Now that ChatGPT has its own Windows app, the question of whether it’s worth choosing Microsoft’s Copilot, which is already included in Windows 11, takes center stage.
With the two sharing the stage, you should learn where ChatGPT shines versus Copilot. That’s why we’ve rounded up four reasons why you might prefer the ChatGPT app on Windows and where it stands out.
Direct access with Alt + spacebar
Quick access to a tool is always a key selling point, which is why Copilot’s home environment on Windows is attractive. But with the ChatGPT app, all you have to do is press Alt + Spacebar to instantly open a chat window. That’s true no matter what you’re already doing or if you’re busy with a lot of other tasks.
Imagine you are writing a document and want to ask AI for help in improving your word choice or checking grammar. You don’t need to open the Copilot app; just press Alt + Space, type your question and get an answer. Copilot often requires opening an app; even with a single button to open it, it still feels a little slower than the ChatGPT app.
Access chat history across devices
As someone who uses multiple devices that don’t all use Microsoft operating systems, the most obvious benefit of the ChatGPT app is that it syncs my account and chat history with the web portal, my mobile app, and anywhere else I use ChatGPT. If I’m using ChatGPT on my desktop computer with the Windows app and want to continue the conversation while I take the train, I can continue the conversation and continue, and vice versa, once I get home.
On the other hand, Copilot is quite integrated into Microsoft 365, which is great for staying within Word or Excel, but I can’t take a call from my desktop to my mobile. So when I ask Copilot to help brainstorm ideas for a party, I have to wait until I’m on another Windows device before I can continue the conversation. ChatGPT’s ability to stay connected across devices makes a big difference when you work on the go and want to keep all your AI conversations on one platform.
Image analysis for visual projects
One of the best ChatGPT features is the ability to analyze images you upload. Post a photo and the AI will interpret what’s happening in the image – something Copilot doesn’t currently offer.
I’ve used this feature frequently on the mobile app with complex maps or multiple seemingly conflicting parking signs on a street pole, even using recipe photos to help flesh out the ingredients. This kind of image-based help isn’t part of Copilot’s toolkit yet, so if all you have is images and words aren’t enough, ChatGPT is the best option.
Plugin and GPT Store access (coming soon)
This is still more anticipation than actual reality, but the ChatGPT app for Windows will gain access to OpenAI’s GPT Store, along with the plugins built by other companies to work with the AI chatbot. That means more customization and new ways to use the AI chatbot are on the horizon. For example, you can connect a content calendar plugin to ChatGPT to get the responses and other specialized tools.
Copilot is great for combining with Microsoft’s apps, but otherwise doesn’t have the kind of flexibility that the GPT Store offers (although it’s still speculative for now). So while both the ChatGPT Windows app and built-in Copilot offer Windows users plenty of AI tools and features, ChatGPT has enough unique benefits to make it more attractive in many cases. That could certainly change as Microsoft continues to improve Copilot, but I suspect you’ll see a spike in Windows ChatGPT usage and a decline in Copilot in the near future.
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