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Copilot Free vs ChatGPT Free

Same price · Updated 2026-08-31

Copilot Free

microsoft
Free

Standard access during off-peak, basic image gen

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ChatGPT Free

openai
Free

GPT-5.6 Terra is available to Free users; subscription prices and quota budgets were unchanged by the July 30 price cut.

Full details →
Attribute Copilot Free ChatGPT Free
Price Free Free
Tier free free
Context window 8K tokens 8K tokens
Provider microsoft openai
Billing free free
Audience consumer consumer
Flagship models gpt-5-mini, gpt-4o gpt-5.6-terra
Usage note Standard access during off-peak, basic image gen GPT-5.6 Terra is available to Free users; subscription prices and quota budgets were unchanged by the July 30 price cut.
Feature count 3 4

Only in Copilot Free

  • +web chat
  • +basic image generation
  • +Windows integration

Only in ChatGPT Free

  • +standard voice mode
  • +limited file uploads
  • +limited image generation
  • +search

Which one should I pick?

Same price Picking between Copilot Free and ChatGPT Free usually comes down to three things: which models you want access to, how much you'll actually use, and what ecosystem you already live in.

  • Pick Copilot Free if you want gpt-5-mini or gpt-4o as your daily driver, or if web chat matters to you.
  • Pick ChatGPT Free if you want gpt-5.6-terra, or if standard voice mode is closer to your workflow.

Still unsure? The Subscription vs API calculator tells you the break-even usage where pay-as-you-go API access would be cheaper than either subscription.

Frequently asked questions

What is the price difference between Copilot Free and ChatGPT Free? +

Copilot Free and ChatGPT Free are both priced at Free per month, so cost is not a deciding factor — pick based on included models and feature fit.

Which AI models are included with Copilot Free vs ChatGPT Free? +

Copilot Free bundles gpt-5-mini, gpt-4o. ChatGPT Free bundles gpt-5.6-terra. The model lineup is usually the most important factor — pick the plan whose flagship models match the work you actually do.

Is Copilot Free or ChatGPT Free better value for power users? +

Both plans are priced the same, so value comes down to feature depth and model access — see the "Only in" lists above.

Can I switch between Copilot Free and ChatGPT Free? +

Yes. Both plans are monthly subscriptions you can cancel or downgrade at any time. Many users keep one plan as a daily driver and try the other for a single billing cycle to compare in their own workflow.