Compare/Head to head

Gemini vs Microsoft Copilot

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Gemini

$4.99/mo Free tier

Google's AI assistant inside Gmail, Docs and Drive. Free plan; AI Plus $4.99/mo, AI Pro $19.99/mo, Ultra from $99.99/mo, Gemini Enterprise from $21/seat/mo.

Where Gemini fits

  • Recruiters whose email, calendar and documents live in Google Workspace
  • Free Deep Research on companies and markets
  • Tight budgets: paid plans start at $4.99/mo
  • Teams that want no-code agents across HubSpot or Microsoft 365 through Gemini Enterprise

Microsoft Copilot

$9.99/mo Free tier 30 day free trial

Microsoft's AI assistant inside Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel. Free app; Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/mo; Microsoft 365 Copilot Business $21/user/mo billed annually ($18 first-year offer).

Where Microsoft Copilot fits

  • Recruiting teams whose company runs on Outlook, Teams and Excel
  • Summarising Teams interviews and long email threads
  • HR and TA teams that need IT-approved AI with enterprise data protection

At a glance

DetailGeminiMicrosoft Copilot
Starting price$4.99/mo$9.99/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trialNot on record30 day free trial
MCP server–No–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underAI assistantsAI assistants

Where they pull apart

Gemini

Stands out: Gemini sits inside the Google apps many recruiters use all day, so drafting a reply in Gmail or tidying a pipeline sheet happens in place. The free plan is generous, with Deep Research and saved Gems included.

Watch out: Google AI Plus, Pro and Ultra need a personal Google Account, so a company on Google Workspace buys Gemini Enterprise instead. Usage limits refresh every five hours up to a weekly cap.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams standardised on Outlook, Word and Teams
  • Finding candidate contact data or LinkedIn profiles

Microsoft Copilot

Stands out: With a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot draws on your work email, calendar, files and Teams meetings, so it can answer a question such as what a hiring manager said in last week's meeting without you pasting anything in.

Watch out: Several products are called Copilot. The free app and Copilot Chat do not see your mailbox and files the way a Microsoft 365 Copilot license does, and the business add-on requires an existing Microsoft 365 business plan.

Not the right fit for

  • Teams on Google Workspace
  • Solo recruiters who only want a chat assistant

Pros and cons

Gemini

  • Free plan includes Deep Research and Gems
  • Works inside Gmail, Docs and Drive
  • Lowest paid entry point of the major assistants at $4.99/mo
  • Gemini in Docs needs Google AI Pro or a business plan
  • Personal plans need a personal Google Account, not a work account
  • Usage limits refresh every five hours up to a weekly cap

Microsoft Copilot

  • Free Copilot app, plus Copilot Chat included with eligible Microsoft 365 plans
  • Works inside Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel with your work data
  • One-month free trial on business plans
  • The business add-on needs a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan
  • The discounted price needs an annual commitment
  • Several products share the Copilot name, which makes buying confusing

What each one costs

Gemini

$4.99/mo

The Free plan costs nothing with a Google Account and includes the Gemini app, Deep Research, Gems, Canvas and Gemini Live. Google AI Plus is $4.99/mo, Google AI Pro is $19.99/mo and Google AI Ultra starts at $99.99/mo ($199.99 for 20x Pro usage); these personal plans need a personal Google Account. For businesses, Gemini Enterprise Business edition starts at $21/seat/mo for up to 300 seats, and Standard and Plus editions start at $30/seat/mo. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Oct 2026

Microsoft Copilot

$9.99/mo

The Copilot app is free, and Microsoft 365 Personal ($9.99/mo), Family ($12.99/mo) and Premium ($19.99/mo) add Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. For businesses, Microsoft 365 Copilot Business is an add-on for an existing Microsoft 365 business plan at $21/user/mo billed annually, discounted to $18 for the first year on offers made through December 31, 2026, or $25.20 billed monthly. Bundles start at $23.50/user/mo billed annually for Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot. Business plans come with a one-month free trial. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 7 Oct 2026

Common questions

Is Gemini cheaper than Microsoft Copilot?
Gemini starts lower, at $4.99/mo against $9.99/mo for Microsoft Copilot. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Gemini or Microsoft Copilot for free?
Gemini and Microsoft Copilot carry a free tier on our listing. Microsoft Copilot offers a 30 day free trial.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 7 Oct 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?