Who is Google Gemini for?

People who already use Gmail, Docs and Drive; Free voice chat and deep research without paying; Quick apps and drafts in Canvas

Who is Google Gemini not for?

Anyone who needs fixed usage numbers: limits are based on compute and vary; Teams wanting Gemini inside Gmail and Docs on Free (that starts at Google AI Pro)

What is the trade-off with Google Gemini?

A strong free plan with voice, research and Canvas, but usage limits are compute-based, so how much you get varies.

Who is Microsoft Copilot for?

People already paying for Microsoft 365 who want AI inside Word, Excel and Outlook; First-time AI users who want a free assistant in Windows and Edge

Who is Microsoft Copilot not for?

Families who each need AI features (AI is for the subscription owner only); Users who need published usage limits

What is the trade-off with Microsoft Copilot?

Free and built into Microsoft apps, but usage limits are not published and family plans give AI to the owner only.

Google Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot: Google Gemini fits most teams of 5

Start here: Google Gemini

People who already use Gmail, Docs and Drive

See Google Gemini pricing

Our pick for most teams

Google Gemini

87.3/ 100

Price: From $4.99/user/mo (monthly only)
Free plan: Flash-Lite model, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas, Gems and 15 GB storage; limits reset every 5 hours up to a weekly cap

Microsoft Copilot

43.3/ 100

Price: From $9.99/user/mo · $99.99/user/yr
Free plan: Limited usage subject to capacity; sign in for chat history, image creation, voice and longer conversations

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Which one fits your team

Checked 2026-10-16
7 sources

The score is worked out from the facts below. How we score tools. What we earn is not part of it.

Google Gemini: who it fits and who it does not

Good for: People who already use Gmail, Docs and Drive
Free voice chat and deep research without paying
Quick apps and drafts in Canvas
Not for: Anyone who needs fixed usage numbers: limits are based on compute and vary
Teams wanting Gemini inside Gmail and Docs on Free (that starts at Google AI Pro)
The catch: A strong free plan with voice, research and Canvas, but usage limits are compute-based, so how much you get varies.

Data last verified: 2026-10-16

How we make money · How we score tools

Microsoft Copilot: who it fits and who it does not

Good for: People already paying for Microsoft 365 who want AI inside Word, Excel and Outlook
First-time AI users who want a free assistant in Windows and Edge
Not for: Families who each need AI features (AI is for the subscription owner only)
Users who need published usage limits
The catch: Free and built into Microsoft apps, but usage limits are not published and family plans give AI to the owner only.

Data last verified: 2026-10-16

How we make money · How we score tools

See Google Gemini pricing

What each one costs over five years

Same team size, cheapest plan of each, paid monthly or yearly.

Google Gemini

Five years for a team of 5, paid monthly: $1,497

On the Google AI Plus plan, at today's price. We do not assume a rise.

Paid monthly, one year: $299.40
Paid yearly, one year: Not verified

"Google AI Plus" has no verified annual price

Your team size

Change the number to see your own total. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Vendor pricing page · checked 2026-10-19

Microsoft Copilot

Five years for a team of 5, paid yearly: $649.95

On the Microsoft 365 Family plan, at today's price. We do not assume a rise.

Paid monthly, one year: $155.88
Paid yearly, one year: $129.99

Paying yearly saves $25.89 a year (17%).

Your team size

Change the number to see your own total. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Vendor pricing page · checked 2026-10-19

See Google Gemini pricing

The four facts that decide it

Every figure comes from the vendor's own pages, listed under Sources.
	Google Gemini	Microsoft Copilot
Score out of 100	87.3	43.3
Cheapest plan	Google AI Plus	Microsoft 365 Family
Free plan	Flash-Lite model, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas, Gems and 15 GB storage; limits reset every 5 hours up to a weekly cap	Limited usage subject to capacity; sign in for chat history, image creation, voice and longer conversations
Works with (apps)	4	0

Every figure comes from the vendor's own pages, listed under Sources.

Google Gemini

Score out of 100: 87.3
Cheapest plan: Google AI Plus
Free plan: Flash-Lite model, Deep Research, Gemini Live, Canvas, Gems and 15 GB storage; limits reset every 5 hours up to a weekly cap
Works with (apps): 4

Microsoft Copilot

Score out of 100: 43.3
Cheapest plan: Microsoft 365 Family
Free plan: Limited usage subject to capacity; sign in for chat history, image creation, voice and longer conversations
Works with (apps): 0

Feature by feature, on the same list

Open a row for the vendor's own wording and the page we read it on.

Chat interfaceYesYes

Google Gemini: On every plan, including Free
Microsoft Copilot: Free; web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and Edge

File uploadYesYes

Google Gemini: Up to 1,500 pages of uploads
Microsoft Copilot: Uploading files is free, within capacity limits; files are deleted within 18 months

Web browsingYesYes

Google Gemini: Deep Research is included on Free
Microsoft Copilot: Real-time answers based on web search on Free

Understands imagesNot verifiedYes

Google Gemini: Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.
Microsoft Copilot: Screen or camera help; extensive usage on Premium

Voice modeYesYes

Google Gemini: Gemini Live is included on Free
Microsoft Copilot: Voice interactions on Free after signing in

Follows your standing instructionsYesNot verified

Google Gemini: Gems (your own versions of Gemini) on Free
Microsoft Copilot: Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.

Remembers your preferencesYesYes

Google Gemini: “Past chats” renamed “memories” (March 2026)
Microsoft Copilot: Personalization remembers details you share when signed in; you can view and delete it

Code executionYesNot verified

Google Gemini: Canvas builds and previews apps and code, on Free
Microsoft Copilot: Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.

Team workspaceNot verifiedNot verified

Google Gemini: Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.
Microsoft Copilot: Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.

Connects to your other apps (API)Not verifiedNot verified

Google Gemini: Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.
Microsoft Copilot: Not verified: the vendor gives no detail.

What you risk by starting

Google Gemini

Trial, refunds and getting your data out of Google Gemini.

Microsoft Copilot

Trial, refunds and getting your data out of Microsoft Copilot.

Where these facts come from

Google Gemini

https://gemini.google/us/subscriptions/ · checked 2026-10-16https://gemini.google/subscriptions/ · checked 2026-10-16https://gemini.google/ca/release-notes/?hl=en-CA · checked 2026-10-16

Microsoft Copilot

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/pricing/individuals · checked 2026-10-16https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/what-s-the-difference-between-microsoft-copilot-free-and-copilot-in-microsoft-365 · checked 2026-10-16https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/privacy-faq-for-microsoft-copilot · checked 2026-10-16https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/microsoft-copilot-privacy-controls · checked 2026-10-16

What to do next

See Google Gemini pricing

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Data last verified: 2026-10-16