Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot: Google or Microsoft AI in 2026
Same $19.99 price. One bundles Google's apps and 5 TB of storage, the other bundles Office. Your email client probably decides this one.
By , research by the BestBots team · Updated Oct 18, 2026
Fact checked against each company's published pricing, documentation and verified user ratings. How we score
Pick Gemini if your life runs on Gmail, Google Docs and Android: Google AI Pro at $19.99 includes Gemini 4 Argon, video generation and 5 TB of storage. Pick Microsoft Copilot if you work in Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams: Microsoft 365 Premium at the same $19.99 includes the Office apps with Copilot inside them.
Side by side
| Spec | Gemini | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| BestBots Score | 4.5 | 4.4 |
| Starting price | $4.99 per month | $9.99 per month |
| Pricing model | per seat | per seat |
| Free trial | None listed | 1 month (Microsoft 365 Personal and Premium) |
| Free plan | Yes, Flash-Lite with image generation, Deep Research and Gemini Live | Yes, the Copilot app |
| Paid from | $4.99 per month (AI Plus); AI Pro $19.99 | $9.99 per month (Microsoft 365 Personal) |
| Top model on paid plan | Gemini 4 Argon on AI Pro and Ultra | Latest OpenAI models (GPT-5.X) listed on business plans |
| Image generation | Yes, on Free; video generation from AI Plus | Yes, higher usage on Personal, extensive on Premium |
| Voice mode | Yes, Gemini Live on Free | Yes, voice on mobile, desktop and web |
The short answer
- Choose Gemini for Google app users, Android phones, video generation and the most storage per dollar.
- Choose Copilot for Office users, Excel and PowerPoint heavy roles and companies already on Microsoft 365.
- On a budget, Gemini's AI Plus at $4.99 is the cheapest paid AI tier from either company.
Pricing
| Tier | Gemini | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, Flash-Lite, 15 GB storage | Copilot app, base usage |
| Entry | Google AI Plus, $4.99 per month, 400 GB | Microsoft 365 Personal, $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, 1 TB |
| Standard | Google AI Pro, $19.99 per month, 5 TB | Microsoft 365 Premium, $19.99 per month or $199.99 per year, 2 TB shared |
| Power | Google AI Ultra, $99.99 or $199.99 per month, 20 TB and up | Microsoft 365 Pro, $99.99 per month, 5 TB, monthly only |
| Business | Gemini Enterprise, from $21 per seat per month | Copilot Business add-on, $21 annually ($18 promo) or $25.20 monthly |
| Business bundles | Not listed on the consumer page | Business Standard with Copilot $23.50; Business Premium with Copilot $32 |
The two companies bundle very different extras. Google adds storage, YouTube Premium Lite on AI Pro, and Google Flow credits for video. Microsoft adds the desktop Office apps and sharing with family members on Premium, though Microsoft notes the AI on Family is for the subscription owner only.
Microsoft offers annual billing, saving up to 17%, and a one month free trial on Personal and Premium. Google's subscriptions page lists monthly prices only. Over a year, Microsoft 365 Premium on annual billing is $199.99; Google AI Pro is $239.88.
Plan details: Gemini pricing and Microsoft Copilot pricing.
Models and features
Google names its models: Flash-Lite on Free, Flash on AI Plus and Gemini 4 Argon with Pro and Flash on AI Pro. Microsoft lists the latest OpenAI models (GPT-5.X) on its business plans and does not name a version on its consumer page.
| Feature | Gemini | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Email and documents | Gmail and Docs from AI Plus | Outlook and Word from Personal |
| Spreadsheets and slides | Google apps | Excel and PowerPoint, Analyst on Premium |
| Meetings | Not listed on the consumer page | Teams; Facilitator agent on Copilot Business |
| Context window | 1M tokens on AI Pro | Not stated |
| Image generation | Yes, from Free | Yes, higher usage on Personal, extensive on Premium |
| Video generation | From AI Plus | Not listed |
| Deep research | Deep Research from Free | Researcher on Premium |
| Voice | Gemini Live from Free | Voice on mobile, desktop and web |
| Coding agent | Jules, higher limits on AI Pro | Not included |
| Usage limits | Multiples of Free (2x, 4x, then Ultra) | Higher, extensive, highest |
Head to head scenarios
Drafting email and documents for a Gmail user
Winner: Gemini. It works inside Gmail and Docs from AI Plus at $4.99, about half the price of Microsoft 365 Personal, Copilot's cheapest in-app tier. For Outlook and Word users the answer flips to Copilot, and switching email platforms for AI features costs far more in time than either subscription.
