vs Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot alternative for email freedom
Copilot is powerful inside Microsoft 365. Outside it? Useless. If you're not all-in on Microsoft, you need something that works everywhere.
The ecosystem trap
Microsoft 365 required
Microsoft Copilot brings AI to Outlook and the entire Microsoft 365 suite. It's deeply integrated and genuinely useful — if you're fully committed to the Microsoft ecosystem.
$30/user/month (Microsoft 365 Copilot)
Ecosystem lock-in
Microsoft Copilot
Only works in Microsoft 365. Gmail users? Out of luck.
Pontius
Works with any email provider, any AI, any operating system.
Payment lock-in
Microsoft Copilot
$360/user/year. Enterprise pricing, enterprise lock-in.
Pontius
$99 once. Personal license, lifetime ownership.
AI lock-in
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft's AI only. GPT-based, but their implementation, their rules.
Pontius
Choose your AI. Microsoft burned you? Switch to Claude or Gemini.
Data lock-in
Microsoft Copilot
Everything flows through Microsoft's cloud. You trust them, right?
Pontius
Local-first. Your credentials in your OS keychain. Your data on your machine.
The pricing trap
Enterprise pricing for personal use?
Microsoft Copilot is built for enterprises with IT budgets. If you're an individual or small team, it's expensive overkill.
Microsoft Copilot
$30
per user, per month
- $360/year per user
- Requires Microsoft 365 subscription (extra cost)
- Outlook/Microsoft email only
- Enterprise features you probably don't need
Pontius
$99
one time, forever
- No monthly fees, ever
- Works with any email provider
- Choose your own AI (Claude, Gemini, local)
- Built for individuals and small teams
Side by side
Feature comparison
| Feature | Microsoft Copilot | Pontius |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $30/user/mo | $99 once |
| Works with Gmail | No | Yes |
| Works with Outlook | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Fastmail | No | Yes |
| AI choice | Microsoft only | Any AI |
| Data location | Microsoft cloud | Local machine |
| Personal use | Expensive overkill | Designed for it |
The alternative
What if Microsoft changes direction?
Microsoft has a history of shifting priorities, changing pricing, and sunsetting features. When you're locked into their ecosystem, you're subject to their decisions. With Pontius, you own your tool — and you can switch AI providers anytime.
Any AI
Microsoft's GPT implementation not cutting it? Switch to Claude, Gemini, or a local model. Your choice.
Any email
Mix Outlook with Gmail, Fastmail, or self-hosted. Pontius doesn't care what providers you use.
Your machine
Everything runs locally. No dependency on Microsoft's cloud. No data flowing through their servers.
When Copilot makes sense
Copilot is the right choice for specific situations.
- Enterprise teams fully committed to Microsoft 365
- Organizations that need AI across Word, Excel, and Teams
- Companies with IT departments managing the subscription
- Users who never touch non-Microsoft email
When Pontius wins
Pontius is for users who need more flexibility than Microsoft offers.
- Anyone with mixed email providers (work Outlook + personal Gmail)
- Individuals and small teams who don't need full Microsoft 365
- Privacy-conscious users who prefer local-first
- Power users who want to choose their own AI
- People who hate paying $360/year for email AI
In action
Outlook and beyond
Works with Outlook. Also works with everything else Microsoft doesn't support.
# Works with Outlook — and everything else
$ pontius list
[Outlook] 37801 [email protected] Q1 Review
[Gmail] 37802 [email protected] Weekend plans?
[Fastmail] 37803 [email protected] Project update
# Not trapped in one ecosystem
$ pontius reply 37801 "Thanks for the review notes..."
# Microsoft changes pricing? Makes Copilot worse?
# You're not locked in. Switch AI. Switch providers. Keep working.Not all-in on Microsoft?
Pontius works with any email provider, any AI. $99 once. Own it forever.
No ecosystem lock-in. No enterprise pricing for personal use.