Comparison · 9 shared capabilities
Google Gemini vs Microsoft 365 Copilot
They overlap on 9 things. Google Gemini is stronger at 2 of them, Microsoft 365 Copilot at 4, and they're roughly equal on 3. If you pay for both, check whether you use the parts that don't overlap.
Google Gemini
Google's AI assistant, sold through Google AI plans that bundle higher Gemini limits with Google storage and other Google services.
From $4.99/mo Verified
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft's AI assistant inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, grounded in your organisation's Microsoft 365 data.
From $9.99/mo Verified
Capability by capability
| Capability | Google Gemini | Microsoft 365 Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Analyse data and spreadsheets | PartialOne-off analysis | StrongWorks best on clean, well-structured tables |
| Ask questions across company documents | StrongSeparate purchase from consumer plans | Core featureWeaker for content stored outside Microsoft 365 unless connectors are set up |
| General-purpose AI assistant | Core featureFree uses a lightweight model | StrongFree Copilot Chat does not reason over your Microsoft Graph data the way the paid add-on does |
| Generate images from text | StrongLimits on Free are tight | PartialNot a focus of the business product |
| Proofread and improve writing | PartialOnly inside Google apps, not everywhere you type | PartialOnly inside Microsoft apps |
| Research a topic on the web with citations | StrongCitations need spot-checking | StrongCitation checking still needed |
| Run AI agents that complete multi-step tasks | PartialSome agent features are limited to select countries | StrongAdvanced agents and heavy usage may incur extra Copilot Studio costs not covered here |
| Write documents and notes | PartialAssistance, not a separate notes app | StrongThe document tools themselves come from the base Microsoft 365 plan |
| Write marketing and business copy | StrongNo team brand-voice governance on consumer plans | StrongCreative marketing copy is less distinctive than top standalone assistants |
| Create YouTube thumbnails | PartialExact text placement and fonts are unreliable | — |
| Design social media graphics | PartialNo brand templates | — |
| Generate marketing videos with AI | PartialCredit-limited | — |
| Generate and edit software code | StrongAgent limits are low on lower tiers | — |
| Create presentation decks | — | StrongLayouts often need manual polish |
| Transcribe and summarise meetings | — | StrongTeams use requires a Teams license |
| Extract data from documents and PDFs | — | PartialNo batch pipeline or validation queue |
Choose Google Gemini if…
- • you need strong general-purpose ai assistant
- • you need strong generate images from text
- • you rely on create youtube thumbnails (the other doesn't do it)
- • you rely on design social media graphics (the other doesn't do it)
- • you rely on generate marketing videos with ai (the other doesn't do it)
- • you rely on generate and edit software code (the other doesn't do it)
- • The plan doubles as Google storage; cancelling may push photos and email over quota
- • Deep integration with Gmail, Docs, Drive and Android
Choose Microsoft 365 Copilot if…
- • you need strong analyse data and spreadsheets
- • you need strong write documents and notes
- • you need strong run ai agents that complete multi-step tasks
- • you need strong ask questions across company documents
- • you rely on create presentation decks (the other doesn't do it)
- • you rely on transcribe and summarise meetings (the other doesn't do it)
- • you rely on extract data from documents and pdfs (the other doesn't do it)
- • Access to company data in Microsoft Graph with existing permissions
- • Works where staff already write, meet and email, so adoption needs little training
Switch between them
- Consolidate overlapping AI assistant subscriptions (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Grok, Copilot)If you pay for two to four AI assistants, run a one-week, side-by-side test on your real tasks with a provided prompt set and scoring sheet, check which assistant your Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plan already includes, and cancel the rest at their renewal dates. Some heavy users will rightly keep two; the test tells you which.easy1 hour to set up$0 extrauses
- Drop Grammarly when you already pay for ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini or CopilotIf you already pay for an AI assistant, prompts handle rewrites, tone and careful proofreading, and built-in checkers (Google Docs, Microsoft Editor, Apple Writing Tools) cover everyday spelling and grammar. What you genuinely lose is Grammarly's real-time underlines everywhere you type, plus plagiarism checks, AI detection and team style guides on paid plans.easy30–45 minutes$0 extrauses
- Stop paying for Otter: use the transcription and AI notes already in Meet, Teams or ZoomMany business plans already include meeting transcripts and AI notes: Google Meet transcripts and 'Take notes for me' on eligible Workspace editions, Teams transcription (with AI notes via Teams Premium or Microsoft 365 Copilot), and Zoom's built-in meeting summaries on eligible paid plans. Check what you have, fill gaps with a transcript-to-action-items prompt, and handle recording consent properly.easy30–60 minutes$0 extrauses
Fit levels are editorial judgements based on each product's documented features. See each tool page for sources and verification dates.