Microsoft 365 Copilot is a powerful AI-powered assistant designed to help businesses and individuals work smarter and faster. Whether you’re looking to summarize documents, create presentations, or get quick answers to work-related questions, Copilot can be a game-changer. However, to use Microsoft 365 Copilot, you need the right license plan.
This article explains the licensing requirements for Microsoft 365 Copilot, including the subscription plans that support it, how to set it up, and where to find additional help.
What is Microsoft 365 Copilot?
Microsoft 365 Copilot is an AI assistant integrated into Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook. It uses advanced language models to help users automate tasks, generate content, and find information quickly.
To use Microsoft 365 Copilot, you need to add it as an add-on license to your existing Microsoft 365 subscription. This article will help you determine if your current plan supports Copilot and what steps to take if it doesn’t.
Microsoft 365 Copilot License Requirements
Microsoft 365 Copilot is available as an add-on to specific Microsoft 365 subscription plans. Below is a breakdown of the plans that support Copilot:
Business and Enterprise Licenses
If your organization uses one of the following plans, you can add Microsoft 365 Copilot:
- Microsoft 365 Plans:
- Microsoft 365 E5
- Microsoft 365 E3
- Microsoft 365 F1
- Microsoft 365 F3
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
- Office 365 Plans:
- Office 365 E5
- Office 365 E3
- Office 365 E1
- Office 365 F3
- Microsoft Teams Plans:
- Microsoft Teams Essentials
- Microsoft Teams Enterprise
- Microsoft Teams EEA (European Economic Area)
- Exchange Plans:
- Exchange Kiosk
- Exchange Plan 1
- Exchange Plan 2
- SharePoint Plans:
- SharePoint Kiosk
- SharePoint Plan 1
- SharePoint Plan 2
- OneDrive for Work and School Plans:
- OneDrive for Work and School Plan 1
- OneDrive for Work and School Plan 2
- Planner and Project Plans:
- Microsoft Planner Plan 1 (formerly Project Plan 1)
- Microsoft Project Plan 3
- Microsoft Project Plan 5
- Project Online Essentials
- Visio Plans:
- Visio Plan 1
- Visio Plan 2
- Other Plans:
- Microsoft ClipChamp
Education Licenses
For educational institutions, the following plans support Microsoft 365 Copilot:
- Microsoft 365 A1
- Microsoft 365 A3
- Microsoft 365 A5
- Office 365 A1
- Office 365 A3
- Office 365 A5
These plans are available through Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) or Cloud Solution Provider (CSP).
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat License
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat is a popular feature that provides a prompt-and-response experience. There are two types of Copilot Chat:
- Web-Based Chat:
- Shows results from the internet.
- Automatically included in your Microsoft 365 subscription at no extra cost.
- Work-Based Chat:
- Shows results based on data accessible to your Microsoft Entra work or school account.
- Requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
How to Set Up Microsoft 365 Copilot
If your organization already has one of the supported plans, you can add Microsoft 365 Copilot as an add-on. Here’s how to get started:
- Check Your Current Subscription:
- Sign in to your Microsoft account to view your current subscription.
- Ensure your plan is listed in the supported plans above.
- Upgrade or Purchase a New Plan (if needed):
- If your plan doesn’t support Copilot, you can upgrade or purchase a new plan.
- For businesses, visit Upgrade or Change to a Different Microsoft 365 for Business Plan.
- For home users, visit Switch Between Microsoft 365 Subscriptions.
- Add the Copilot License:
- Once you have a supported plan, add the Copilot license through your Microsoft 365 admin center.
- Access Copilot:
- After adding the license, you can start using Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook.
Pricing and Plans
Microsoft 365 Copilot is available as an add-on license to your existing Microsoft 365 subscription. Below, we’ll explore the pricing and features for different user categories:
For Businesses
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
- Price: Free
- Features:
- Available at no additional cost for all Microsoft Entra account users with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Free, secure AI chat powered by GPT-4.
- Access and use agents (priced on a metered basis).
- Maintain IT control, including enterprise data protection and agent management.
- Requirements:
- An Azure subscription is required to use agents.
- Pre-paid Copilot Studio capacity packs are also available.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Price:
- $30.00/user/month (paid yearly)
- $31.50/user/month (paid monthly, annual commitment)
- Features:
- AI-powered chat grounded in your business data.
- Access Microsoft 365 Copilot in apps like Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
- Create and use agents with Copilot Studio.
- Enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance.
- Requirements:
- A separate license for a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan is required.
For Enterprises
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
- Price: Free
- Features:
- Available at no additional cost for all Microsoft Entra account users with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Free, secure AI chat powered by GPT-4.
- Access and use agents (priced on a metered basis).
- Maintain IT control, including enterprise data protection and agent management.
- Requirements:
- An Azure subscription is required to use agents.
- Pre-paid Copilot Studio capacity packs are also available.
Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Price:
- $30.00/user/month (paid yearly)
- $31.50/user/month (paid monthly, annual commitment)
- Features:
- AI-powered chat grounded in your business data.
- Access Microsoft 365 Copilot in apps like Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
- Create and use agents with Copilot Studio.
- Enterprise-grade security, privacy, and compliance.
- Requirements:
- A separate license for a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan is required.
For Personal Use
Microsoft 365 Personal
- Price: $9.99/month (subscription automatically renews unless canceled in your Microsoft account).
- Features:
- For 1 person.
- 1 TB of secure cloud storage.
- Productivity apps with Microsoft Copilot.
- Microsoft Designer AI-powered image creator and editor.
- Personal data and device security.
Microsoft 365 Family
- Price: $12.99/month (subscription automatically renews unless canceled in your Microsoft account).
- Features:
- For up to 6 people.
- Up to 6 TB of secure cloud storage (1 TB per person).
- Productivity apps with Microsoft Copilot.
- Microsoft Designer AI-powered image creator and editor.
- Personal data and device security.
How to Choose the Right Plan
- For Businesses and Enterprises:
- If you need AI-powered assistance for work tasks, choose Microsoft 365 Copilot at $30/user/month.
- For free, secure AI chat, use Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat.
- For Personal Use:
- If you’re an individual, Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99/month is ideal.
- For families, Microsoft 365 Family at $12.99/month offers great value with up to 6 TB of storage.
For detailed pricing information, visit Microsoft 365 Copilot Pricing and Plans. The cost of adding Copilot depends on your existing subscription and the number of licenses you need.
Final Thoughts
Microsoft 365 Copilot is a powerful tool that can transform how you work by automating tasks and providing intelligent assistance. To get started, ensure your organization has a supported Microsoft 365 plan and add the Copilot license.
If you’re unsure about your current subscription or need help upgrading, refer to the links provided or contact Microsoft support. With the right license, you can unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot and take your productivity to the next level.