Written by Rithere's developer. The small numbers link to the official source for each fact, checked October 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
In short
"Copilot" means three things now: a free, limited Copilot app,1 Copilot inside Word, Outlook and the other Office apps with a Microsoft 365 plan,2 and Click to Do, which rewrites text anywhere on screen on Copilot+ PCs (newer PCs with a built-in AI chip).3 Rithere rewrites the text you highlight with a key, in almost any app, on any 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PC.4
Pick Rithere if you…
- write a lot outside Office: Gmail, Slack, Notion, VS Code
- have a regular PC, not a Copilot+ PC
- want your own prompts, each on its own shortcut
Pick Copilot if you…
- do most of your writing in Word and Outlook
- already pay for Microsoft 365
- need Microsoft's protection for work data
If you live in Office, do you need Rithere?
Honestly, maybe not. In Word, Copilot rewrites a
selection and lets you Replace, Insert below or Regenerate.5 In Outlook it drafts emails and
coaches you on your own drafts.6 It sees the whole document,5 and it comes with Microsoft 365
Personal, Family and Premium.2
But Copilot in Word
doesn't follow you to Gmail, Slack, Notion or VS Code. Rithere does, with the same shortcut in each.
Using both makes sense: Copilot in Office, Rithere everywhere else.
One rewrite, step by step
Same job in each: make a paragraph more formal.
Copilot in Word4 steps- Select
- Open Copilot
- Auto Rewrite, or describe it
- Replace
Click to Do, any app4 steps- Windows key + click
- Select 10+ words
- Rewrite: Casual, Formal or Refine
- Copy the result
Copilot+ PCs only, in English. Windows key + Q works too.3
Rithere, any app2 steps- Highlight
- Press your shortcut
- Rewritten in place
Any 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 PC.4 "More formal" means exactly what your prompt says.
Side by side
| Feature | Rithere |
Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Rewrite text in any app | YesAny 64-bit PC, in place.7,4 | Copilot+ PCsThree presets, 10+ words.3 |
| Rewrite inside Word | YesKeeps bold and other formatting.8 | YesBuilt in, sees the whole document.5 |
| Your prompts on your own shortcuts | Yes7 | NoClick to Do opens with Windows key + click.3 |
| Answer without changing your text | YesPopup beside your cursor.9 | YesIn the Copilot app.10 |
| Runs on your PC (no cloud) | NoUses Google Gemini.11 | Copilot+ PCsClick to Do text actions run on-device.3 |
| Voice, images, web answers | NoText only. | Yes10 |
| Safeguards for work data | NoNo business plan yet. | YesFor work accounts.12 |
| Cost of AI rewriting | Free todayDaily fair-use limit. | VariesIn Office from $9.99 a month (US).1 |
Pros and cons
Tick what you need
The count only adds up your own ticks. It isn't a score.
Tick the lines that describe what you need.
Price
What Microsoft has announced
This could change the answer, so here it is straight. Microsoft has previewed writing help for "any text box in any app", with offline support on Copilot+ PCs.14 We found no page saying it's out for everyone yet. If it ships widely, the gap narrows. Rithere would still run on the PC you have, with your own prompts on your own keys, and no Microsoft 365 plan.
Privacy
- Copilot: Microsoft says the Copilot app and Copilot in Microsoft 365 home apps don't use your prompts to train its models.15,16 Work accounts get Microsoft's safeguards for work data.12
- Rithere: its servers don't store your text. It goes to Google's Gemini AI on a paid plan, which Google doesn't use to improve its products; Google keeps it 55 days only to check for abuse. Your History stays on your PC.11
Our take
Word and Outlook all day, Microsoft 365 paid for, a Copilot+ PC on your desk? Microsoft has you covered, and Rithere is a nice extra at most. Writing across many apps on the PC you already own, and not keen to pay for AI? Rithere does the job Copilot only does in some places. It's free, and it doesn't get in Copilot's way.
For the technically curious
- Click to Do needs a Copilot+ PC (40 TOPS NPU) or an eligible Cloud PC, English as the default language, and a Microsoft or Entra sign-in for its text actions. Ask Copilot isn't offered in the EEA.3
- Microsoft's page doesn't say whether Click to Do replaces your text; its 2024 preview showed results inline with a copy option.17
- Work accounts also get Rewrite in Edge for Business on text you're typing in Edge.18 Insiders are testing voice editing in any text field during a Copilot Vision session.19
- Copilot Pro has ended (August 2026).20 Microsoft 365 Basic has no AI features.13
- Rithere pastes over your selection and puts your clipboard text back. It warns you if a shortcut is already taken by another app.8
FAQ
Yes. They use different shortcuts, and Rithere warns you if one you pick is taken. Copilot in Word and Outlook, Rithere everywhere else, works well.
Sources
Official pages, accessed 16 October 2026.
- Copilot pricing for individuals
- Copilot in Microsoft 365 subscriptions, FAQ
- Click to Do, Microsoft Support
- Rithere FAQ
- Edit content and rewrite with Copilot in Word
- Draft an email with Copilot in Outlook
- Rithere Prompts
- Rithere changelog
- Rithere Ask
- What is the Microsoft Copilot app?
- Where your text goes (Rithere)
- Copilot privacy and protections (work accounts)
- Compare Microsoft 365 plans
- Ignite 2025: Windows at the frontier of work
- Copilot app activity history
- Copilot in Microsoft 365 apps for home: your data
- Click to Do text actions preview, Windows Insider blog (2024)
- Rewrite in Microsoft Edge for Business (policy)
- Copilot on Windows text editing for Insiders
- About Copilot Pro
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