Office workers whose company already pays for Microsoft 365 Copilot, though each task also burns usage-based Copilot Credits on top of the licence.
Kenning's take
What it does
Copilot Cowork is an agent inside Microsoft 365 Copilot that takes on longer jobs, such as drafting and sending emails, building Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, managing calendars and running research. It runs in the cloud, so tasks keep going with the laptop off, and at launch it ran on Anthropic models including Claude Opus 4.8 and Sonnet 4.6. It became generally available for work accounts worldwide on 16 June 2026 and is in preview for personal accounts.
- Drafts and sends email and Teams messages
- Creates and edits Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files
- Schedules meetings and manages calendars
- Deep research across work content
- Scheduled, recurring tasks
- Runs in the cloud on Anthropic models
Who it suits. Office workers at organisations that already pay for Microsoft 365 Copilot.
Key facts
- Category
- Everyday AI assistants
- Part of
- Microsoft Copilot
- Made by
- Microsoft
- Released
- 16 June 2026
- How to get it
- Needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot user licence, with Cowork tasks billed by use in Copilot Credits; preview for personal Microsoft accounts
- Works on
- Microsoft 365 Copilot app (desktop and web)
- In the UK
- Yes
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Billed |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Copilot (business) | $21 | user per month, paid yearly (shown at $18 on offer) |
| Cowork usage | $usage-based, in Copilot Credits | per task |
FAQ
When did Copilot Cowork launch?
Microsoft made Copilot Cowork generally available worldwide on 16 June 2026, after three months of preview.
How much does Copilot Cowork cost?
It needs a Microsoft 365 Copilot licence, from $21 per user a month for businesses paid yearly, and each task is then billed by use in Copilot Credits.
Which AI models does Copilot Cowork use?
At general availability it ran on Anthropic models, including Claude Opus 4.8 and Sonnet 4.6.
Facts from the maker's own pages and the sources listed. Checked 2026-10-11.
Similar tools
Critique
Microsoft Copilot research mode where one AI model drafts a report and a second checks it
ChatGPT
OpenAI's general chatbot, the most used AI app in the UK and worldwide.
Google Gemini
Google's chatbot, built into Android, Gmail and Docs, with a generous free plan.
Claude
Anthropic's chatbot, strong on writing and on pointing out holes in an argument, with a tight free allowance.