In short
Pick Copilot in Outlook if your organization runs on Microsoft 365, wants AI inside Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams under one Microsoft agreement, and needs Outlook apps on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. Pick Synced, the AI inbox assistant, if you also use Gmail, Slack, or WhatsApp Business, or want each new message turned into a ready draft without prompting. Synced is in private beta; Microsoft 365 Copilot is generally available.
Synced and Copilot in Outlook side by side
Copilot details come from Microsoft's Copilot pricing pages, Microsoft Support articles, and Microsoft Learn, checked on September 13, 2026. Microsoft sells Copilot several ways, so the price row lists the business add-on, the enterprise license, and the consumer plans separately.
| Copilot in Outlook | Synced | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Microsoft 365 Copilot Business add-on $21/user/month paid yearly (promo price shown: $18), $25.20 paid monthly. Microsoft 365 Copilot (enterprise) $30/user/month paid yearly. Both need a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan. Individuals: Microsoft 365 Personal $9.99/month, Premium $19.99/month | Listed on the pricing page: Free $0. Pro $29.99/user/month, or $24.99/user/month billed annually. Enterprise: contact sales |
| Free plan | Microsoft lists Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat as included for business users. Copilot Business has a free trial; individual plans list a 1-month trial | Yes. 20 Action Plans a week with Gmail, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Google Calendar |
| Platforms | Outlook for Microsoft 365, new Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, iOS, and Android | Web app for desktop browsers, and iPhone (iOS 16.4+). No iPad app. Android is planned, no date |
| Email providers | Microsoft work or school accounts and Microsoft consumer accounts. Gmail, Yahoo, or iCloud in new Outlook only when linked to a Microsoft 365 subscription on the same email identity | Gmail (Free and up), Outlook (Pro) |
| Other channels | Copilot also works in Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Slack and WhatsApp not listed | Slack, Microsoft Teams chats, WhatsApp Business, Instagram Business DMs, Messenger (Facebook Pages), SMS via your own Twilio number, GroupMe (Pro) |
| AI drafting | Yes. Draft with Copilot writes full drafts from a prompt and the thread, with tone and length options | Yes. Replies and documents, with context from connected Drive, OneDrive, and Calendar |
| Sends without approval | No. In Outlook you review the draft, keep it, edit, then select Send | No. Every AI-drafted message waits for your approval |
| Model training policy | Prompts, responses, and data accessed through Microsoft Graph aren't used to train foundation LLMs | Google Workspace data isn't used to train generalized AI/ML models. LLM providers are bound not to train on the data |
| Status | Generally available | Private beta (waitlist) |
Checked September 13, 2026. Prices in USD. Microsoft's page showed a limited-time promotional price for Copilot Business.
Where Copilot in Outlook is the better pick
- Your company is standardized on Microsoft 365. Copilot uses the same tenant, permissions, and admin tools as the rest of your Microsoft apps, and Microsoft Learn says it only surfaces data a user already has permission to view.
- You want AI across your documents too. The same Copilot license covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, not only Outlook.
- You need every platform. Copilot in Outlook is documented for new Outlook for Windows, Outlook for Mac, iOS, and Android. Synced is a desktop web app and an iPhone app.
- Procurement is easier with an existing vendor. Buying Copilot is an add-on to a Microsoft agreement you already have; Synced is a new vendor with a security review available on its Enterprise plan.
Where Synced is the better pick
- You use Gmail too. Copilot in Outlook works with Microsoft accounts, and Gmail only through account linking in new Outlook. Synced connects Gmail and Outlook directly as separate Inboxes.
- Customer or team messages come in outside Microsoft. Synced reads Slack, WhatsApp Business, Instagram Business DMs, Messenger, SMS via your own Twilio number, and GroupMe, as well as Microsoft Teams chats.
- You want the work prepared before you ask. Synced writes an Action Plan for each new message and puts the finished draft in Decide. Draft with Copilot starts when you open the compose box and enter a prompt.
- You're a small team without a Microsoft 365 business plan. Copilot Business requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 license. Synced's Free plan needs a Gmail account and a phone number to start.
Using Copilot and Synced on the same Outlook account
Synced connects to Outlook through Microsoft's sign-in and permission screen, the same way other third-party apps do, so it can run alongside Copilot. Some Microsoft 365 admins restrict third-party app consent; if the permission screen is blocked, your admin needs to allow Synced. In practice, Copilot stays your in-app writing tool and Synced handles incoming requests from Outlook and the other channels in one queue.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot plans and pricing (business) (checked 2026-09-13)
- Microsoft 365 Copilot pricing (enterprise) (checked 2026-09-13)
- Copilot in Microsoft 365 plans for individuals (checked 2026-09-13)
- Microsoft Support: Draft an email message with Copilot in Outlook (checked 2026-09-13)
- Microsoft Support: Frequently asked questions about Copilot in Outlook (checked 2026-09-13)
- Microsoft Support: Link non-Microsoft email accounts for premium benefits (checked 2026-09-13)
- Microsoft Learn: Data, privacy, and security for Microsoft 365 Copilot (checked 2026-09-13)
More comparisons
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