6 ways Microsoft Copilot Chat outperforms ChatGPT in the workplace (besides being FREE)

Two of the most powerful players in generative AI—Microsoft Copilot Chat and ChatGPT—are redefining what's possible at work. While both deliver impressive capabilities, Microsoft Copilot Chat pulls ahead in real-world business impact, especially for organizations deeply invested in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Here are six key ways Microsoft Copilot Chat outperforms ChatGPT in the workplace:

1. Enterprise-grade security and compliance

Both Copilot Chat and ChatGPT Enterprise offer enterprise-grade security, but Copilot has a major advantage: it operates fully within the Microsoft 365 compliance framework. It respects user permissions, data residency policies, and integrates with tools like DLP and eDiscovery by default. ChatGPT Enterprise protects data within its own system but lacks integration with Microsoft’s native security controls. ChatGPT Free poses even greater risks, offering no governance or control for enterprise use.

Scenario: Nina, a Legal Coordinator, needs to reword a sensitive internal policy for wider distribution.

• With Copilot Chat: Nina pastes the content into Copilot Chat from the Microsoft 365 web app. It automatically respects her organization’s DLP, sensitivity labels, and audit policies—no extra setup required.
• With ChatGPT Enterprise: Nina can paste the same content, but her company’s compliance tools don’t apply. DLP, eDiscovery, and labeling are managed separately, meaning IT has no built-in oversight.

🔐 Result: Copilot Chat enforces compliance automatically. ChatGPT Enterprise requires extra effort—and carries more risk. ChatGPT Free poses even greater risks, offering no governance or control for enterprise use.

2. No additional procurement or licensing

Copilot Chat is included with Microsoft 365 commercial subscriptions, making it a zero-cost, low-friction option for organizations looking to deploy secure AI at scale. IT teams can enable it quickly. ChatGPT Enterprise requires a separate contract, creating redundancy for Microsoft-based environments and adding budget and procurement hurdles. With Copilot Chat, you can deliver AI value without disrupting your licensing strategy.

Scenario: The IT team at Woodgrove Grocery wants to give their entire workforce access to AI without extra licensing.

• With Copilot Chat: Since everyone already uses Microsoft 365, IT enables Copilot Chat across the org. No procurement cycle, no additional cost. Within a day, employees are asking Copilot to help write replies, clarify internal messages, and summarize documents.
• With ChatGPT Enterprise: IT would need to procure a separate contract, configure a new admin portal, and manage user access and support. There’s also a risk of shadow use of the free version in the meantime.

💰 Copilot Chat is ready to roll—no budget required.

3. Easy to extend for more value—without custom code

Copilot Chat supports extensibility through Microsoft’s plugin and agent frameworks, making it easy to adapt to business-specific needs while staying within a secure ecosystem. It allows enterprises to build and deploy tailored experiences without heavy custom development. ChatGPT is also customizable, but typically requires developer resources, API usage, and independent security handling. With Copilot, custom solutions are faster to build, easier to govern, and more consistent with enterprise standards.

Scenario: Tara, an HR Program Manager, needs help writing an FAQ response based on a policy stored in SharePoint.

• With Copilot Chat: Tara copies the relevant section of the policy into Copilot Chat and asks it to rewrite it in employee-friendly language. She doesn’t need a custom integration or developer support—just a copy, paste, and prompt.
• With ChatGPT: Tara can do the same—if she’s careful not to include confidential data. But her prompt has to do all the work, and she can’t rely on built-in permissions, which makes her double-check everything.

🛠 Copilot Chat requires no dev team to deliver value. ChatGPT often requires extra caution and effort.

4. Built-in support and enablement resources

Microsoft Copilot benefits from decades of enterprise software rollout experience, including built-in in-app guidance, documentation, and support. Microsoft also partners with BrainStorm to provide all customers free access to a robust adoption toolkit—including videos, communications templates, and reporting tools. ChatGPT Enterprise offers little in the way of formal training or enablement, placing the burden of adoption on the organization. For companies prioritizing scale and ease of rollout, Copilot is the clear winner.

Scenario: Alex, a Training Manager, is helping the company roll out Copilot Chat to 500 employees.

• With Copilot Chat: Alex activates the free training toolkit from BrainStorm, provided to all Microsoft 365 customers. It includes user-friendly videos, communication templates, quizzes, and adoption reporting—all centralized in a branded hub.
• With ChatGPT: Alex would need to create custom onboarding content, source best practices, and manually track engagement. There's no built-in enablement package or end-user guidance.

📣 Copilot Chat comes with a free enablement hub. ChatGPT doesn’t.

5. Web grounding for up-to-date information

Unlike ChatGPT, which has a cutoff date for its information and does not have access to real-time data, Copilot Chat benefits from continuous web grounding. This ensures that users always have access to the most current information and resources available online, making it a superior choice for enterprises that require timely and accurate data.

Scenario: Jamie, a Project Manager, is coordinating a large-scale project that relies on the latest industry standards and regulations.

• With Copilot Chat: Jamie can utilize Copilot Chat to fetch up-to-date information directly from the web, ensuring that all project requirements are met according to the latest guidelines. This saves time and ensures accuracy without the need for manual research.
• With ChatGPT: Jamie would have to double-check and verify information manually as ChatGPT's knowledge is limited to its last update. This increases the risk of relying on outdated information and requires additional effort to ensure compliance.

📌 Copilot Chat provides real-time web grounding. ChatGPT does not.

6. A newer model for language processing

Copilot Chat with GPT-4o offers enhanced language understanding, increased context awareness, and the ability to generate highly accurate responses. In contrast, free ChatGPT using GPT-3.5 provides less sophisticated language models, which may not fully grasp nuanced queries or deliver detailed responses, leading to longer resolution times and less effective support.

Scenario: Taylor, a Customer Support Manager, is optimizing the support team's workflow to handle customer inquiries more efficiently.

• With Copilot Chat: Taylor can leverage the advanced capabilities of GPT-4o to generate highly accurate responses, analyze customer sentiment, and provide personalized support recommendations. This model offers enhanced language understanding and increased context awareness, drastically improving the quality of customer interactions and reducing resolution times.
• With ChatGPT: With ChatGPT using GPT-3.5: Taylor would have to work with less sophisticated language models that might not fully understand nuanced queries or provide the same level of detailed responses. This could lead to longer resolution times and less effective support, requiring additional oversight to maintain customer satisfaction.

🤓 Copilot Chat with GPT-4o offers superior language understanding and context awareness compared to ChatGPT with GPT-3.5.

TL;DR: Big Value, Zero Budget

Final thoughts

If you're already using Microsoft 365, Copilot Chat gives you a secure, powerful and user-friendly AI assistant—without spending another dime. Not sure if your users are using it yet? Turn it on, train them up, and let Copilot Chat go to work. Get Copilot Chat rolled out to users and teach them how to use it with BrainStorm at no cost.