Microsoft 365 Copilot is the default for Microsoft-centric businesses — but its M365 dependency, per-seat cost and ecosystem tie-in send some UK businesses looking. Here’s a fair 2026 roundup. (dgm implements osFoundry as an independent partner; we’ll be honest about fit.)
Why look elsewhere?
- M365 dependency — Copilot requires a qualifying Microsoft 365 base licence;
- per-seat cost (~$30/user/mo) — scales with headcount;
- ecosystem tie-in — you may want independence; and
- model/data options — you may want more flexibility.
(See our osFoundry vs Microsoft 365 Copilot deep-dive.)
The main alternatives
| Alternative | Best for |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT Enterprise | A polished OpenAI chat experience |
| Claude for Enterprise | A polished Anthropic chat experience |
| Google Gemini Enterprise | Google-centric organisations |
| Glean | Enterprise search across tools |
| osFoundry | Independent, model-agnostic, self-hostable platform |
Matching to priorities
- Want independence from Microsoft? → osFoundry (cloud-neutral, source-available).
- Want another polished assistant? → ChatGPT Enterprise or Claude for Enterprise.
- Already Google-centric? → Gemini Enterprise.
- Want enterprise search? → Glean.
- Want UK/EU data control / self-hosting? → osFoundry or Mistral.
Where osFoundry fits
For businesses wanting independence from Microsoft 365 — model flexibility (bring-your-own-key), usage pricing with no per-seat fees, consolidation, and self-hosting for UK data control — osFoundry is a fit. It’s a platform, not an in-app assistant, so it suits those wanting more than productivity AI inside Office apps. If you’re deep in Microsoft 365 and happy there, Copilot may still be the best fit — we’d say so. (See how to avoid vendor lock-in.)
How to choose
Decide your priorities, shortlist, and pilot before committing. (See how to evaluate AI vendors.)
dgm is an independent integration partner with zero integrations so far — we’ll help you evaluate, including recommending Copilot or another option if it fits better. To shortlist alternatives, book a consultation with dgm. General information; verify current vendor pricing.