Microsoft CopilotvsQwen Chat
Two general assistant tools, the same questions. Every answer comes from the official pages, with the date we checked. Nothing here is ranked.
last check 2026-10-11
Microsoft Copilot
by Microsoft
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI chat assistant for personal Microsoft accounts on the web, desktop and mobile; a beginner might try it for everyday questions, web-based answers, or asking about an uploaded file or image.
Good for: Writing, Learning, Office work, Research
All Microsoft Copilot factsQwen Chat
by Alibaba (Qwen team)
Qwen Chat is an AI assistant built on Alibaba's Qwen models, used on the web and in mobile and desktop apps; a beginner might try it for questions with web search, summarizing uploaded documents, or asking about images.
Good for: Writing, Learning, Office work, Research
All Qwen Chat factsWhere they differ
- Usage limitsMicrosoft Copilot: Feature limits per time period plus monthly AI credits, Signing in adds chat history, more image creation, longer conversations and longer voice sessionsQwen Chat: Each paid plan has a usage allowance per period; amounts not public
- Runs code and analyses dataMicrosoft Copilot: SupportedQwen Chat: Supported
Same answer, but for different plans or with different conditions: file upload, image input, agent mode, deep research. The table below shows the conditions.
Confirmed for only one of the two so far: AI models, account, where it is available, context window, used to train AI, can switch off training, how long data is kept, projects, connects to. The table below shows which.
Same answer for both: free plan, web search, platforms, memory, voice conversation.
Plans and prices
As listed on each official pricing page, in the currency we were shown. No conversion, no rounding.
Microsoft Copilot
- Copilot (free) Free planPrice not confirmed
- Microsoft 365 Personal Paid, individual$9.99 / month
- Microsoft 365 Family Paid, individual$12.99 / month
- Microsoft 365 Premium Paid, individual$19.99 / month
- Microsoft 365 Pro Paid, individual$99.99 / month
Qwen Chat
- Free Free planPrice not confirmed
- Qwen Go Paid, individualPrice not confirmed
- Qwen Plus Paid, individualPrice not confirmed
- Qwen Pro Paid, individualPrice not confirmed
Through the API: about $0.04 – $2.40 a month for 30 short chat messages a day, across 4 models. Each model is in the full comparison below.
Plan details and sources for Qwen ChatFull comparison with sources
| General assistant | ||
| What it is for | ||
| What it is for | Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI chat assistant for personal Microsoft accounts on the web, desktop and mobile; a beginner might try it for everyday questions, web-based answers, or asking about an uploaded file or image. | Qwen Chat is an AI assistant built on Alibaba's Qwen models, used on the web and in mobile and desktop apps; a beginner might try it for questions with web search, summarizing uploaded documents, or asking about images. |
| Good for | ||
| Editor's suggestion |
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| Cost | ||
| Free planA free plan that is not time-limited. Trials are listed separately. |
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| Plans and pricesOriginal currency and billing period. No conversion. |
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| Through the APIPer 1 million tokens, and about what 30 short chat messages a day cost a month. | Not in our API price list |
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| AI models | ||
| AI modelsThe AI models the official pages name for this product. Line-ups change often, so check the date. |
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| Input and output | ||
| File uploadYou can give it files such as PDFs or documents. |
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| Image inputYou can give it an image to describe or analyse. |
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| Voice conversationTalk to it out loud and hear it answer. |
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| Runs code and analyses dataRuns code to work with numbers, spreadsheets or charts, not only text. |
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| Checking facts | ||
| Web searchIt can search the web while answering. |
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| Deep researchA mode that searches many sources step by step and writes a report with citations. |
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| Workflow | ||
| PlatformsWhere the product is offered: web, desktop app, mobile app, or editor extension. |
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| MemoryRemembers things you told it in earlier chats. |
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| ProjectsGroup chats and files for one piece of work, with their own instructions. |
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| Agent modeCan take actions for you in a browser or on a computer, such as filling in forms. |
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| Connects toApps and services it can read from or work in, as the official pages name them. |
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| Requirements | ||
| AccountWhether you need to sign up before using it. |
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| Where it is availableCountries or regions where the provider says it can be used. |
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| Not yet confirmed | ||
| Custom assistantsMake your own assistant with fixed instructions and files, such as GPTs or Gems. |
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| Sources and confidence | ||
| Confidence | Last checked 2026-10-11 Not yet confirmed: Context window, Used to train AI, Can switch off training, How long data is kept, Custom assistants | Last checked 2026-10-11 Not yet confirmed: AI models, Account, Where it is available, Projects, Custom assistants, Connects to |
What it is for
What it is for
Microsoft Copilot:
Microsoft Copilot is Microsoft's AI chat assistant for personal Microsoft accounts on the web, desktop and mobile; a beginner might try it for everyday questions, web-based answers, or asking about an uploaded file or image.
Qwen Chat:
Qwen Chat is an AI assistant built on Alibaba's Qwen models, used on the web and in mobile and desktop apps; a beginner might try it for questions with web search, summarizing uploaded documents, or asking about images.
