Copilot vs ChatGPT vs Claude vs Grok: Which AI Suits Your Business?

A year ago, the Copilot vs ChatGPT question was a two-horse race. Now Claude and Grok sell business plans too, and Microsoft even lets you run Claude inside Copilot. As a result, choosing an AI assistant is less about which chatbot is “smartest” and more about where your data lives, who controls access and which tool fits the way your team already works.

This guide compares all four in plain English. We cover what each does well, the security questions to ask, what it costs and how to roll it out without creating new risk. Along the way, we share what we have learned from using these tools across our own Perth teams.

Microsoft Copilot: the natural fit for Microsoft 365 businesses

If your business already runs on Microsoft 365, Copilot is usually the logical starting point. That’s because it works inside the apps your team opens every day. For example, it can summarise a Teams meeting, draft a reply in Outlook or turn a spreadsheet into a short briefing.

First, there are two levels to understand. Copilot Chat is included with eligible Microsoft 365 business plans and answers web-grounded questions securely. The paid Copilot licence goes further, because it can also draw on the emails, files and chats each person can already open.

That second point matters. In particular, Copilot respects existing permissions, so if a sensitive folder is shared with everyone, Copilot can surface it to everyone. Before rollout, therefore, review SharePoint and Teams access. Our guide to the benefits of Microsoft 365 for business covers the wider platform.

ChatGPT: the flexible all-rounder

ChatGPT is still the tool most people try first, and it remains one of the most versatile. It handles brainstorming, drafting, data analysis and coding help. Teams can also build custom GPTs for repeated jobs, such as proposal outlines or support replies.

For business use, the plan matters more than the model. ChatGPT Business (formerly Team) adds an admin console, single sign-on and a default that keeps workspace data out of model training. Meanwhile, ChatGPT Enterprise adds stronger controls and, for new workspaces, the option to store data at rest in Australia.

The biggest risk is not ChatGPT itself. Rather, it is staff pasting client details into free personal accounts that nobody manages. A business workspace and a clear AI use policy close that gap.

Claude: strong on long documents and careful analysis

Claude, built by Anthropic, has a reputation for clear writing and for working through long, complex material. For example, it suits jobs like reviewing a tender, comparing contract versions or drafting a policy from a pile of notes.

Businesses can buy Claude Team, from five seats, or Claude Enterprise, which adds single sign-on, audit logs and broader admin controls. In addition, Anthropic’s add-ins bring Claude into Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

There is also a twist in the Copilot vs ChatGPT debate for Microsoft shops. Because Claude models now run inside Microsoft 365 Copilot, many organisations can try them without a separate subscription. A setting in the Microsoft 365 admin centre controls whether they are available, so check it is set the way you intend.

Grok: capable, but check governance first

Grok, from Elon Musk’s xAI (now marketed as SpaceXAI for Business), is the newest arrival in the workplace. Its strengths are speed and a live view of public conversation on X, which can help with market and media monitoring.

To begin with, Grok Business is a self-serve plan with admin controls. Grok Enterprise then adds single sign-on and an optional isolated data environment with customer-managed encryption keys. xAI also says business data is not used to train its models.

However, do your due diligence. In January 2026, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner raised concerns about the consumer Grok service being misused to create sexualised images without consent. That issue did not involve the business plans, but it may still matter to your board, clients and brand. If you trial Grok, use a managed business workspace rather than the personal app.

Security and privacy questions to ask first

All four vendors now say they don’t train on business-plan data by default. Even so, that is only one part of the picture. Before you approve any AI tool, work through these questions with your IT provider.

The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner also publishes guidance on privacy and commercially available AI products. If you would like a second opinion, our cyber security services team can help.

Copilot vs ChatGPT costs, and how to judge the return

Pricing changes often, so treat this as a guide only. At the time of writing, the business tiers of ChatGPT, Claude and Grok were each listed at roughly US$20 to US$30 per user per month, while their enterprise plans are quoted. Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, on the other hand, is an add-on to an eligible Microsoft 365 plan. In Australia it lists at AU$31.40 per user per month (ex GST, paid yearly), or AU$26.91 under a promotion running until 31 December 2026. Microsoft also now sells Business Standard and Business Premium plans with Copilot built in. Check each vendor’s pricing page before you budget.

The licence fee is rarely the real cost, though. Instead, the return depends on training, tidy data and picking the right tasks. In our own high-communication teams, Copilot paid for itself quickly once people learned to prompt well and keep their files in order. So measure one task before and after, and let the numbers decide how far to expand.

We are also training models on more than 200,000 historic service tickets, so requests can be classified, summarised and routed faster. In short, years of support experience become real-time help for our engineers. For a broader view, read our guide to AI in the workplace for business leaders.