Microsoft Copilot has become the default AI experience for billions of Windows and Office users. Now available as a standalone Android app on Google Play, it brings GPT-4 powered AI, DALL-E image generation, and Microsoft 365 integration to your phone. But is it actually good, or just another pre-installed Microsoft product you'll ignore?
Spoiler: it's surprisingly capable, especially if you're a Microsoft 365 user.
What is Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant powered by OpenAI's GPT-4 and DALL-E models, available as a free Android app on Google Play. It can answer questions, generate and analyze images, write content, help with code, summarize documents, and create artwork. For Microsoft 365 subscribers, Copilot integrates with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams to provide AI assistance within your actual workflow. The Android app also includes voice input, conversation history, and the ability to analyze photos from your camera or gallery.
Key Features
Copilot brings Microsoft's AI investment to your Android device:
- GPT-4 powered (free) — Unlike ChatGPT which requires a $20/mo subscription for GPT-4, Copilot gives you GPT-4 access completely free
- DALL-E image generation — Create images from text descriptions using DALL-E 3. Generate up to 15 images per day for free — a feature that costs $20/mo on ChatGPT
- Microsoft 365 integration — With a Copilot Pro subscription, get AI in Word (draft documents), Excel (analyze data, create formulas), PowerPoint (generate presentations), and Outlook (summarize email threads)
- Image analysis — Upload photos or use your camera to get AI analysis. Identify objects, extract text (OCR), solve math from photos, or get cooking suggestions from fridge photos
- Voice conversations — Speak naturally to Copilot and get spoken responses. Supports multiple languages
- Notebook mode — Extended input mode for longer prompts up to 18,000 characters, ideal for detailed creative writing or complex analysis requests
- Plugins — Connect to OpenTable (restaurant reservations), Instacart (grocery ordering), Kayak (travel), and more
How It Compares
- vs. ChatGPT (Android) — ChatGPT has a more polished chat experience and better creative writing. But Copilot offers GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 for free, while ChatGPT charges $20/mo for comparable features. Copilot wins on value
- vs. Google Gemini (Android) — Gemini integrates with Google ecosystem; Copilot integrates with Microsoft ecosystem. Gemini has better real-time info; Copilot has better image generation. Choose your ecosystem
- vs. Claude (Android) — Claude is superior for long document analysis, coding, and nuanced reasoning. Copilot is better for image generation and Microsoft 365 integration
- vs. Bing Chat (legacy) — Copilot is the evolution of Bing Chat with a dedicated app, better UI, and more features. If you used Bing Chat, Copilot is the upgrade
Pricing
Copilot offers the most generous free AI tier on Android:
Free
$0
GPT-4 access, DALL-E 3 image generation (15/day), voice chat, image analysis, conversation history, plugins. No account required for basic use
Copilot Pro
$20/month
Priority GPT-4 access during peak hours, 100 DALL-E images/day, Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), custom GPTs
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free GPT-4 access — the same model ChatGPT charges $20/mo for
- Free DALL-E 3 image generation — excellent quality, 15 images/day at no cost
- Microsoft 365 integration transforms productivity for Office power users
- Image analysis from camera works surprisingly well for OCR, math, and identification
- Plugins extend functionality to restaurant booking, travel, and shopping
- No account required for basic usage — just install and start
Cons
- Office 365 Copilot integration requires expensive $20/mo Pro subscription on top of existing Microsoft 365 plan
- Response speed can lag behind ChatGPT, especially during peak hours on free tier
- Sometimes gives generic, overly safe responses compared to ChatGPT or Claude
- UI can feel cluttered with Microsoft branding and promotional elements
Our Verdict
Microsoft Copilot is the best value AI assistant on Android, period. Getting GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 for free is extraordinary — these are features that cost $20/month elsewhere. If you're a Microsoft 365 user, the Pro integration adds genuine productivity gains. The free tier alone makes it worth installing alongside ChatGPT or Gemini. It's not the most polished AI chat experience, but the price-to-capability ratio is unbeatable on Google Play.