

Microsoft Copilot brought generative AI into everyday work by embedding assistance across Microsoft 365 apps. It positioned AI as a productivity layer for writing, summarizing, and searching—especially for organizations already locked into the Microsoft ecosystem.
However, even Satya Nadella has openly acknowledged that early Copilot adoption has shown AI alone does not automatically translate into business outcomes. In multiple interviews, he emphasized that productivity gains depend on workflow redesign, system integration, and real operational change—not just AI features layered on top of existing tools.
This gap is exactly why many enterprises are now searching for Microsoft Copilot alternatives.
Organizations need more than an AI assistant for documents and meetings. They are looking for platforms that can automate IT and HR workflows, resolve employee requests end-to-end, integrate with service management systems, and deliver measurable ROI—areas where Copilot’s scope remains limited.
In this guide, we evaluate the best Microsoft Copilot alternatives in 2026, comparing enterprise AI platforms built for automation, governance, and employee support at scale—starting with Workativ, a leading platform designed specifically for real-world enterprise workflow.
While Microsoft Copilot improves individual productivity inside Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, many organizations find it insufficient for enterprise-scale automation. Copilot primarily operates as an AI assistant layered on top of Microsoft 365, limiting its ability to resolve real employee requests end-to-end. Let’s explore the challenges Microsoft Copilot poses for users.
Microsoft Copilot works well for general assistance, but users often report that responses become generic or unreliable when dealing with complex, domain-specific information. This forces employees to verify details, which reduces trust and slows workflows. Enterprises handling IT, HR, or policy-driven queries need AI systems that deeply understand internal context not just surface-level summaries.
It is observed that Microsoft Copilot lacks deep research capabilities. When asked lengthy or detailed questions, Copilot responds with very few characters rather than a comprehensive explanation. It also does not answer complex questions step by step, which makes it less effective for in-depth understanding or detailed problem-solving.
The reviewer finds it challenging to know exactly how to prompt Microsoft Copilot. They often struggle to get the desired result on the first attempt and need to go back and add more detailed instructions. This leads to revising the same output multiple times using different prompts, which makes the experience less efficient.
There are multiple concerns with Microsoft Copilot, including slow performance with large files, errors when working at scale, and inaccurate guidance for technical or fast-changing libraries. They also note limited control over outputs for complex workflows and the risk of over-reliance without proper verification. Additionally, the requirement for an extra license raises cost concerns, especially when usage is light or inconsistent.
The reviewer feels that Microsoft Copilot is not as thorough as other AI tools and tends to provide surface-level responses. Compared to tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, Copilot does not pull information as deeply or clearly reference sources. They also mention having to frequently fact-check Copilot because responses can be misconstrued or contradict themselves without notice.
Besides, there are significant challenges with Microsoft Copilot,
Microsoft Copilot works best only within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, limiting flexibility for organizations that rely on multiple tools. This creates vendor lock-in and reduces the ability to build cross-platform workflows.
Copilot is designed for productivity assistance, not deep workflow customization. It lacks the flexibility needed to tailor IT, HR, and internal support processes end-to-end.
Copilot requires additional per-user licensing, which can become expensive as adoption grows. For organizations with large employee bases, cost often outweighs the value delivered.
Enterprises have limited visibility and control over how data is accessed and contextualized across tenants. This raises concerns around governance, auditability, and compliance in regulated environments.
Name | Ratings | Pricing | Key features | Pros and cons |
Workativ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7/5) | Custom (enterprise) | AI agents for HR & IT, action-based automation, LLM reasoning, Slack & Teams native | Pros: Deep automation beyond HR, strong AI reasoning, flexible integrations. Cons: Enterprise onboarding effort |
Moveworks | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) | Enterprise-only | IT service automation, employee self-service, NLP | Pros: Strong ITSM use cases. Cons: High cost, limited HR depth |
Aisera | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3/5) | Enterprise | AI service desk, IT & HR automation | Pros: Broad IT focus. Cons: Complex setup, UI learning curve |
Espressive | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4/5) | Custom | HR virtual assistant, employee knowledge base | Pros: HR-first design. Cons: Limited cross-functional expansion |
Leena AI | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) | Subscription-based | HR automation, employee self-service, workflow orchestration | Pros: Strong HR workflows, intuitive UX. Cons: Limited depth beyond HR use cases |
Rezolve AI | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2/5) | Custom | Conversational AI for internal support | Pros: Flexible AI layer. Cons: Fewer enterprise-grade controls |
Langdock | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3/5) | Usage-based | Secure LLM workspace, internal AI tools | Pros: Strong LLM governance. Cons: Limited workflow automation |
Yellow AI | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4/5) | Custom | Omnichannel conversational AI | Pros: Multi-channel reach. Cons: Heavy configuration effort |
Kore AI | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) | Enterprise | Conversational AI platform, bot orchestration | Pros: Mature AI platform. Cons: Steep learning curve |
Freshworks | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.6/5) | Tiered | ITSM, CX, workflow automation | Pros: Easy to adopt, transparent pricing. Cons: AI depth varies by plan |
ServiceNow | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) | Enterprise | Workflow automation, ITSM, AI | Pros: Extremely powerful. Cons: Expensive, long implementation |
BMC Helix | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3/5) | Enterprise | AI-driven ITSM, service management | Pros: Strong IT operations focus. Cons: Less intuitive UX |
As enterprises move beyond AI-powered productivity toward real workflow automation, many teams are reassessing Microsoft Copilot’s limitations around customization, cost, and enterprise control. The platforms below represent the top Microsoft Copilot alternatives in 2026, offering deeper automation, stronger governance, and purpose-built AI for HR, IT, and internal support use cases.
