Research with sourcesPerplexity
PerplexityEvery answer is searched and cited; Deep Research for reports.
CopilotBing-sourced answers; deeper research on Premium.
Perplexity, for research-first answers.
Quick verdict
Perplexity for research; Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Windows
Pick Perplexity if you mainly research, fact-check or follow news and want sources on every answer, plus models from several AI companies. Pick Copilot if you live in Word, Excel and Outlook or want help built into Windows and Edge. If you already pay for Microsoft 365, try free Perplexity alongside it before buying Pro.
Features
Perplexity vs Copilot: features side by side
“Edge” marks which one leads on that row.
| Feature | Perplexity | Microsoft Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Perplexity AI | Microsoft |
| Core idea | Answer engine: searches the web for every question | Everyday assistant across Windows, Edge, Bing and Microsoft 365 |
| Free plan | Unlimited quick searches, limited Pro Search and Deep Research | Free Copilot on the web, Windows, Edge and mobileEdge |
| Main paid plan | Pro $20/mo | Microsoft 365 Premium $19.99/mo ($199.99/yr) |
| Cheaper paid option | None below Pro | Microsoft 365 Personal $99.99/yr with 60 AI credits a monthEdge |
| Search engine | Perplexity’s own web search | Bing |
| Sources and citations | Numbered citations on every answerEdge | Bing sources on web answers |
| Deep research | Deep Research reportsEdge | Researcher and Deep Research on Microsoft 365 Premium |
| Office apps | Upload files to ask about them | Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote (paid)Edge |
| Choose AI models | Models from several companies on paid plansEdge | Microsoft picks the model |
| AI browser | Comet (free, all users) | Copilot in Edge; Browse with Copilot on Premium (US) |
| Windows integration | Windows app | Built into Windows with its own key on many PCsEdge |
| Family sharing | Individual plans | Family and Premium share apps and storage; AI for the owner onlyEdge |
Pricing
Plans and prices compared
US list prices, checked 6 October 2026. Microsoft 365 plans also include Office apps and cloud storage.
Perplexity
- Free$0Unlimited quick searches, limited Pro Search and Deep Research, file uploads.
- Pro$20/moMany more Pro searches, choice of advanced models, more uploads, Labs and image generation.
- Max$200/moHighest limits and early access to new features and models.
Microsoft Copilot
- Copilot (free)$0Copilot on the web, Windows, Edge and mobile, with Bing-powered answers.
- Microsoft 365 Personal$99.99/yrOffice apps, 1 TB storage, Copilot in apps with 60 AI credits a month.
- Microsoft 365 Family$129.99/yrUp to six people; Copilot credits for the owner only.
- Microsoft 365 Premium$19.99/mo$199.99/yr. Family plan plus extensive Copilot use, Researcher, Deep Research and Analyst for the owner.
Sources: Perplexity Pro, Office Watch: Microsoft 365 plans 2026 and Copilot access by plan. See also Perplexity pricing explained.
Ecosystem
Where Copilot lives (and where Perplexity does)
Copilot’s biggest advantage is being everywhere in Microsoft’s products. Perplexity’s is doing research well wherever you use it.
FreeCopilot app and webChat, voice and Bing-sourced answers.
FreeWindowsBuilt in, with a Copilot key on many new PCs.
FreeEdgeAsk about tabs, Journeys, voice and Vision.
Microsoft 365Word, Excel, PowerPointDraft, analyse and design inside the apps.
Microsoft 365OutlookSummarise threads and draft replies.
Premium (US)Browse with CopilotAgent that acts on web pages in Edge.
Perplexity runs on the web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, plus its free Comet browser. See Perplexity on Windows and Comet. Edge details from Microsoft’s Edge blog, May 2026.
Use cases
Who wins which task
Based on each tool’s features and design, not a scored benchmark.
Writing a Word documentCopilot
PerplexityDrafts text you copy into Word.
CopilotDrafts and rewrites directly inside Word (paid plans).
Copilot, if you write in Word.
Analysing a spreadsheetCopilot
PerplexityUpload a CSV or Excel file and ask questions.
CopilotAnalyst and Copilot inside Excel (paid plans).
Copilot, for working inside Excel.
Email triageCopilot
PerplexityGmail and Calendar connectors.
CopilotCopilot in Outlook summarises and drafts replies (paid plans).
Copilot for Outlook users; Perplexity for Gmail.
