Microsoft’s Copilot Tool

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

Microsoft’s Copilot tool is already freely available as a dedicated webpage, mobile app, and built-in Windows tool, offering quick and easy access to an AI chatbot that will answer your questions, generate content, and create images. But now, Microsoft has upped its game with a Pro version of Copilot that kicks in more features and better access for $20 per month.

Also: Microsoft adds Copilot Pro support to iPhone and Android apps

The Pro version offers three current benefits and a fourth one on the way:

• Faster performance and priority access to GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo during peak times.
• Copilot availability in certain Microsoft 365 apps (Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription required)
• Faster AI image creation with 100 boosts (100 images) per day using Designer (formerly Bing Image Creator)
• And coming soon, promises Microsoft, will be the ability to create your own custom and tailored Copilot GPTs via a new Copilot Builder tool. Currently, this is something you can do only with a Copilot Studio subscription, which runs $30 per month.

Beyond using Copilot Pro at the Copilot website through any browser, you can launch it directly in Windows 10 or 11. Just click the Copilot icon on the Taskbar. The Pro flavor is also accessible in the iPhone and Android Copilot apps. Plus, those of you with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription can use Copilot Pro with Microsoft 365 apps on Windows, MacOS, and iPadOS.

First, let’s look at how to access both the free and paid flavors of Copilot.

Free version access at the website

Browse to the Copilot webpage. Choose a conversation style and then type your question or request at the “Ask me anything” prompt. On the right, you may see specific Copilot GPTs, including Designer for image generation, a vacation planner, a cooking assistant, and a fitness trainer, though these GPTs are still rolling out and aren’t yet fully available. Plus, there’s access to Copilot plugins, such as Instacart, Kayak, and Open Table. You should also see a link to turn on personalization. With this option enabled, Copilot provides personalized answers based on your chat history over the past 90 days.

Free version access in Windows

More easily, click the Copilot icon on the Windows 10 or 11 toolbar. A similar interface appears where you choose the conversation style and then dive into your questions.

Free version access in the mobile apps

To use Copilot on your mobile device, download the app for iOS or Android. Choose your preferred conversation style and then submit your requests.

Paid version access at the website

To sign up for the paid version of Copilot, browse to Microsoft’s Copilot Pro webpage. Click the button for Get Copilot Pro. At the subscription page, confirm your payment method, and then click the Subscribe button.

After the payment process finishes, click the “Get started” button. You’re taken to the Copilot webpage where you’ll see Pro as part of the Copilot logo. The Copilot GPTs, plugins, and personalization option are all accessible in the Pro model.

Paid version access in Windows

After subscribing on the website, log back into Windows 10 or 11. Click the Copilot Taskbar icon, and the Pro version will pop up.

Paid version access in the mobile apps

Open the iOS or Android Copilot app and you’ll see that Pro is now part of the logo, indicating that you’re tapping into your Pro subscription.

Now that you know how to access both versions, here are the differences between the Pro and free editions.

You should use Copilot free if…

1. You don’t use Microsoft 365

2. You can get by with GPT-3.5 and non-peak use of GPT-4

3. Your image generation needs are modest

4. You already subscribe to ChatGPT Plus

You should use Copilot Pro if…

1. You run Microsoft 365 and want generative AI assistance for the apps

2. You rely heavily on GPT-4 and GPT-4 Turbo

3. You need to generate a lot of images

4. You don’t subscribe to other premium AI services