Workativ is an enterprise AI agent and automation platform that helps organizations automate employee and customer interactions across HR, IT, and internal support. Instead of acting as a simple chatbot, Workativ enables action-driven AI agents that understand intent, retrieve knowledge, and complete tasks end-to-end—directly from Slack, Microsoft Teams, and web chat.
Key capabilities include AI Agent Studio, advanced RAG with multi-knowledge sourcing, AI actions for workflow execution, shared live inbox, multichannel deployment, multilingual support (90+ languages), and enterprise-grade security (SOC 2 Type II, GDPR). This makes Workativ ideal for mid-market and enterprise teams looking for real automation, not just AI-powered responses.
Workativ goes beyond productivity assistance by enabling AI agents that reason, take action, and resolve HR and IT workflows end-to-end, not just suggest or summarize information.
Workativ is ideal for mid-market and large enterprises that want to consolidate HR and IT support into a single AI layer. Workativ offers,
Workativ’s value proposition lies in its automation-first approach to enterprise AI. Unlike productivity tools that provide suggestions or summaries, Workativ enables AI agents to understand intent, reason through requests, and take action across systems. This allows organizations to resolve HR and IT requests end to end, reduce manual effort, and achieve measurable operational ROI—while maintaining enterprise-grade security, governance, and control.
Key features of Workativ
Workativ is consistently rated highly by users for its depth of automation, ease of integration, and ability to handle both HR and IT support use cases from a single platform.
Workativ offers transparent, tiered pricing that scales from pilots to enterprise deployments.
Free plan for evaluation, including 1 AI agent, up to 25 chat sessions, basic analytics, shared live inbox, and security guardrails.
Designed for growing teams with higher chat limits, multiple AI agents, workflow actions, advanced analytics, and branding removal.
Built for large organizations requiring higher scale, advanced security, custom integrations, RBAC, MFA, and dedicated support.
Overall, Workativ offers a more cost-effective, transparent pricing model than enterprise-only platforms like Leena AI.
Workativ is designed for organizations that need AI to resolve work, not just assist with it, addressing the exact gaps that teams encounter with Microsoft Copilot.
Built for automation, not ecosystem lock-in
While Microsoft Copilot works primarily inside Microsoft 365, Workativ operates across tools and systems, enabling cross-platform workflows without forcing organizations into a single ecosystem.
Purpose-built for HR, IT, and internal workflows
Copilot focuses on productivity tasks like writing and summarization, whereas Workativ is built to automate ITSM, HR requests, approvals, and internal support processes end-to-end.
Predictable value at scale
Copilot’s per-user add-on licensing can become costly as adoption grows, while Workativ’s enterprise pricing is aligned to automation outcomes and usage, making ROI easier to justify at scale.
Workativ offers enterprise-grade controls, including AI guardrails, role-based access, auditability, and knowledge-level governance, giving organizations greater confidence in regulated environments.
From answers to actions
Most importantly, Workativ connects AI reasoning directly to real actions creating tickets, triggering workflows, and updating systems eliminating the repeated prompting and manual follow-ups commonly required with Microsoft Copilot.
If Microsoft Copilot feels limited to assisting work within documents and meetings, Workativ is the better choice for enterprises that want AI-driven automation, control, and measurable operational impact.
