Is Copilot AI Free? How to Use Copilot AI for Free and Its Top Free Alternatives

While providing seamless integration with popular Microsoft tools, Copilot helps users work faster and more effectively. As an advanced assistant embedded within Microsoft 365, it enables users to redefine productivity by automating tasks. It is a highly valuable AI feature for busy professionals and teams. However, a key question remains for many potential users: Is Copilot AI free?

Here, we’ll explore the availability of any free options for Copilot AI and how to maximize its use without a subscription. Additionally, we'll cover some of the best free alternatives that offer similar AI-powered functionalities to enhance productivity.

Part 1. Is Copilot AI Free?

After having a brief overview of Microsoft 365 Copilot, you might be curious about the available subscription plans and free trial access. To give you better insight into this tool, this section will dive into the details of its usage options, including any free trials that users must explore.

A. Subscription Requirement

Copilot emerges as a paid feature that requires a separate add-on purchase for any Microsoft 365 subscription plan. Other than that, there are 3 subscription plans specifically available for this AI assistant. The first one is Copilot Pro, which is priced at $20/user/month and provides access to AI functionalities without requiring a full Microsoft 365 subscription.

The second plan is Business Microsoft 365 Copilot, available for $30/user/month, suitable for businesses that need enhanced AI capabilities. Lastly, the Enterprise Microsoft 365 Copilot is designed for larger organizations with advanced features set at a $30/user/month price. Both Business and Enterprise plans need a Microsoft 365 Subscription to access the Copilot functionalities.

B. Free Trial Availability

Microsoft provides a free 1-month trial to use Copilot through the Microsoft Copilot Pro plan. To access this free version, you simply need to navigate to this plan and enter your credit card details. However, keep in mind that once the trial period ends, the auto-renewal feature will automatically activate the subscription.

C. Free Limited Features in Office Apps

While Copilot provides advanced functionalities through its paid subscription, several basic AI-driven features are available for free within Microsoft 365 apps. For example, Word includes a spelling and grammar check feature to improve writing quality. Apart from that, Excel lets users access features like Flash Fill to help automate data entry.

Part 2. How to Get a Free Trial of Copilot AI?

Upon understanding the free trial availability, let's learn how to access this valuable opportunity. This section will walk you through the process for signing up for the 1-month free trial of Copilot AI:

Step 1. To check if Copilot AI has a trial option available in Microsoft 365 plans, visit the official Microsoft website and navigate to the Microsoft 365 Copilot section. Look for the Microsoft Copilot Pro page and click on the "Start Your Free Trial" button to enter the next window.

Step 2. After adding a payment method, check the box to confirm your agreement to the terms and conditions. Next, press "Next" to proceed with your trial activation process.

Step 3. Moving forward, enter your address and card details in the provided fields. Once you’ve filled out the necessary information, hit the “Save” button to start the trial version.

Step 4. Lastly, open any Microsoft app to see whether the feature is activated or not. For instance, if you open PowerPoint, then you must see a “Copilot” feature at the top-right corner of the interface.

Limitations of the Free Trial

1. It is only available for 30 days, after which the subscription is automatically activated.

2. The free version lacks Business Chat features that are crucial for team collaboration and communication.

3. The Copilot Studio feature is also missing, which means professionals cannot create custom agents to automate business processes.

Part 3. Top Free Alternatives to Copilot AI

In addition to the above discussion, look at the top free alternatives of Copilot AI that you can utilize to benefit from AI technology. The options discussed in this section can provide valuable support for various tasks and workflows:

Alternative 1. ChatGPT

ChatGPT by OpenAI is a comprehensive tool that focuses on content generation, brainstorming ideas, and providing data insights. While it doesn’t integrate directly with Office tools, it is highly adaptable for users who need quick assistance with writing or help analyzing information. Its conversational format allows for a dynamic, user-friendly experience, making it a popular choice for productivity and creativity across various tasks.

Alternative 2. Google Workspace Smart Compose and Smart Fill

This alternative uses cutting-edge AI technology to enhance users' productivity while working across Google Workspace. These features help with basic content creation, auto-completing text in documents, and assisting with data input in spreadsheets. While they’re not as advanced as Copilot AI, they’re practical, free solutions that streamline everyday tasks. This makes Google Workspace Smart Compose and Smart Fill a valuable resource for users seeking AI support without additional costs.

Alternative 3. Notion AI

Notion AI is a versatile tool that enhances productivity within the Notion app by assisting with tasks like writing and brainstorming ideas. It offers intuitive support for content creation directly in its collaborative workspace, making it ideal for individuals or teams managing projects and notes. In addition, Notion AI’s summarizing tool condenses long text into concise summaries, allowing users to grasp critical points from lengthy documents or discussions quickly.

Alternative 4. HitPaw Tools

Apart from the above alternatives, here are the top free practical tools that have integrated AI technology to improve your visual content creation. These tools allow creative users to enhance their videos and images with just a few clicks. HitPaw FotorPea benefits from AI by significantly improving image quality by refining details in photos, which can bring clarity to low-resolution images.

Its AI-based enhancement technology sharpens images automatically to help users achieve professional-quality results with minimal effort. Another key feature is its color enhancement, where the AI intelligently adjusts hues, contrasts, and saturation levels to make colors more visually appealing.

On the other hand, HitPaw VikPea’s AI stabilization helps to reduce shakiness in videos, which results in smoother playback. Its AI-driven sharpening feature ensures that even low-quality footage can be made to look more professional. Another standout feature is its color adjustment tool, which intelligently enhances colors to create a more polished, balanced look.

Conclusion

In summary, Copilot AI is primarily available as a paid feature within Microsoft 365, though users may find limited free trials to explore its functionality. For those seeking cost-free options, there are several top alternatives that offer valuable AI-driven assistance across writing, data analysis, and task automation without a subscription.

Readers are encouraged to try the free trial of Copilot AI and explore these alternative tools to find the best fit for their unique needs. Those who want to create stunning visual content with AI assistance should look to make use of HitPaw FotorPea and HitPaw VikPea.