You don’t have to sign up for Smart Mode in Copilot to get GPT-5 for free. It gives you faster replies, stronger logic, and greater context retention.
Microsoft has added a new Smart Mode option to Copilot that lets you use GPT-5, OpenAI’s most powerful language model. The update makes conversations better, reasoning sharper, and responses faster, all without needing to pay or have a Microsoft account. This is your chance to sample GPT-5 without having to pay for ChatGPT Plus.
What Is GPT-5 in Copilot
The newest large language model from OpenAI is GPT-5. It is now built into Microsoft Copilot on the web, Windows, Microsoft 365, GitHub Copilot, and Azure AI Foundry. GPT-5 has the following features that preceding models didn’t have:
- Faster content generation
- Superior reasoning skills for multi-step problems
- More accurate responses in longer conversations
- Better context awareness across varied tasks
Depending on what you’re asking, it can switch between high-speed and high-precision modes.
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How to Enable Smart Mode and Access GPT-5 for Free
- Go to Copilot
- Open copilot.microsoft.com in any browser or launch the Copilot app on Windows 11, macOS, iOS, or Android.
- Find the Model Selector
- Below the chat box, look for the dropdown showing the current AI model.
- Select Smart Mode
- Choose Smart Mode (GPT-5) to activate the latest model.
- Start Using GPT-5
- Begin chatting — no Microsoft account required, and access is rolling out globally.
Windows Copilot can also automatically retrieve GPT-5 through a background “web routing” capability. This means that Smart Mode might show up without you having to update the app.
Key Features of GPT-5 in Copilot
- Rapid Responses – Outputs arrive noticeably quicker than in GPT-4-based modes.
- Enhanced Reasoning – Handles complex questions, multi-step logic, and detailed problem-solving.
- Long-Form Context – Keeps track of conversation flow, even over many messages.
- Seamless Cross-Platform Use – Works in Microsoft 365 for document drafting, GitHub Copilot for cleaner code, and Azure AI Foundry for developers.
- Multiple Model Variants – GPT-5 for precision tasks, GPT-5-chat for richer conversational context.
Why It Matters
This rollout makes GPT-5 more easier to get to than ChatGPT Free. OpenAI’s free tier only lets users send about 10 GPT-5 messages a day and use one “thinking” mode. Copilot, on the other hand, lets users:
- Higher daily usage limits
- Up to five “thinking” activations per day
- No account sign-in requirement
For anyone doing research, coding, writing, or content creation, these relaxed limits mean more uninterrupted productivity.
Copilot vs ChatGPT Free
| Feature | Copilot Free + GPT-5 | ChatGPT Free + GPT-5 |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-5 Access | Yes, Smart Mode | Yes, limited to ~10 |
| “Thinking” Mode Uses | ~5/day | 1/day |
| Requires Account? | No | Yes |
| Speed & Reasoning | High | High |
| Platform Integration | Microsoft ecosystem | Standalone web app |
Who Should Try Smart Mode
- Students – For assignments, summaries, and quick explanations
- Developers – For generating and improving code in GitHub Copilot
- Professionals – For email drafting, report generation, and document analysis
- Creators – For blog posts, scripts, and brainstorming ideas
Final Take
The Smart Mode integration from Microsoft changes the game. Copilot is making it easier for anyone to utilize AI for fun and for work by offering free users GPT-5 with few limits. Smart Mode makes it everything feasible right now and for free, whether you need to code, write, do research, or just see what’s possible with the most powerful model to date.