Feature | Workativ | Microsoft Copilot |
Core focus | End-to-end AI automation for HR, IT, and internal support | AI productivity assistance within Microsoft 365 |
AI agent creation | No-code AI Agent Studio to build, train, and deploy task-driven agents | Not supported (no custom agent orchestration for workflows) |
Workflow execution | AI agents can take actions such as ticket creation, approvals, and system updates | Limited to suggestions and assistance, no native task execution |
ITSM & HR automation | Purpose-built for ITSM, HR workflows, and employee self-service | Not purpose-built for ITSM or HR workflows |
Advanced RAG | Enterprise-grade RAG with controlled, multi-source knowledge retrieval | Limited control over retrieval and grounding |
Multi-knowledge sourcing | Supports multiple knowledge bases across teams, regions, and use cases | Primarily tied to Microsoft 365 data context |
Multichannel support | Slack, Microsoft Teams, web chat, and messaging platforms | Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 apps only |
Shared live inbox | Unified inbox for AI and human collaboration with seamless handoff | Not available |
Lead qualification & capture | Built-in conversational lead qualification and routing | Not supported |
AI summaries & suggestions | Conversation summaries, reply suggestions, and next-step guidance | Basic summaries within Microsoft apps |
AI guardrails | PII masking, prompt-injection protection, response boundaries, governance controls | Limited enterprise-level AI guardrails |
Multilingual support | 90+ languages supported across channels | Language support varies by Microsoft app |
White-labeling | Fully white-label with custom branding and domains | Not supported |
Security & compliance | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, RBAC, audit controls | Microsoft security standards within M365 |
Pricing model | Custom enterprise pricing aligned to automation outcomes | Per-user add-on licensing at scale |
Best suited for | Enterprises seeking automation, control, and measurable ROI | Teams seeking AI assistance for documents and meetings |
Moveworks is a Microsoft Copilot alternative focused on enterprise employee experience and IT automation. It uses conversational AI and NLP to resolve employee issues related to IT, HR, and workplace services. The platform integrates deeply with ITSM tools and enterprise systems to automate common requests. Moveworks is widely adopted by large enterprises aiming to reduce ticket volume and improve employee self-service.
Moveworks does not publish standard pricing and follows a demo-led, enterprise sales model. Pricing typically depends on organization size, number of employees, integrations (ITSM, HRIS, IAM), and support requirements. Industry reports and customer feedback often place Moveworks’ annual cost at ~$200,000 to $1M+, making it suitable primarily for large enterprises.
Aisera is a Microsoft Copilot alternative focused on AI-driven IT service management (ITSM) and enterprise service automation. It uses conversational AI and machine learning to automate IT, HR, and customer support requests. The platform is positioned for enterprises that want to reduce ticket volume through AI self-service. Organizations with complex IT environments and high support demand commonly adopt Aisera.
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Aisera does not publish standard pricing and follows a demo-led enterprise sales model. Pricing varies based on organization size, number of automated use cases, integrations, and support scope. It is generally positioned for mid-market and large enterprises, with costs scaling as AI automation depth increases.
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Espressive is a Microsoft Copilot alternative built for employee self-service and HR-focused automation. It uses conversational AI to help employees quickly find answers to policy, benefits, and workplace questions. The platform is centered around a curated knowledge base rather than deep workflow execution. Espressive’s Barista is commonly used by enterprises looking to improve HR support efficiency and employee experience.
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Espressive follows a quote-based enterprise pricing model with costs depending on employee count, integrations, and support scope. Pricing details are not publicly disclosed, and the platform is typically targeted at large organizations.
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G2: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5)
Rezolve AI positions itself as a Microsoft Copilot alternative for organizations seeking conversational AI layered on internal support systems. It focuses on enabling employees to get help through chat-driven experiences across IT and HR. The platform emphasizes configurability, allowing teams to adapt AI conversations to internal processes. Rezolve AI is often chosen by enterprises seeking conversational self-service without rebuilding their existing support stack.
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Rezolve AI follows a quote-based pricing model, with costs depending on organization size, usage, and integrations. Pricing is typically positioned for mid-market and enterprise teams.
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Langdock is a Microsoft Copilot alternative designed for teams that want a secure, internal LLM workspace rather than workflow-heavy automation. It focuses on giving employees controlled access to large language models for research, writing, and internal knowledge exploration. The platform emphasizes privacy, data isolation, and governance. Langdock is commonly adopted by enterprises experimenting with AI internally while maintaining strict security standards.
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Yellow AI is a Microsoft Copilot alternative built for enterprise-grade conversational AI across customer and employee support. The platform specializes in omnichannel automation, enabling AI-driven conversations across chat, voice, and messaging apps. It combines conversational AI with workflow capabilities to support large-scale deployments. Yellow.ai is widely used by global enterprises that need multilingual, always-on engagement.
