In a significant strategic shift, Microsoft (MSFT) has announced it will cease active promotion of its standalone Copilot Pro consumer AI subscription. The move comes as the company introduces a new, consolidated offering named Microsoft 365 Premium. This new tier is designed to directly compete with OpenAI’s popular ChatGPT Plus service, matching its $19.99 monthly price point while bundling a full suite of productivity software.
The newly unveiled Microsoft 365 Premium effectively combines the capabilities of two previously separate subscriptions. For the same $20 monthly fee that users would pay for ChatGPT Plus, subscribers now receive the full suite of AI-powered Copilot features alongside the traditional Microsoft 365 Family suite. This bundle includes access to desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for up to six users, with each person receiving one terabyte of cloud storage. This represents a substantial value proposition, as it bundles advanced AI with established productivity tools.
Microsoft is clearly positioning this new bundle as a superior alternative to OpenAI’s offering. While ChatGPT Plus markets itself as a productivity tool with advanced access to models like GPT-5 and enhanced limits, Microsoft 365 Premium counters with the inherent advantage of native Office application integration.
Subscribers will gain access to Microsoft’s highest usage limits for advanced AI features, including GPT-4o image generation and voice capabilities, alongside new tools like Copilot Podcasts and Deep Research. A key differentiator is the built-in access to AI features within the Word, PowerPoint, and Excel interfaces themselves.
In a related and impactful change for hybrid workers, Microsoft is enabling a new “bring your own license” feature. Individuals with a personal Microsoft 365 Premium, Family, or Personal subscription can now sign into their work versions of Office applications and activate the Copilot AI features. This personal license overlays the work environment, granting access to advanced AI while maintaining corporate security and data protection protocols, ensuring that sensitive company information is not shared with the personal account.
While a company spokesperson confirmed that the Copilot Pro subscription will not be formally discontinued, its target audience has significantly narrowed. The new Microsoft 365 Premium bundle, along with the expansion of premium AI features like GPT-4o access and Copilot Chat to all consumer tiers, effectively makes the standalone Copilot Pro subscription redundant for the vast majority of users. This consolidation signals Microsoft’s intent to leverage its dominant Office suite to capture a larger share of the competitive consumer AI market.
