If you are subscribed to Microsoft 365, you may have noticed something strange recently. A new feature called Copilot has appeared in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and even Outlook. The odd part? You didn’t request it. You didn’t buy it. And you might not even want it.
Microsoft Quietly Adds Copilot to Microsoft 365 — and You Might Be Paying More for It
So how did Copilot sneak into your apps? The answer is simple: Microsoft quietly rolled it out to all Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans. Whether you asked for Copilot or not, it’s now part of your subscription — and you may end up paying more because of it.
Copilot Is Now in the Office Apps You Use Every Day
Open Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote. Look at the ribbon at the top of the screen. You’ll see a new Copilot icon sitting there. It doesn’t do much unless you click it, so you can easily ignore it if you want.
But Word is a different story. In Microsoft Word, Copilot pops up in your face. On the left margin, there’s a large, noticeable icon that says, “Draft with Copilot.” It comes with a big message encouraging you to try it. This is harder to ignore and can feel intrusive — especially if you didn’t ask for this AI assistant.
What about Outlook? Well, that’s where things get confusing. The older, “classic” Outlook might not have Copilot yet — depending on your version. But the new Outlook app for Windows includes Copilot by default.
Is Copilot Free?
You might be wondering: Is this Copilot feature free? Is Microsoft giving us a free AI tool out of generosity?
The short answer is: No. There’s a price increase coming.
If you are a Microsoft 365 Personal subscriber, your cost is going up from $69.99 to $99.99 per year (or $9.99 per month). That’s about a 43% increase. For Microsoft 365 Family subscribers, the price jumps from $99.99 to $129.99 per year (or $12.99 per month).
Some subscribers have discounts, so actual costs may vary. For example, some people who got special business or domain discounts used to pay less — like $69.99 per year. But when Copilot was added, that same plan went up to $90.99, even with the discount.
If you try to switch back to the classic plan without Copilot, you may lose your discount and end up paying more than the discounted Copilot plan.
There’s a bit of good news, though. This price hike does not start immediately. It will only take effect when your subscription renews. Until then, you can use Copilot at no extra charge. But if you let your subscription renew automatically, the new, higher price will quietly take over.
Can Everyone in a Family Plan Use Copilot?
Not exactly. Microsoft did something tricky here too.
If you subscribe to Microsoft 365 Family, up to six people in your household can normally use the features. But not with Copilot. Only the main account holder gets access to Copilot — the other five family members do not.
Even for that main user, Copilot is limited. You only get 60 Copilot credits per month. Each time you use Copilot for a task — like generating text or making a summary — it costs one credit.
What happens when you use up your 60 credits? Microsoft will prompt you to upgrade to the more expensive Copilot Pro plan, which offers unlimited use.
What If You Don’t Want Copilot?
Don’t want Copilot cluttering your apps? You’re not alone. The good news is that you can turn it off — if you know how.
To disable Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote:
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Update your apps to the latest version first.
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In Word or Excel, click File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
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Go to File > Options > Copilot.
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Uncheck “Enable Copilot” and click OK.
On Mac:
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Go to the Word menu > Preferences > Copilot.
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Uncheck the “Enable Copilot” box.
For Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, the steps are similar. You’ll find the Copilot setting under Options in each app.
You may need to restart the app for changes to take effect.
To disable Copilot in the new Outlook app:
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Open Outlook.
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Find the Copilot icon on the toolbar.
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Click it and go to Settings.
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Turn off the “Turn on Copilot” switch.
Can You Remove Copilot Completely?
If you don’t want Copilot at all — and don’t want to pay for it — you can change your subscription plan.
Here’s how:
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Go to your Microsoft account online.
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Under Manage Microsoft 365, you’ll see your subscription details.
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Look for an option called “Switch Plan” or “Cancel Subscription.”
Microsoft may offer you a Classic version of Microsoft 365 without Copilot — for a lower price. But there’s a catch: This Classic option will only be available for a limited time. After that, you may be stuck with Copilot whether you like it or not.
Even worse, Microsoft has said that future features might only work with plans that include Copilot. So the Classic plan may eventually become outdated or lose useful tools.
Is This Fair?
Some users feel Microsoft didn’t handle this rollout well. Copilot showed up without warning. The price increased quietly. The restrictions on Family plans and credit limits made things worse.
Microsoft says Copilot adds value. But users say they should have had a clearer choice — or at least the option to opt out without losing discounts or access.
For now, you can disable Copilot or switch plans. But in the long run, you may have no choice but to accept Copilot and its price tag.
Stay alert and review your renewal terms carefully before your next billing date.
Bottom Line
Microsoft Copilot is here, whether you wanted it or not. And unless you act fast to switch plans or turn it off, you might end up paying more.
For some users, Copilot could be helpful. But for others, it feels like an unnecessary — and expensive — addition. Keep an eye on your subscription, know your options, and decide what’s best for you.