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Yellow AI follows a quote-based enterprise pricing model, with costs depending on channels, usage volume, and integrations.
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Kore AI is a Microsoft Copilot alternative positioned as a full-scale conversational AI platform for enterprises. It enables organizations to build sophisticated virtual assistants for customer service, IT helpdesk, and employee support. The platform emphasizes dialog orchestration, intent management, and backend integrations. Kore.ai is commonly chosen by large enterprises that need high customization and control over conversational experiences.
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Kore AI follows a quote-based enterprise pricing model, with costs depending on deployment size, channels, integrations, and AI capabilities. It is typically positioned for mid-market and large enterprises.
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Freshworks is a Microsoft Copilot alternative offering AI-assisted service management across IT, customer support, and internal operations. Through its Freddy AI layer, the platform brings automation and intelligence into ITSM and CX workflows. Freshworks is known for its ease of adoption and for its modular products, such as Freshdesk and Freshservice. It is commonly used by SMBs and mid-market teams looking for faster rollout with minimal complexity.
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Free: $0 for small teams (basic ticketing and knowledge base)
A 14-day free trial is available across paid plans.
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ServiceNow is a Microsoft Copilot alternative built for enterprise-wide workflow automation and IT service management. Through capabilities like Now Assist, it applies AI to streamline ITSM, employee workflows, and business operations. The platform is deeply embedded in large enterprises with complex processes and compliance needs. ServiceNow is best suited for organizations standardizing on a single system of record for workflows.
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ServiceNow uses a quote-based pricing model depending on modules, users, and scale. Pricing is typically on the higher end among Leena AI alternatives, making it primarily suitable for large enterprises.
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BMC Helix is a Microsoft Copilot alternative designed for AI-driven IT service management and operations. It combines automation, analytics, and service workflows to support complex enterprise IT environments. The platform is often adopted by organizations with mature IT operations seeking predictive insights and incident reduction. BMC Helix is best suited for enterprises prioritizing IT stability and operational efficiency.
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BMC Helix follows a quote-based pricing model based on modules, scale, and deployment requirements. Pricing is typically aligned with large enterprise IT budgets.
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G2: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (around 4.1/5)
Choosing the right Microsoft Copilot alternative requires looking beyond basic AI assistance and focusing on platforms that can deliver real automation, enterprise control, and measurable outcomes. The features below highlight what organizations should prioritize when evaluating solutions designed to support HR, IT, and internal workflows at scale.
A strong alternative should enable AI agents to execute end-to-end HR, IT, and internal workflows, rather than limiting AI to suggestions or summaries.
A unified live inbox allows AI and human agents to collaborate in real time, ensuring visibility, seamless handoffs, and consistent resolution across conversations.
Advanced retrieval-augmented generation ensures responses are accurate, contextual, and grounded in enterprise-approved knowledge, reducing hallucinations and repeated prompting.
Support for multiple languages is critical for global organizations to deliver consistent AI-driven experiences across regions and employee populations.
The ability to deploy AI agents across Slack, Microsoft Teams, web chat, and messaging platforms ensures users can interact with AI where they already work.
Enterprise alternatives must include strong security measures, compliance support, and role-based access controls to protect sensitive data.
Pre-built templates and streamlined setup help organizations realize value quickly without long implementation cycles.
Visibility into AI performance, decision-making, and outcomes is essential to maintain trust and scale AI responsibly across the enterprise.
As enterprises scale their AI initiatives, many quickly outgrow Microsoft Copilot’s productivity-centric approach. While Copilot is effective for writing, summarization, and assistance within Microsoft 365, it falls short when organizations need end-to-end automation for HR, IT, and internal support, deeper workflow execution, stronger governance, and measurable operational impact.
Workativ stands out as a purpose-built alternative for employee support automation, designed to help AI agents not just assist, but resolve requests, trigger actions, and operate across systems with enterprise-grade security and control. For organizations looking to reduce manual effort, deflect tickets, and scale AI responsibly, Workativ offers a clear path beyond productivity AI.
See how Workativ delivers real enterprise automation beyond Copilot. Start with a free Magic Plan or book a personalized walkthrough to see how Workativ can automate employee support across HR and IT—end-to-end.



Deepa Majumder is a writer who nails the art of crafting bespoke thought leadership articles to help business leaders tap into rich insights in their journey of organization-wide digital transformation. Over the years, she has dedicatedly engaged herself in the process of continuous learning and development across business continuity management and organizational resilience.
Her pieces intricately highlight the best ways to transform employee and customer experience. When not writing, she spends time on leisure activities.
