Copilot alternative

Copilot alternative: when it pays off and when it does not

Microsoft 365 Copilot is strong where your company already lives in Word, Outlook and Teams. People looking for an alternative usually have one of three reasons: the add-on licence for every workstation, being tied to a single ecosystem, or the concern that Copilot finds more than it should. This comparison covers both sides.

With counter-argumentsAs of October 2026Can be combined

Why companies look for a Copilot alternative

The licence comes on top

Microsoft 365 Copilot is an add-on licence to the existing Microsoft 365 licence and is billed per user. Equipping only part of the workforce creates two classes of workstation.

One ecosystem, one model selection

Copilot works with the models Microsoft chooses, and mainly inside Microsoft applications. If you also work with other systems or want to choose models deliberately, you reach limits.

Copilot sees what the user may see

Copilot accesses all content the respective user is entitled to in Microsoft 365. If sharing has grown over the years, salary lists or board documents suddenly appear in answers. The problem is not Copilot but the permission concept – Copilot just makes it visible.

Why the permission concept determines the security of every AI assistant is explained in Permissions are the real AI problem. How novendix.AI compares with Langdock is shown in the Langdock comparison.

Microsoft 365 Copilot and novendix.AI compared

Two different approaches: AI inside the Office interface, or a separate AI platform that connects Microsoft 365 as a data source.

Criterion	Microsoft 365 Copilot	novendix.AI
Approach	Assistant in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams	Separate platform in the browser and as an app; Microsoft 365 as a connected source
Licence	Add-on licence per user to the Microsoft 365 licence; price depending on plan and contract per Microsoft price list	€25 / €35 / €45 per user per month plus VAT, from one user, no base licence needed
Language models	Selected by Microsoft	19 models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google and Mistral, freely selectable
Data access	All content the user can access in Microsoft 365	Only sources and documents you assign to an assistant or project
Other systems	Via connectors and agents in the Microsoft ecosystem	Over 3,000 apps, plus custom connection of ERP, CRM, SQL databases and your own MCP servers
Processing location	Microsoft refers to the EU Data Boundary with documented exceptions	Platform in Germany, models in EU data centres, exceptions disclosed openly
Support	Via Microsoft or your Microsoft partner	Dedicated personal contact in Middle Franconia, Germany

Information on Microsoft 365 Copilot based on public information from Microsoft, as of October 2026. Microsoft’s current terms and prices apply.

When Copilot is the better choice

An alternative is not automatically better. In these cases there is a lot to be said for Copilot:

Your working day takes place almost entirely in Microsoft 365. If you spend the day in Outlook, Teams and Word, you benefit from AI directly in these applications.
Your permissions in SharePoint and OneDrive are tidy. Then Copilot’s broad access is an advantage rather than a risk.
You have a Microsoft strategy with a partner. Licences, administration and security already run through Microsoft – Copilot fits in seamlessly.

Many companies combine both: Copilot for work in Office, a platform like novendix.AI for model choice, custom assistants and connecting systems outside Microsoft.

When an alternative like novendix.AI fits better

You want to equip all employees, not just some. From €25 per user, without an additional base licence and without a minimum purchase.
You want the best model for each task. Claude for long documents, GPT for versatile tasks, Gemini for large contexts, Mistral as a European option – through one login. The LLM comparison sets out their strengths.
Your data is not only in Microsoft 365. We connect ERP, CRM, databases or industry software individually.
You want to control exactly what the AI sees. Knowledge is assigned to specific assistants and projects instead of opening up the entire data estate.
You want a contact person instead of a hotline. Dedicated contact, reply usually within 24 hours, on-site meetings possible.

How you can still use Microsoft 365 as a knowledge source is explained in Microsoft 365 as a knowledge base for AI. Alternatives to ChatGPT are covered in ChatGPT alternatives.

Frequently asked questions about a Copilot alternative

What is the difference between Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Copilot Chat is Microsoft’s web-based AI chat that companies with Microsoft 365 accounts can use. Microsoft 365 Copilot is the paid add-on licence that brings AI into Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams and accesses your company data in Microsoft 365.

Is a Copilot alternative cheaper?

That depends on your licensing situation. novendix.AI costs €25, €35 or €45 per user per month plus VAT and does not require a Microsoft 365 licence. Compare the total cost for all users who actually need AI – including rollout. A calculation aid is offered by What AI costs in a company.

Can novendix.AI access SharePoint and Outlook?

Yes, via the Microsoft 365 connection. Unlike Copilot, you decide which sources an assistant may use.

Can we use Copilot and novendix.AI in parallel?

Yes. Many companies use Copilot for individual Office-heavy workstations and a platform for everyone else, as well as for specialised assistants and system connections.

Is Microsoft Copilot GDPR-compliant?

Microsoft offers business customers a data processing agreement and refers to the EU Data Boundary. Whether use in your company is compliant depends, as with any AI, on the permission concept, policy and documentation. The checklist is on GDPR-compliant AI.

How do I test the alternative?

Ten days free of charge, without payment details, with the features of the Business plan. Ideally, give the same tasks to Copilot and novendix.AI in parallel.