Following news and marketsPerplexity
PerplexityDiscover feed, finance pages and cited news summaries.
CopilotNews answers through Bing and the Copilot app.
Perplexity, for cited summaries.
Quick help on a Windows PCCopilot
PerplexityWindows app; works like the web version.
CopilotBuilt into Windows and Edge, with voice and Vision.
Copilot, for convenience on Windows.
Accuracy
Accuracy and sources: what independent studies found
We don’t publish our own scores. Two widely cited studies, both on news answers:
EBU and BBC · October 2025
News answers with significant issues
All 4 assistants45%
Sourcing problems31%
The study tested ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini and Perplexity across many countries and languages. The public summary gave combined figures, not one per assistant except Gemini (worst, at 76%).
Lower is better.
Tow Center, Columbia Journalism Review · March 2025
Wrong news citations
Perplexity37%
8-tool average60%
Asked to identify the source of news quotes, Perplexity had the lowest error rate of eight AI search tools, which included Copilot.
Lower is better. Tested news citations only.
Both tools have changed since. Always open the sources for anything important: how to check sources · Is Perplexity accurate?
Try it
Test Perplexity and Copilot yourself
Run the same prompt in both. If the prompt doesn’t appear in Copilot, use Copy and paste it in.
1. Current facts with sources
What did the latest World Bank Global Economic Prospects report forecast for South Asia’s growth? Cite the report with its date.
Check: Is the report the latest one? Are figures and dates right and sourced?
2. Compare products
Compare the three best-selling budget laptops under $600 right now: processor, RAM, battery life and price, with a source for each.
Check: Is every figure sourced? Are the models current?
3. Explain a process
Explain step by step how to set up two-factor authentication on a Microsoft account.
Check: Are the steps accurate and up to date?
4. Summarise a topic
Summarise the main arguments for and against a four-day work week, citing at least four studies.
Check: Are the studies real and correctly described? Is it balanced?
Perplexity or Copilot? 5-question quiz
Answer as many as you like; the result updates instantly.
Pick your answers above to see your match.
FAQ
Perplexity vs Copilot questions
Is Perplexity better than Copilot?
For research and fact-checking, Perplexity is usually the better fit: it searches and cites every answer and offers Deep Research and model choice. Copilot is better if you work in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook or want an assistant built into Windows and Edge. Many people use both.
Is Microsoft Copilot free?
Yes. Copilot is free on the web, in Windows, in Edge and on mobile. Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook needs a Microsoft 365 subscription: Personal and Family include 60 AI credits a month, and Premium gives the plan owner much higher use plus Researcher and Analyst.
Is Perplexity Pro or Microsoft 365 Premium better value?
They cost about the same ($20 vs $19.99 a month). Microsoft 365 Premium includes the Office apps, 1 TB of storage per person for up to six people and Copilot in Office for the owner, so it’s great value if you use Office. Perplexity Pro is better value if you mainly research and want models from several companies.
What happened to Copilot Pro?
Microsoft replaced the Copilot Pro add-on with Microsoft 365 Premium, which bundles Microsoft 365 Family with expanded Copilot access.
Does Copilot cite its sources?
Copilot answers that use the web show Bing sources you can click. Perplexity shows numbered citations on every answer by default and lets you focus on web, academic or social sources.
Which is more accurate?
In the 2025 EBU and BBC study of news answers from ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini and Perplexity, 45% of all answers had at least one significant issue. In the Tow Center’s 2025 citation test, Perplexity had the lowest error rate of eight tools (37%). Neither is perfect, so check sources for anything important.
Comet or Edge: which AI browser is better?
Comet includes its assistant and agent tasks free for everyone. Edge has Copilot built in for free, while Browse with Copilot (its agent feature) is limited to Microsoft 365 Premium subscribers in the US as of mid-2026. See our Comet guide for details.
Sources
- Office Watch: Microsoft 365 plans in 2026
- Office Watch: Copilot access levels for Microsoft 365 consumer plans
- Microsoft Edge blog: New updates to Edge across desktop and mobile, May 2026
- Perplexity Pro, checked 6 Oct 2026
- EBU and BBC: AI assistants misrepresent news content, October 2025
- Computerworld: AI chatbots most often cite incorrect sources (Tow Center study), March 2025
More comparisons
Try both free
Ask the same question in Perplexity and Copilot
Both are free to start. Compare the answers and their sources before you pay for either.