Microsoft sent a promo email headed “Your Microsoft 365 subscription just got better”, be aware of the details that Microsoft either missed. ‘forgot’ or buried in the fine print.
That email explains about Copilot arriving in Microsoft 365 but little on the severe limitations and nothing on the price rise. As the old song goes “Accentuate the Positive”.
This article attempts to balance out Microsoft hype with a dose of hard reality.
Price Rise
Missing from the Microsoft email is the large rise in the cost of Microsoft 365 for individuals. The cost of a new or renewing Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan has gone up by between 30% and over 40%.
In the USA that means Microsoft 365 Family is now $129.99, $30 more than the old $99.99 price. Microsoft says it’s just “$3 a month”.
Existing users will see this price rise when they next renew Microsoft 365. Even then, you might be able to keep the old price by opting for the Microsoft 365 Classic option.
To be fair, this is the first price rise (in most countries) since Microsoft 365 consumer plans started. Over the years, a lot has been added to Microsoft 365 and inflation has affected most prices. We’ve been expecting a price rise for at least a year now.
Copilot limited use / AI Credits
Yes, Word 365, Excel 365, PowerPoint 365 and Outlook 365 all now have Copilot AI features … but only in a very limited form.
Each user can use Copilot about 60 times (each Copilot action uses an “AI Credit”) in a calendar month. Unlike paid Copilot plans like Copilot Pro which are effectively unlimited.
Copilot use is controlled by AI Credits see All about AI Credits in Microsoft 365
Other traps
Not all Microsoft 365 users
The Copilot features (with AI credits) aren’t available to all Microsoft 365 consumers, only two groups get it:
- Microsoft 365 Family plan OWNER ONLY
- Microsoft 365 Personal
Anyone sharing a Family plan doesn’t get Copilot, those people have some choices, according to Microsoft:
- Buy a Microsoft 365 Personal plan which has limited Copilot with AI credits.
- Buy the Copilot Pro addon for the shared Family account.
Of course, there’s another option that Microsoft ‘forgets’:
- Keep using the shared Microsoft 365 Family plan without Copilot!
Copilot is “in your face”
Whether you want or use Copilot, the feature is very much “in your face”. There’s not just a Copilot button on the Home tab but Copilot icons in the document space. The new blank Word document is especially intrusive. See How to stop Copilot appearing in Microsoft 365 for the little that can be done, for now, to reduce the Copilot interventions.
Gradually Microsoft is adding a ‘Disable Copilot’ option for some customers.
HUGE changes to Microsoft 365 happening now
Microsoft 365 price increases around the world
How to Disable Copilot in Microsoft 365