Copilot fits a team that lives in Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams, because it works inside those apps. Claude fits a team that does a lot of writing, analysis and long-document work, in its own app or in Excel. Microsoft offers Claude models inside Copilot too, so the choice is more about the app than the AI behind it.
Copilot works inside Microsoft 365
Microsoft Copilot sits inside the apps your team already opens every day. There are two versions:
- Copilot Chat (free) comes with a work Microsoft 365 account. Staff upload a file or paste text and ask about it.
- The paid Copilot seat also reads each person's own mail, meetings and files, and gets the full features in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. It is US$21 a person a month paid yearly, or US$25.20 monthly, on top of Microsoft 365. If you subscribe by 31 December 2026, the first year is US$18 a month. More details.
Claude is its own app, and it can reach Microsoft 365
Claude is made by Anthropic. Staff use it in the Claude app on the web, desktop or phone, and in Excel as an add-in. More details.
Claude can also search your Outlook mail and calendar, Teams chats, and SharePoint and OneDrive files through its Microsoft 365 connector. On Claude Team, the plan owner and a Microsoft admin switch it on first. More details.
Claude Team is US$20 a person a month paid yearly, or US$25 monthly, from 2 people. More details.
Copilot also offers Claude models
Copilot is not tied to one AI company. Microsoft offers Anthropic's Claude models in parts of Copilot, such as Researcher, and when you build agents. Your admin controls whether staff can use them. More details.
So choose by where your team works. Copilot works inside the Microsoft apps. Claude is a separate app built for writing and analysis.
The prices are close, so where you work decides
| Microsoft Copilot | Claude Team | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you use it | Inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams | The Claude app, and Claude in Excel |
| What it reads | The paid Copilot seat reads your own mail, files and meetings | What you upload, and Microsoft 365 through a connector |
| Price for each person | US$21 a month paid yearly, or US$25.20 monthly, on top of Microsoft 365 | US$20 a month paid yearly, or US$25 monthly |
| Trains on your data? | No, on a work account | No, unless someone presses thumbs up or down |
| Who sets it up | Copilot Chat (free) is on already. Your IT admin assigns paid seats | You sign up. An admin switches on the Microsoft 365 connector |
Data rules: Microsoft and Anthropic. To check which plans are safe for company data, use our free safe AI check.
When Copilot is the better choice
- Your team works inside Outlook and Teams all day. Copilot is already in the app, with no new tool to learn.
- You want meeting recaps. Copilot writes the recap and action items for a Teams meeting.
- You already pay for Microsoft 365. Start with Copilot Chat (free) before buying anything.
When Claude is the better choice
- The work is long documents and careful writing. Contracts, reports, proposals and client letters.
- Your team uses more than Microsoft. Claude works the same whether your files are in Microsoft 365, Google Drive or on a laptop.
- A few people do deep analysis. Claude Team seats start from 2 people.
Many companies use both
A Microsoft company can keep Copilot for everyone and give Claude Team seats to the few people who write or analyse all day. Write down which tool is for what in a one-page staff AI policy, and make sure everyone signs in with a work account.
Getting from personal AI to company AI takes 3 steps
You now know which app fits each person on your team. Both help one person at a time. To compare Copilot with ChatGPT as well, read Copilot vs ChatGPT. The Copilot comparison shows where an agent that does a shared job fits beside Copilot.
- Personal AIOne person uses Copilot or Claude for their own emails, files and meetings.
- AI set up for the teamCompany accounts that keep data safe, a staff AI policy, training so everyone uses it the same way, and shared agents. See the Copilot course.
- AI that does a team's jobAn agent connected to your systems, such as Xero, WhatsApp or your stock system. It does a shared job and asks before it acts. See Glimmer.
Someone has to pick the plans, write the staff rules, train the team and connect AI to the company's systems. If nobody in your company has the time, Glints does that setup with you. Book a call about setup.
Questions people also ask
Does Copilot use Claude?
It can. Microsoft offers Anthropic's Claude models in parts of Copilot, and your admin decides whether staff can use them. More details.
Can Claude read my Outlook and SharePoint?
Yes, through Claude's Microsoft 365 connector, once your plan owner and a Microsoft admin switch it on. Claude then sees only what each person already has access to. More details.
Can a company use both?
Yes. Use business plans with work accounts for both, and write down which tool is for what.
Where to start
This week, ask your team where they spend most of their day. If it is Outlook and Teams, start with Copilot Chat (free). If it is long documents, give Claude one real document to read.
To get your managers using Copilot well, register your interest in our Copilot course. To talk about a job no single tool can do, book a call.