How Cassidy and Microsoft Copilot Studio compare at a glance
| Strategic Goal | Microsoft Copilot Studio | Cassidy |
|---|---|---|
Overall positioning | A low-code agent and automation builder built into the Microsoft ecosystem | An Agent and Workflow builder that works in plain language across Microsoft and non-Microsoft systems Draw |
Chat and agent quality | Cross-system flows use agent flows or Power Automate, which bring in Power Platform concepts | Business teams and IT both build directly, same workspace Win |
Multi-step workflows and event triggers | A Power Platform environment, plus Dataverse or solutions, connectors, and agent flows as needed | Describe the Workflow or build it in the no-code visual builder, with no separate environment needed to start Win |
Knowledge Base and company context | Deep SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics, and Work IQ signals (Work IQ in Copilot Studio is still preview) | Connects to SharePoint and Microsoft 365, but with less depth inside Microsoft's own graph Lose |
Model choice and provider flexibility | Reach depends on connector type, setup, and authentication | Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Confluence treated as equal integrations Draw |
Deployment surfaces | Per-agent model choice across OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and xAI, governed by admin settings and licensing | OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and more, including open source models, per Agent or Workflow Draw |
Governance, permissions and audit logs | Spans M365, Power Platform, Entra, and Purview; Agent 365 centralizes agent registration, with controls managed separately. | RBAC, SSO, audit logs, and usage limits in one console, rather than multiple instances to manage Win |
Everyday usability and learning curve | Low-code visual builder; agents on the GitHub Copilot harness can also be described in natural language | Describe the process in plain language or build it in a no-code visual builder, in the same workspace Win |
Multi-step workflows and event-triggered automation
Microsoft Copilot Studio’s workflow automation
- A simple agent is genuinely low-code to build
- Real cross-system automation usually means a Power Automate flow, a Copilot Studio agent flow, or both
- These bring in Power Platform concepts such as environments, connectors, and solutions
- On the standard harness, building past a template means configuring topics, knowledge sources, and connectors
Cassidy’s workflow automation
- Describe the Workflow in plain language, or build it in the no-code visual builder on the same underlying Workflow engine, so teams choose how to start and move faster with fewer separate environments
- No Power Automate flow, Dataverse, or environment setup is needed to get a cross-system Workflow running
- Business teams and IT build in the same workspace, so the person who owns the process can own the automation
- A request doesn't have to move to a separate build queue before it becomes a working Workflow
Knowledge base, integrations, and deployment surfaces
Microsoft Copilot Studio’s integrations and deployment
- Deepest context inside SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics, and Work IQ signals, though Work IQ in Copilot Studio is still preview
- Non-Microsoft systems rely on individual connector setup and authentication
- Separate product from everyday M365 Copilot
Cassidy’s integrations and deployment
- Knowledge Base syncs continuously from Drive, SharePoint, Confluence, and CRMs, so Agents work from current context
- Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Confluence, and Notion connect the same way Microsoft 365 does
- 100+ integrations are treated as equals, so non-Microsoft systems don't need a separate setup path
- One workspace for everyday Agents and cross-system Workflows, rather than separate products for each
Model choice and provider flexibility
Microsoft Copilot Studio’s model options
- Model choice exists at the agent level, across OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and xAI in supported scenarios
- Which models are available depends on admin settings, licensing, and region
- Agents on the GitHub Copilot harness and agents on the standard harness are configured differently, so options can vary by agent type
Cassidy’s model options
- Route each Agent or Workflow to OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and other models including open source, chosen by the person building it
- Switch models any time a better one ships, without rebuilding the Agent or Workflow
- Use different models for different steps in the same Workflow, matching each model to the task
- A recommended models selector, kept current by the Cassidy team, makes it easy to pick the right model for the task at hand while keeping costs efficient
- Admins decide which models are available to end users, controlling both cost and quality
Governance, permissions, and audit logs
Microsoft Copilot Studio’s governance controls
- Governance spans the M365 admin center, Power Platform admin center, Entra, and Purview
- Agent 365 adds a central agent registry, while identity, data, and threat controls stay in Entra, Purview, and Defender
- New agents automatically receive Microsoft Entra Agent IDs, with no opt-out, as of 2026
- Power Platform admin center manages environments and data policies
Cassidy’s governance controls
- RBAC, SSO, audit logs, and usage limits live in one console for every Agent and Workflow, rather than multiple instances to manage
- Controls cover every connected system, not just Microsoft's
- IT sets the guardrails and permissions without having to build every Workflow itself
- SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, HIPAA, and CASA certified, with no model training on your data
Implementation, onboarding, and support model
Microsoft Copilot Studio’s support model
- A simple agent can be built without much setup
- Scaling past a template can involve Power Platform concepts such as environments and connectors
- Guidance comes from Microsoft Learn, templates, and partner services
- Makers build agents, while admins manage environments, licensing, and policies
Cassidy’s support model
- Teams can build Workflows themselves from day one, with Cassidy University for self-serve learning and a solutions team available for anything more complex
- Business teams and IT both build without a separate IT handoff
- Onboarding includes hands-on training for the teams running each Workflow
- Support continues as you add more Workflows, not just at launch
Builder experience and learning curve
Microsoft Copilot Studio’s everyday experience
- Visual canvas for building a basic agent, with templates to start from
- Deep context from SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics, and Microsoft Graph is available immediately
- Testing and publishing an agent happens inside the same Studio interface
- Moving past a simple agent can mean a Power Platform environment, Dataverse or solutions, or building agent flows and workflows inside Copilot Studio itself
Cassidy’s everyday experience
- Describe a process in plain language or build it in the no-code visual builder, then refine the working Agent or Workflow either way
- No separate flow-building tool is needed to go from a simple agent to real cross-system automation
- Business teams and IT build, test, and publish in the same workspace without a handoff between roles
- One interface covers everyday Agents and cross-system Workflows, so people don't switch products as needs grow
Choosing between Cassidy and Microsoft Copilot Studio
Choose Cassidy if…
- You want business teams and IT both able to build directly, in plain language or a no-code visual builder, without splitting the work across two roles
- You need Agents and Workflows in one workspace, both powered by the same Knowledge Base, instead of separate products
- You want one governance surface with an audit trail at every step, instead of several Microsoft admin consoles and instances
- Your processes are complex, high-stakes, or regulated, and you want to stand them up and maintain them without separate environments
Choose Microsoft Copilot Studio if…
- Your automation is entirely inside Microsoft's ecosystem: SharePoint, Teams, Dynamics, Power Platform
- You already have the M365/E5 licensing and Microsoft Graph context built into that stack
- Staying on Microsoft's own automation layer matters more than adding a second platform
More enterprise AI platform comparisons
FAQ
No. Copilot Studio and Microsoft 365 Copilot are two different Microsoft products that happen to share a brand name. Microsoft 365 Copilot is the in-app assistant built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Copilot Studio is a separate platform for building custom agents.
Partly. Both platforms let non-engineers build AI agents that take multi-step action across systems, so there's genuine overlap in what each one can do. Cassidy goes further by keeping that agent-building experience in the same workspace as everyday Agent work like drafting, summarizing, and answering questions, rather than treating automation as a separate purchase or product line.
Not necessarily. Copilot Studio lets anyone build a basic conversational agent without code. Running that agent through a multi-step process across systems usually means a Power Automate flow or a Copilot Studio agent flow, which bring in Power Platform concepts like environments and connectors, so many organizations involve IT or Power Platform admins. In Cassidy, business teams build the Workflow directly in plain language, with IT setting the guardrails.
Yes, in both platforms, though the mechanics differ. Copilot Studio now supports per-agent model choice across OpenAI, Anthropic, Mistral, and xAI in supported scenarios. Which models are available still depends on admin settings, licensing, and region. Cassidy supports per-Agent and per-Workflow model choice across the major providers, including open source models, with more added as they ship.
Yes, and some teams begin that way, with Copilot Studio handling automation that lives entirely inside Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Teams, and Dynamics while Cassidy takes the Agents and Workflows that reach Salesforce, HubSpot, Confluence, Zendesk, or other systems outside Microsoft's ecosystem. Because Cassidy builds both simple and complex automations in one workspace, with fewer separate environments to maintain, teams often consolidate more automation onto it over time.
Governance consolidates rather than expands. Cassidy's RBAC, SSO, audit logs, and usage limits live in a single admin console that covers every connected system, not just Microsoft's. IT keeps full control over who can build, access, and run Agents and Workflows, without needing to configure a separate console for each new integration or automation added to the platform.
Yes, which makes it the better choice from the start. Cassidy lets you describe an automation in plain language or build it in a no-code visual builder, with Agents and Workflows in one workspace and no separate environments to set up and maintain. If every system involved is already inside Microsoft 365, Dynamics, or Power Platform, Copilot Studio is a reasonable alternative. If the process touches Salesforce, HubSpot, Confluence, or any system outside Microsoft's ecosystem, Cassidy treats every integration as equally first-class.
