Love Microsoft Copilot? Hate Microsoft Copilot? It doesn’t really matter: Chances are that if you’ve signed up for Microsoft 365, you’re now paying more for Microsoft’s integration of Copilot features, which was done without your consent. But there’s a way out, for now.
Microsoft is making available “classic” versions of its Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family plans, that remove the Copilot surcharge. But, as Microsoft said when it announced the changes, these new Classic plans are available for a limited time. This article will show you how to switch back.
Right now, here’s what you’ll see when you sign up for Microsoft 365, with the option to pay $12.99/mo and $9.99/mo, too. Those reflect the higher rates with the Copilot surcharge included.
To obtain the Classic version, you’ll need to cancel those plans. Yes, even if they’re recurring. Yes, even if your new annual payment period rolls over in the fall.
Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services, and sign in. You’ll see a list of any Microsoft subscriptions that you’ve signed up for. (I can’t list my own Microsoft 365 subscription, for reasons I’ll explain in a minute.) Within this list of subscriptions, you’ll see the option to “manage” your Microsoft 365 subscription. Select Manage > Cancel subscription, as Microsoft’s support document recommends.
Here’s a screenshot of how one user completed the process.
Why can’t I show you my own subscriptions? Because I took advantage of our occasional deals and bought a Microsoft 365 Family license from Amazon. My bill says that I’m still being charged the old $99.99 subscription price, and the service will renew at that price, too — without Copilot Pro. However, the Microsoft 365 link at Amazon now charges $129.99 annually instead, and yes, Copilot Pro is included.
You can also decide to cancel Microsoft 365 entirely and opt for Office 2024 instead, which is essentially slicing off a version of Office that will be patched, but never really gain any additional features. It will also eventually exit support, too.
Will I eventually want Copilot Pro? It’s possible. But Copilot Pro is only available to me, as the account holder, and not others in my family — and the version of Copilot Pro in the new Microsoft 365 plans is not the same Copilot Pro that Microsoft charges $20 per month for. The Microsoft 365 version gives you “credits” for AI use, which Chris Hoffman at Computerworld pegged at 60 per month — that’s 60 times to use Copilot to help write an email, or figure out a formula for Excel. Any more, and you’ll be asked to pay for the “real” Copilot Pro.
Microsoft is positioning this as similar to a Netflix price hike: Hey, you’re getting more for your money! But if you don’t want Copilot, never plan to use it, or can simply use Google Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude or Meta’s AI services instead, opting out is probably the right move.
