The best free alternatives to Microsoft Copilot

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing daily workflows — from writing documents and handling spreadsheets to creating presentations or even programming. Microsoft Copilot is one of the most well-known AI-powered assistants, tightly integrated into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.), offering significant productivity boosts through automation and intelligent suggestions.

However, Copilot is not available to everyone: as of 2025, it requires a business-level Microsoft 365 subscription, which often comes with a high price tag. The good news is that there are now several powerful free alternatives that offer similar functionality, often without vendor lock-in.

In this article, we present the best free AI tools you can use as alternatives to Microsoft Copilot, whether you’re writing text, generating formulas, analyzing data, or coding — all without spending a cent.

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1. Why look for alternatives to Microsoft Copilot?

1.1 Price and licensing

• Microsoft Copilot is not included in the standard Microsoft 365 plan.

• In 2025, it costs $30/month per user (Microsoft 365 E3 or E5).

• Students, freelancers, and small businesses often can’t justify this cost.

1.2 Platform lock-in

• Copilot is tied to Microsoft’s environment.

• If you use Google Workspace, Linux, or open-source tools, Copilot isn’t an option.

1.3 Feature availability

• Many Copilot functions are still English-only.

• Integration across Office apps may be inconsistent.

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2. The best free Copilot alternatives by category

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2.1 General-purpose AI assistants

? ChatGPT (OpenAI) – Free version

• Platform: Web app, mobile, browser extension

• Model: GPT-3.5 (free), GPT-4 (Pro)

• Features: Writing, summarizing, coding help, email replies, brainstorming

• Pros:

  • Fast, intuitive interface

  • Supports multiple languages

  • No Microsoft account required

• Cons:

  • No direct integration with Word or Excel

  • No spreadsheet logic support

➡️ Ideal for writing tasks, content generation, and general productivity help.

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? Gemini (Google) – Free version

• Platform: Web app, Android, integrated into Gmail/Docs

• Model: Gemini Pro

• Features: Document completion, Gmail responses, smart search

• Pros:

  • Native Google Docs and Gmail integration

  • Works well in long documents

  • Accessible with a free Google account

• Cons:

  • Limited or inconsistent access to features

  • Tends to be vague

➡️ Perfect if you’re already using Google Workspace.

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2.2 AI for writing and document creation

? Notion AI – For notes and structured writing

• Platform: Web, desktop, mobile

• Features: Auto summaries, blog/e-mail writing, meeting notes

• Pros:

  • Included in the free Notion plan

  • Rewrite, simplify, summarize content easily

• Cons:

  • Not compatible with traditional Word-style documents

➡️ Great for productivity-focused users who like structured content.

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? Zeno Chat by TextCortex – In-browser writing assistant

• Platform: Chrome, Edge, Firefox extensions

• Features: Chat, email writing, rewriting, summarizing

• Pros:

  • Works directly on websites or documents

  • Supports many languages

• Cons:

  • Daily limits in the free version

➡️ Quick and convenient alternative to Copilot’s writing tools.

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2.3 Spreadsheets and data assistant

? AI Office Tools like SheetAI or MagicFormulas

• Platform: Google Sheets add-ons

• Features: Formula generation, explanation, predictions

• Pros:

  • Basic functions are free

  • Easy to install from Google Workspace Marketplace

• Cons:

  • Limited support for non-English formulas

  • May require English input for full functionality

➡️ Excellent AI help for spreadsheet logic, formula troubleshooting, or automation.

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2.4 Coding and development

? GitHub Copilot (free for students!)

• Platform: VS Code, GitHub Codespaces

• Pros:

  • Free for students and open source contributors

  • Excellent support for multiple languages (Python, JS, etc.)

• Cons:

  • Requires a verified GitHub account

  • Some limitations in non-English environments

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? Codeium – Fully free AI code assistant

• Platform: VS Code, JetBrains, web

• Features: Autocomplete, fix errors, generate docs

• Pros:

  • 100% free

  • Broad language and IDE support

• Cons:

  • Not integrated with Office tools

➡️ Ideal for developers looking for a true GitHub Copilot alternative.

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2.5 Other useful AI tools

? Perplexity AI – AI-powered factual search engine

• Platform: Web

• Features: Real-time fact-based answers, source references

• Pros:

  • Great supplement to traditional search

  • Transparent with sources and citations

• Cons:

  • Not designed for creative tasks

➡️ Best as a replacement for Bing Chat or Copilot in Edge.

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3. Comparison table

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4. Which tool should you choose?

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Final thoughts

Microsoft Copilot is undoubtedly a powerful AI assistant — but it’s not the only game in town. Whether you want to write better, automate emails, generate code, or get spreadsheet help, you’ll find a wide range of free tools that rival or complement Copilot’s functionality.

The future of work is AI-powered — and now it’s accessible to everyone, not just enterprise users.