Microsoft Copilot vs Microsoft Recall

Pricing, features, platforms and who each one suits — side by side.

Microsoft Copilot

AI assistant for chat, web search, writing and images at work and home

Free · from $18/moVisit site

Microsoft Recall

Searchable local snapshots of your screen history on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs

Pricing unknownVisit site

Choose Microsoft Copilot if…

you want a free plan to start with
you work on Web, macOS, iOS
you're in its core audience: individuals, students

Choose Microsoft Recall if…

you're in its core audience: windows 11 copilot+ pc owners, knowledge workers

Side by side

FeatureM

Microsoft CopilotM

Microsoft Recall

Pricing modelFreemiumPricing unknown

Starting price$18/mo—

Free plan

Free trial

API

Open source

Trains AI on your content—No

Data retention—Oldest snapshots deleted when max storage reached; user chooses how long snapshots are kept

Web search—

Image generation—

PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidWindows

CategoryAI ChatbotsPersonal Assistants

CompanyMicrosoftMicrosoft

Based in—United States

Founded——

Part of——

Key features

M Microsoft Copilot

Chat for brainstorming, summarizing and planning
Web-grounded answers for research
Content drafting and image generation
Researcher for in-depth research
Guided Learning study mode
Notebook for organizing projects
Copilot inside Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams on business plans
Pre-built agents for research and data analysis

M Microsoft Recall

Automatic screen snapshots every few seconds and on content change
Search by typed or spoken description
Text and visual matches labeled close or related
Timeline browsing and per-app result filtering
Exclude specific apps and websites
Sensitive information filtering for passwords and card numbers
Local encrypted storage protected by Windows Hello
Click to Do actions on text and images in snapshots

Plans and prices

From each vendor's site. Prices change — confirm before buying.

Microsoft Copilot

FreeFree

Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on)$18/user/mo billed yearly (first-year promotional price); $25.20/user/mo monthly

Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot$23.50/user/mo billed yearly; $28.20/user/mo monthly

Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot$32/user/mo billed yearly; $38.40/user/mo monthly

Microsoft Recall

Pricing unknown. Plan details aren't published.

Strengths and limitations

Microsoft Copilot

Free tier available with a Microsoft account
Apps for web, Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, plus Microsoft Edge
Works inside Microsoft 365 apps on business plans

Free tier has usage limits on some capabilities
Advanced business features such as Cowork and Autopilot are billed by usage on top of the license
The $18 add-on price is a first-year promotion and requires an eligible Microsoft 365 Business plan

Microsoft Recall

Snapshots are stored locally and encrypted, and the page says they are not shared with Microsoft
Off by default, with app, website and sensitive-data filters
Search works by text or voice and also matches images
Admins can't secretly turn on snapshots on managed devices