Editor's suggestion
Microsoft Copilot:
- Editor's suggestion: Try summarising a document you are allowed to share, then check the summary against the original.
- Editor's suggestion: Try a question about something recent, and open the linked sources before relying on the answer.
Qwen Chat:
- Editor's suggestion: Try summarising a document you are allowed to share, then check the summary against the original.
- Editor's suggestion: Try a question about something recent, and open the linked sources before relying on the answer.
Cost
Free plan
A free plan that is not time-limited. Trials are listed separately.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedmicrosoft.comchecked 2026-10-10
Copilot (free) plan
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-10
Free plan
Plans and prices
Microsoft Copilot:
- Copilot (free) (Free plan)Price not confirmed
- Microsoft 365 Personal (Paid, individual)$9.99 / month
- Microsoft 365 Family (Paid, individual)$12.99 / month
- Microsoft 365 Premium (Paid, individual)$19.99 / month
- Microsoft 365 Pro (Paid, individual)$99.99 / month
- All plan details and sources
Qwen Chat:
- Free (Free plan)Price not confirmed
- Qwen Go (Paid, individual)Price not confirmed
- Qwen Plus (Paid, individual)Price not confirmed
- Qwen Pro (Paid, individual)Price not confirmed
- All plan details and sources
Through the API
Per 1 million tokens, and about what 30 short chat messages a day cost a month.
Microsoft Copilot:
Not in our API price listQwen Chat:
- qwen3.7-flash$0.03 in · $0.13 out · about $0.04 a month
- qwen3.8-flash$0.15 in · $0.47 out · about $0.18 a month
- qwen3.7-plus$0.40 in · $1.60 out · about $0.55 a month
- qwen3.8-max$2.00 in · $6.00 out · about $2.40 a month
- Official price pageHow we count
AI models
AI models
The AI models the official pages name for this product. Line-ups change often, so check the date.
Microsoft Copilot:
- GPT-5support.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-10
Qwen Chat:
- Not yet confirmed
Input and output
File upload
You can give it files such as PDFs or documents.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-10
All current plans
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Image input
You can give it an image to describe or analyse.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-10
All current plans
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Voice conversation
Talk to it out loud and hear it answer.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Runs code and analyses data
Runs code to work with numbers, spreadsheets or charts, not only text.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
- Supportedmicrosoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plans: Microsoft 365 Premium, Microsoft 365 Pro
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Checking facts
Web search
It can search the web while answering.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-10
Plan not specified
Deep research
A mode that searches many sources step by step and writes a report with citations.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plans: Microsoft 365 Premium, Microsoft 365 Pro
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Workflow
Platforms
Where the product is offered: web, desktop app, mobile app, or editor extension.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Web, Desktop app, Mobile appcopilot.comchecked 2026-10-10
Qwen Chat:
- Web, Desktop app, Mobile appqwen.aichecked 2026-10-10
Memory
Remembers things you told it in earlier chats.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Qwen Chat:
- Supportedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Projects
Group chats and files for one piece of work, with their own instructions.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Supportedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plans: Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Family, Microsoft 365 Premium, Microsoft 365 Pro
Qwen Chat:
- Not yet confirmed
Agent mode
Can take actions for you in a browser or on a computer, such as filling in forms.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Limitedsupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Plans: Microsoft 365 Premium, Microsoft 365 Pro · Region: US, Canada
Cowork for personal accounts is in Preview (same page). The AI credits page lists it for Premium and Pro only, currently in the US and Canada.
Qwen Chat:
- Limitedqwen.aichecked 2026-10-11
Plan not specified
Described for the Qwen for Chrome extension in a model post; the extension is not on qwen.ai/download.
Connects to
Apps and services it can read from or work in, as the official pages name them.
Microsoft Copilot:
- OneDrive, Google Drivesupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-11
Qwen Chat:
- Not yet confirmed
Requirements
Account
Whether you need to sign up before using it.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Account required: the free tier needs a signed-in Microsoft accountcopilot.comchecked 2026-10-10
Qwen Chat:
- Not yet confirmed
Where it is available
Countries or regions where the provider says it can be used.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Available in over 170 markets; not available or not supported in China (excluding Hong Kong SAR) and embargoed marketssupport.microsoft.comchecked 2026-10-10
Qwen Chat:
- Not yet confirmed
Not yet confirmed
Custom assistants
Make your own assistant with fixed instructions and files, such as GPTs or Gems.
Microsoft Copilot:
- Not yet confirmed
Qwen Chat:
- Not yet confirmed
Sources and confidence
Confidence
Microsoft Copilot:
Last checked 2026-10-11
Not yet confirmed: Context window, Used to train AI, Can switch off training, How long data is kept, Custom assistants
Qwen Chat:
Last checked 2026-10-11
Not yet confirmed: AI models, Account, Where it is available, Projects, Custom assistants, Connects to