Microsoft Copilot vs Otter.ai
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Microsoft Copilot is the better app overall, scoring 8.2 to 8.0. Microsoft Copilot wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Otter.ai on 1.
Microsoft 365 subscribers who want AI help inside Word, Excel and Outlook
Students, journalists and teams who want searchable transcripts of every meeting
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Microsoft Copilot | Otter.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Category | AI Assistants | AI Assistants |
| Category rank | #11 of 16 | #13 of 16 |
| Developer | Microsoft | Otter.ai |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Microsoft Copilot better than Otter.ai?
Microsoft Copilot is the better app overall, scoring 8.2 to 8.0. Microsoft Copilot wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Otter.ai on 1.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Copilot or Otter.ai?
Microsoft Copilot: Free; Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99/month adds Copilot in Office apps. Otter.ai: Free: 300 minutes a month; Pro is $8.33 a month billed yearly or $16.99 monthly. On value for money, Microsoft Copilot scores higher.
Do Microsoft Copilot and Otter.ai work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Web.
Which is more private, Microsoft Copilot or Otter.ai?
Microsoft Copilot scores higher on privacy (6.0/10). The App Store label lists identifiers used to track you and links location, contacts, contact info and content to you. The app shows ads, and signed-in chats can train models unless you opt out.
Strengths and weaknesses
Microsoft Copilot
- Free to use, even without signing in
- Works inside Word, Excel and Outlook with Microsoft 365
- Jump from a chat straight into your Office files
- Shows ads and uses IDs to track you
- Several consumer features were cut in 2026
- Built mostly for Microsoft 365 and work
Microsoft Copilot is now one app for both your personal and work accounts. You get free AI chat with voice and image making. With a Microsoft 365 plan, it works inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. But the August 2026 merger tilted it toward work. It also cut consumer features like Deep Research, Podcasts and group chats. And it shows ads. Best for people who already pay for Microsoft 365.
Full Microsoft Copilot review
Otter.ai
- Years of experience with meeting and lecture transcripts
- Free plan includes 300 minutes a month
- Apps for phone, computer and web
- Free conversations stop at 30 minutes
- Trains AI on recordings with personal details removed, by default
- Faces a class action lawsuit over recording consent
Otter has typed up meetings and lectures for years. It writes live transcripts with speaker labels. Its notetaker can join Zoom, Meet and Teams on its own. AI Chat answers questions across your meetings. A new desktop app records calls and chats outside scheduled meetings. The free plan works but stops each conversation at 30 minutes. Otter trains its AI on recordings with personal details removed. It also faces a class action lawsuit over recording consent.
Full Otter.ai review
