Microsoft Copilot

How to Compare Files for Free with Microsoft Copilot Chat

Chris Menard

15 Jul 2025 — 3 min read

If you have a Microsoft 365 business or enterprise license, you already have access to a powerful file comparison tool — and it's completely free. Copilot Chat can upload, summarize, and compare documents side by side, whether they're PDFs, Word files, or PowerPoint presentations.

Accessing Copilot Chat

Open Copilot Chat through your Microsoft 365 account. You can use it in a web browser or pin the app to your taskbar. Make sure you're on the Web tab — this is where the free Copilot features live, accessible to all M365 business and enterprise users without an additional Copilot license.

Microsoft Copilot Chat interface showing the Web tab selected at the top with the message box and suggested prompts — Copilot Chat with the Web tab selected — the free version available to all M365 business users

Uploading and Summarizing Files

Click the + button in the message box to upload files. You can upload multiple documents at once — for example, two annual reports from different years. Ask Copilot to "summarize these documents" and it generates a comprehensive overview of each file.

Copilot Chat generating a Financial Performance Overview summary from uploaded documents — Copilot summarizes the uploaded financial reports with key metrics and insights

Comparing the Documents

Once the files are uploaded, ask Copilot to compare them. For example: "Compare the 2023 and 2024 annual reports and highlight the key differences." Copilot analyzes both documents and returns a structured comparison covering financial performance, strategic changes, and operational differences.

Amazon annual report PDF open alongside Copilot Chat showing the comparison results — Copilot can analyze complex financial documents like Amazon's consolidated statements of operations

Always verify Copilot's analysis against the source documents. Copilot provides a Sources button that links back to the specific sections it referenced. Once verified, you can edit the response directly in the chat, copy it, or share it with colleagues.

Copilot Chat showing detailed analysis with Liquidity and Capital Allocation section and Outlook for 2025 — The analysis includes detailed breakdowns with sources — always verify against the original documents

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