Comparison · 8 shared capabilities
Microsoft 365 Copilot vs Perplexity
They overlap on 8 things. Microsoft 365 Copilot is stronger at 5 of them, Perplexity at 1, and they're roughly equal on 2. If you pay for both, check whether you use the parts that don't overlap.
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
Perplexity
An AI answer engine that searches the web and returns cited answers, with deeper research and multiple top models on paid plans.
From $17/mo Verified
Capability by capability
| Capability | Microsoft 365 Copilot | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|
| Analyse data and spreadsheets | StrongWorks best on clean, well-structured tables | PartialNot a dedicated spreadsheet analysis tool |
| Ask questions across company documents | Core featureWeaker for content stored outside Microsoft 365 unless connectors are set up | PartialConnector depth may trail Microsoft 365 Copilot or Gemini Enterprise inside their own suites |
| Extract data from documents and PDFs | PartialNo batch pipeline or validation queue | WorkaroundNo batch processing |
| General-purpose AI assistant | StrongFree Copilot Chat does not reason over your Microsoft Graph data the way the paid add-on does | StrongLeans toward search-style answers rather than long creative work |
| Generate images from text | PartialNot a focus of the business product | PartialFewer editing controls than dedicated image tools |
| Research a topic on the web with citations | StrongCitation checking still needed | Core featureFree has limited weekly usage |
| Run AI agents that complete multi-step tasks | StrongAdvanced agents and heavy usage may incur extra Copilot Studio costs not covered here | PartialUsage is credit-limited |
| Write marketing and business copy | StrongCreative marketing copy is less distinctive than top standalone assistants | PartialWeaker style control than writing-focused assistants |
| Proofread and improve writing | PartialOnly inside Microsoft apps | — |
| Write documents and notes | StrongThe document tools themselves come from the base Microsoft 365 plan | — |
| Create presentation decks | StrongLayouts often need manual polish | — |
| Transcribe and summarise meetings | StrongTeams use requires a Teams license | — |
| Research prospects and accounts | — | StrongNo verified contact emails or phone numbers |
| Build internal tools and lightweight apps | — | WorkaroundNo proper database, roles or hosting controls confirmed |
Choose Microsoft 365 Copilot if…
- • you need strong ask questions across company documents
- • you need strong write marketing and business copy
- • you need strong analyse data and spreadsheets
- • you need strong run ai agents that complete multi-step tasks
- • you need strong extract data from documents and pdfs
- • you rely on proofread and improve writing (the other doesn't do it)
- • you rely on write documents and notes (the other doesn't do it)
- • 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)
- • Access to company data in Microsoft Graph with existing permissions
- • Works where staff already write, meet and email, so adoption needs little training
Choose Perplexity if…
- • you need strong research a topic on the web with citations
- • you rely on research prospects and accounts (the other doesn't do it)
- • you rely on build internal tools and lightweight apps (the other doesn't do it)
- • Citation-first answers are its main strength and are well tuned for quick research
- • Model choice across vendors without paying for several subscriptions
Switch between them
Fit levels are editorial judgements based on each product's documented features. See each tool page for sources and verification dates.