Microsoft Copilot vs DeepSeek: Which AI Tool Should You Use?

Microsoft Copilot and DeepSeek compared side by side: pricing, platforms, features, pros and cons, from the facts in our listings.

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft's everyday AI companion for chat and creation

92/100Our scoreAccess 22/25 · Platforms 16/20 · Features 20/20 · Use cases 10/10 · Pricing transparency 15/15 · Adoption 9/10How we score
Visit Microsoft Copilot

DeepSeek

Open-weight AI models with a free chat app and low-cost API

92/100Our scoreAccess 22/25 · Platforms 16/20 · Features 20/20 · Use cases 10/10 · Pricing transparency 15/15 · Adoption 9/10How we score
Visit DeepSeek
FeatureMicrosoft CopilotDeepSeek
Our score92/10092/100
PricingFreemium · from $19.99/month (Microsoft 365 Premium, US)Freemium · from Free (chat app); API from $0.15 per 1M input tokens
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, WindowsWeb, iOS, Android, API
CategoriesAI Chatbots & Assistants, AI Productivity ToolsAI Chatbots & Assistants, AI Models & APIs
Key features
  • AI chat for questions and writing
  • Image creation
  • Prompt library
  • Apps for Windows and mobile
  • Free chat on web and mobile
  • Open-weight model releases
  • Developer API platform
  • Reasoning-focused models
Best for
  • Getting quick answers while browsing
  • Creating images for social posts
  • Summarising and rewriting text
  • Everyday questions and writing
  • Maths and coding problems
  • Building apps on an affordable API
Pros
  • Free plan available to get started
  • Available on iOS, Android, Windows
  • Free plan available to get started
  • API or developer access for integrations
  • Available on iOS, Android
  • Open-source or open-weight option
Cons
  • Advanced features and higher limits need a paid plan
  • Higher limits come with Microsoft 365 Premium at $19.99/month (US); Copilot Pro is no longer sold
  • API is pay-as-you-go per token, with peak-hour rates double the off-peak ones
Last checkedOctober 22, 2026October 22, 2026

Which should you choose?

  • Choose Microsoft Copilot if you mainly need getting quick answers while browsing.
  • Choose DeepSeek if you mainly need everyday questions and writing.
  • Both run on Web, iOS, Android.

Our score is calculated from the facts in each listing with a published rubric (how we score); it is not a hands-on benchmark. Confirm prices on the official sites before you buy.

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