AI tools compared
ChatGPT vs Claude vs Copilot vs Gemini for business.
Short answer: choose Microsoft 365 Copilot if your company runs on Microsoft 365, Gemini if it runs on Google Workspace, and ChatGPT Business or Claude Team if you want a stand-alone assistant that works across your tools. Some companies pair a built-in tool with a stand-alone assistant.
Updated November 2, 2026 · By Jason, Founder, CGX · Prices from each vendor's website, in US dollars
At a glance
The four business AI assistants, side by side.
| Tool | Starting price per user per month (USD) | Works inside | Standout features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Business | $20 billed annually, $25 monthly. From 2 users. | ChatGPT app, with connectors to tools such as Slack, SharePoint, Google Drive and Outlook | Custom GPTs, shared projects, deep research, company knowledge across connected apps | A stand-alone assistant for teams on mixed tools |
| ChatGPT Enterprise | Contact sales | As Business, plus an admin connector registry | Custom data retention, and data stored in Canada (at rest) for eligible new workspaces, one of ten residency regions | Large organizations, especially those needing Canadian data residency |
| Claude Team | $20 billed annually, $25 monthly. 2 to 150 users. | Claude app, add-ins for Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook, Google Docs, Sheets and Slides (beta) | Research, projects, file creation, Claude Code and Claude Cowork | Writing, analysis, research and coding across Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace |
| Claude Enterprise | $20 per seat billed annually, plus usage. 20-seat minimum. | As Team | SCIM, audit logs, compliance API, custom data retention | Larger teams with compliance and audit needs |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot Business | $21 billed annually ($18 for the first year when you buy an annual plan by December 31, 2026). Add-on for Microsoft 365 Business plans, up to 300 users. | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams (Teams licence required) | Grounded in your Microsoft 365 data with existing permissions, Researcher and Analyst agents, Copilot Studio agents | Companies that run on Microsoft 365 |
| Microsoft 365 Copilot (enterprise) | $30 billed annually | As above | As above, for enterprise Microsoft 365 plans | Larger Microsoft 365 organizations |
| Gemini in Google Workspace | Included in Workspace: Business Starter $7, Standard $14, Plus $22 billed annually. Up to 300 users. | Gmail on Starter; Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet and more on Standard and Plus | Gems, Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM), Deep Research, meeting notes in Meet (Standard and Plus) | Companies that run on Google Workspace |
Vendors change prices and plans often, and some prices differ in Canadian dollars. Check the vendor's pricing page before you buy. Microsoft has renamed Microsoft 365 Copilot to Microsoft Copilot; we use the older name here because it's still widely used. Microsoft also offers a free Copilot Chat for users with an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription; agents in it are billed by usage.
How to choose
Which AI assistant should your company use?
You run on Microsoft 365
Start with Microsoft 365 Copilot. It works inside Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel, and only shows people data they already have permission to see. If you have an eligible Microsoft 365 subscription, you can try the free Copilot Chat first. Our Copilot rollout guide covers licences, set-up and training step by step.
You run on Google Workspace
Gemini is included in every Google Workspace Business edition. Business Standard or Plus puts it inside Docs, Sheets and Meet, not just Gmail.
You use a mix of tools, or want a stand-alone assistant
Choose ChatGPT Business or Claude Team. Both connect to many common tools, such as Slack, Google Drive and SharePoint. In our experience, ChatGPT suits custom GPTs and broad everyday use, and Claude suits long documents, writing, analysis and coding. Claude now also works inside Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.
You need data kept in Canada
- ChatGPT Enterprise can store data in Canada (at rest) for eligible new workspaces.
- Claude Team and Enterprise store data in the US. Canadian storage and processing is available only for developers using Claude models through Amazon Bedrock or Google Cloud Vertex AI, not in the Claude app.
- Google Workspace data regions offer only the US or Europe (Business Standard and up, data at rest only), so there is no Canadian option.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot stores interaction data under Microsoft's data residency commitments, but Microsoft says queries from outside the EU may be processed in the US, EU or other regions.
Confirm your exact requirements with each vendor.
Data and privacy
Do these tools train on your company's data?
On their business plans, none of the four trains its models on your data by default:
- ChatGPT Business and Enterprise: OpenAI doesn't train on your organization's data by default.
- Claude Team and Enterprise: Anthropic doesn't use inputs or outputs from its commercial products for training by default.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot: prompts, responses and data accessed through Microsoft Graph aren't used to train foundation models.
- Gemini in Workspace: your content isn't used for model training outside your domain without permission.
Consumer and free personal plans can work differently, which is why companies should give staff a business plan and an AI policy.
Where CGX fits
Not sure which fits? That's week 2.
In our AI onboarding, week 2 is the tool match: for each workstream we shortlist the tools that fit, with what each will and won't do and what it costs. Then we set them up and train your team. You buy licences directly from the vendor.
Questions
AI assistants for business, answered.
Which AI assistant is best for a small business?
Match it to the tools you already use. On Microsoft 365, start with Copilot or the free Copilot Chat. On Google Workspace, Gemini is already included. On a mix of tools, ChatGPT Business and Claude Team both start at $20 per user per month billed annually.
Is ChatGPT or Copilot better for work?
In our view, Copilot fits best if your work lives in Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel, because it works inside them and with your company's data. ChatGPT fits best as a stand-alone assistant across many tools, with custom GPTs for repeat tasks.
Do these AI tools train on our company data?
Not by default on their business plans. OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft and Google each state that business customer data isn't used to train their models by default.
Can we use more than one AI tool?
Yes. Some companies pair a built-in assistant like Copilot or Gemini for everyday office work with ChatGPT or Claude for heavier writing, research and analysis.
Which AI tool keeps data in Canada?
ChatGPT Enterprise can store data in Canada for eligible new workspaces. The Claude app stores data in the US, with Canadian processing only for developers using Claude through Amazon Bedrock or Google Cloud Vertex AI. Google Workspace data regions offer only the US or Europe. Check each vendor's current terms for your needs.
How much do business AI assistants cost?
As of November 2026: ChatGPT Business and Claude Team from $20 per user per month billed annually, Microsoft 365 Copilot Business $21 (or $18 for the first year on an annual plan bought by December 31, 2026), and Gemini included in Google Workspace from $7. ChatGPT Enterprise and Google Workspace Enterprise are quoted by sales.
Sources
Vendor pages used.
- OpenAI: ChatGPT business pricing and business data privacy
- OpenAI: data residency, including Canada
- Anthropic: Claude pricing and Team plan
- Anthropic: regional compliance and server locations
- Microsoft: Copilot data residency
- Google: Workspace data regions
- Microsoft: Copilot for business pricing and Copilot privacy
- Google: Workspace pricing and generative AI privacy
We update this comparison every quarter.
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