time web search returns conversational answers with inline citations
  • Deep Research, file analysis, image generation, and document creation
  • Web, desktop, mobile, Comet Browser, and API access
Cons
  • Advanced business features require the Microsoft 365 Copilot plan
  • Higher-capability access varies by subscription and account context
  • Microsoft 365 integrations may be more useful than non-Microsoft tools
  • Free plan includes limited usage and basic AI models
  • Advanced capabilities require a paid monthly plan
  • Max costs $200 per month, above the Pro plan's $20 price
Our verdict

Microsoft Copilot is an AI chatbot and productivity assistant for individuals and organizations. It supports conversational answers, live web search through Bing, file uploads and document analysis, content drafting and rewriting,…

Read the review →

Perplexity is an AI answer engine for people who want conversational web research with inline citations. It searches the open web in real time, supports follow-up questions, and combines web answers with file uploads, multiple AI models,…

Read the review →
  1. Microsoft CopilotAI Chatbots 9.2Free plan
  2. PerplexityAI Chatbots 9.1Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Microsoft Copilot — where it wins

    • Combines chat, Bing search, file analysis, and image generation
    • Works across Microsoft 365 apps, web, desktop, and mobile
    • Business plan adds organizational grounding and centralized governance

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced business features require the Microsoft 365 Copilot plan
    • Higher-capability access varies by subscription and account context
    • Microsoft 365 integrations may be more useful than non-Microsoft tools

  • Perplexity — where it wins

    • Real-time web search returns conversational answers with inline citations
    • Deep Research, file analysis, image generation, and document creation
    • Web, desktop, mobile, Comet Browser, and API access

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan includes limited usage and basic AI models
    • Advanced capabilities require a paid monthly plan
    • Max costs $200 per month, above the Pro plan's $20 price
  • Microsoft Copilot9.2/10 · Free plan

    A versatile AI assistant with strong Microsoft 365 integration and a free entry point.

    Visit siteFull verdict →
  • Perplexity9.1/10 · Free plan

    A citation-focused chatbot combining live web search, research modes, files, and multiple AI models.

    Visit PerplexityFull verdict →

More comparisons

All AI chatbots comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update