Copilot without a Microsoft 365 base license from December 1

From December 1, 2026, Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Business can be purchased without a qualifying Microsoft 365 base license – in all channels including CSP, for commercial, education, government, and nonprofit customers. The new offers cost the same as the current ones (Copilot $30, Copilot Business $21 per user per month, US list) and get their own product and SKU IDs; the price list with the new offers is published on November 1.

Since October 16, the existing offers are named "Microsoft 365 Copilot (add-on)" and "Microsoft 365 Copilot Business (add-on)". They reach end of sale in CSP on December 1 – that is not end of life: existing subscriptions continue unchanged and can be renewed and adjusted.

Important: the change affects how you buy, not what Copilot does. Copilot still works with the Microsoft 365 apps and services a user is licensed for. Buying Copilot without Microsoft 365 does not give you Word or Outlook.

Also from December 1: usage-based billing is enabled by default for new Copilot Business licenses bought through CSP (default limit 4,000 Copilot Credits per user per month). Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and other countries are initially excluded.

Our advice: don't rush to change existing Copilot subscriptions. For new scenarios – for example employees on a different email platform – the new offers are worth a look from December.