AI Assistants · Comparison
Copilot vs ChatGPT, Claude & Gemini
A fair, factual comparison of Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini — and why a data-secure UK business on Microsoft 365 often chooses Copilot.
Quick answer
Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are all capable AI assistants. For a business already on Microsoft 365, Copilot works inside your Office apps, grounds on your own data via Microsoft Graph and stays within your existing Microsoft security and compliance boundary — while ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini remain strong general-purpose tools with their own enterprise data protections.
An honest comparison
Which AI assistant is right for a data-secure UK business?
ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), Gemini (Google) and Microsoft 365 Copilot are all highly capable. The right choice depends less on which model is “best” and more on where your data lives and how your people work. For an organisation already standardised on Microsoft 365, Copilot has some specific, practical advantages — but the others are excellent general-purpose assistants, and plenty of businesses use more than one.
| Microsoft 365 Copilot | ChatGPT | Claude | Gemini | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works inside Word, Excel, Teams & Outlook | Native | Browser / app | Browser / app | Native in Google Workspace |
| Grounds on your own M365 data (email, files, chat) | Yes, via Microsoft Graph | Not by default | Not by default | Not for M365 data |
| Where your business data sits | Inside your M365 tenant & UK/EU boundary | Vendor platform* | Vendor platform* | Vendor platform* |
| Respects your existing Microsoft permissions & sensitivity labels | Yes | No | No | No |
| Trains foundation models on your business data | No | No (business/enterprise tiers)* | No (business/enterprise tiers)* | No (Workspace tiers)* |
| Often strongest for | AI across your existing M365 apps & data | Broad general tasks & a wide ecosystem | Long-form reasoning, analysis & coding | Google Workspace users |
*ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini all offer business and enterprise tiers with their own data-protection commitments and admin controls; their consumer/free tiers can handle data differently. Always check each provider’s current terms.
Why a data-secure UK business often chooses Copilot
Three reasons come up again and again. First, integration — Copilot is already inside the apps your team uses all day, so there’s nothing to copy and paste. Second, your data stays put — answers are grounded on your own emails, files and chats via Microsoft Graph, without that content leaving your Microsoft 365 tenant. Third, it inherits the controls you already run — Purview sensitivity labels, Entra access governance and Defender all apply, so Copilot only ever surfaces what a given employee is entitled to see.
Where the others shine
This isn’t “Copilot good, everything else bad”. ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are outstanding general-purpose tools, and their enterprise tiers protect business data too. Many organisations pair Copilot for in-workflow, data-grounded tasks with a general assistant for open-ended research, writing or coding. The trap to avoid is staff pasting sensitive company information into consumer AI accounts — which is exactly why giving people a secure, sanctioned option (Copilot Chat is free with most M365 plans) matters.
We’ll help you choose — and licence it
As a Microsoft CSP, Foresight can set you up with the free Copilot Chat today, pilot paid Microsoft 365 Copilot with the right security in place, and advise honestly on where a general-purpose assistant fits alongside it.
ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini are trademarks of their respective owners. Comparison based on publicly available information in 2026 and intended as general guidance, not a definitive statement of any provider’s terms.
FAQs
Common questions
Is Microsoft 365 Copilot better than ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini?
Is it safe for staff to use ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini for work?
Can we use Copilot and another AI assistant together?
Buy Microsoft licensing through a partner who supports you
Foresight is a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP). We licence, deploy and secure Microsoft 365 and Copilot for organisations across Greater Manchester and the UK — on transparent fixed monthly pricing.