Spreadsheets and financial models
Winner: Copilot. Excel is still the standard for finance work, and Copilot plus Analyst work inside it. Gemini works with Google Sheets through its Google app integration.
Video and creative work
Winner: Gemini. Video generation starts at $4.99, and Ultra includes Veo 3.1. Copilot does not list video.
Families and storage
Winner: Gemini. Google AI Pro includes 5 TB against 2 TB shared on Microsoft 365 Premium, plus YouTube Premium Lite. Pick Copilot instead only if the family needs desktop Office apps, and note Microsoft limits the AI on Family to the subscription owner.
Small businesses on Microsoft 365
Winner: Copilot. Business Standard with Copilot at $23.50 per user per month annually bundles Office, Teams and Copilot with Enterprise Data Protection, up to 300 users.
Developers
Winner: Gemini. AI Pro includes Jules with higher coding agent limits. Microsoft's coding agent, GitHub Copilot, is sold separately.
Privacy
Google's Gemini privacy hub states that with Keep Activity on, chats, files and Gemini Live recordings are saved and used to train models, auto deleting after 18 months by default. A subset of chats is reviewed by human reviewers after being disconnected from your account. With Keep Activity off, future chats are not used for training and are retained for 72 hours. Work and school accounts follow separate terms.
Microsoft states that prompts, responses and file contents in Microsoft 365 apps for home are not used to train foundation models, and business plans add Enterprise Data Protection. On consumer plans, Microsoft's default is the more private of the two.
Verdict
Gemini and Microsoft Copilot cost the same at $19.99, so the decision is about your apps. Gemini gives more AI features per dollar, including video, Jules and 5 TB of storage, plus a $4.99 entry tier. Copilot gives you Office with AI inside it and the stronger default privacy stance on consumer plans. Stay with the suite you already use.
Read the Gemini review and Microsoft Copilot review.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gemini better than Copilot?
Gemini is better if you use Gmail, Google Docs, Android and Chrome, and it adds video generation and more storage at the same $19.99. Copilot is better if you use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams. Neither is better in the abstract; the apps you already use decide it.
Which is cheaper?
At the main tier they are both $19.99 per month. Gemini has the cheaper entry tier, AI Plus at $4.99. Microsoft offers annual billing ($199.99 per year for Premium) and a one month free trial, which Google's subscriptions page does not list.
Which has a better free plan?
Gemini Free includes image generation, Deep Research, Gemini Live voice, Canvas, Gems and 15 GB of storage. The free Copilot app offers chat with base usage. Gemini's free plan lists more tools.
Can Gemini work with Microsoft Office?
Gemini Enterprise, the business product, lists connectors for Microsoft 365. Gemini's consumer plans are built around Google's apps. Copilot is the direct choice for Word, Excel and Outlook.
Which is better for a small business?
If you run on Google Workspace, Gemini Enterprise from $21 per seat fits. If you run on Microsoft 365, Business Standard with Copilot at $23.50 per user per month annually bundles Office, Teams and Copilot in one license. Moving suites just for the AI rarely pays off.
Which one makes videos?
Gemini. Video generation starts on Google AI Plus at $4.99, with Veo 3.1 on Ultra. Microsoft lists image creation on its plans but not video generation.
Do they train on my data?
Microsoft states that prompts, responses and file contents in Microsoft 365 apps for home are not used to train foundation models. Google states Gemini chats are used to train models while Keep Activity is on; turn it off to stop that for future chats.