Microsoft Copilot vs Ollama

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

Ollama

Run open AI models locally or in the cloud on macOS, Windows and Linux

Free · from $16.67/moVisit site

Choose Microsoft Copilot if…

you work on Web, iOS, Android
you're in its core audience: individuals, students

Choose Ollama if…

you want the lower entry price ($16.67/mo vs $18/mo)
you need an API to build on
you want open source you can self-host or audit
you work on Linux
you're in its core audience: developers, ai engineers

Side by side

FeatureM

Microsoft CopilotO

Ollama

Pricing modelFreemiumFreemium

Starting price$18/mo$16.67/mo

Free plan

Free trial

API

Open source

Trains AI on your content—No

Data retention—Cloud prompts/responses processed transiently, not stored beyond request time

GitHub stars—185K

Web search—

Image generation—

PlatformsWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, AndroidmacOS, Windows, Linux, API

CategoryAI ChatbotsLocal & Open Models

Rank in its category#4 of 6—

CompanyMicrosoftOllama

Based in——

Founded——

Part of——

What you'd pay

The cheapest plan that fits, per month, billed yearly where the plan offers it.

Team size	Microsoft Copilot	Ollama
1 person	$23.50 Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot	$16.67 Pro
5 people	$117.50 Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot	$16.67 Pro
20 people	$470 Microsoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot	$16.67 Pro

Work it out for your team

People

OllamaPro$16.67/mo
Microsoft CopilotMicrosoft 365 Business Standard with Copilot$23.50/mo

The cheapest paid plan with a published price that fits. Custom and sales-quoted plans aren't included.

What the free plans include

Microsoft Copilot

Free plan limits aren't published.

Ollama

Pay as you go: $0 subscription, pay per token for cloud models
3 concurrent requests
Running models on your own hardware is unlimited

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

O Ollama

Run open models locally with unlimited usage
Cloud-hosted open models with pay-as-you-go token pricing
Off-peak discounted rates for some models
Tool calling support on compatible cloud models
Concurrent requests up to 10 on higher plans
API keys with per-key cost budgets (Enterprise)
Shared team billing and administration
Usage alert email at 90% of monthly allowance

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

Ollama

Free$0

Pro$20/mo or $200/yr ($16.67/mo billed annually)

Max$100/mo

Team (early access)$500/mo

EnterpriseCustom

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

Ollama