Microsoft Copilot’s free Deep Research AI tool is going away — these are the 7 best free alternatives

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Microsoft is reducing free features for users. Microsoft Whiteboard now requires you to have a Microsoft Business account if you want to continue using it; the meeting preparation feature embedded in Microsoft Outlook asks you to purchase a Microsoft 365 Copilot license and Copilot Podcasts are being discontinued altogether. Now another feature that was once free of charge is being taken away from Microsoft users and replaced by a paid option.The Deep Research feature, once available at no extra cost to Microsoft Copilot users, is now being retired, starting August 18, 2026. And after it’s gone, you’ll be required to get a Microsoft 365 Premium subscription to create the reports and analyses you’re used to doing with Copilot with the all-new Researcher AI tool.While your previously generated Deep Research content won’t be deleted and will be accessible through Researcher, it’s a bit of a bummer to know that you’ll only be able to get back to it via a required payment.If this news disappoints you as much as it did for me, then consider giving these alternative AI tools a try if you’re looking for more ways to conduct your research.Try out these free options to continue generating detailed reports (Image credit: Shutterstock)Perplexity stands out as one of the top options that can fulfill all your Copilot Deep Research needs. Since its biggest selling point is backing up its data via valid citations and easily verifiable claims, you can rely on its real-time web search to get the fast results you’re looking for. Conducting everyday research on general news, products and academics should work just fine if you consider using Perplexity’s free tier.Claude is one of the strongest AI analysts you can utilize—it’s capable of generating long-form explanations, providing you with legit citations and offers “Connectors” such as PubMed, bioRxiv and Consensus that act as research databases.Google Gemini taps into all the latest information injected into Google Search to analyze and synthesize all the data you’re looking for from multiple webpages. Researching all manner of topics through Gemini is another free AI research tool alternative worth considering as well. Gemini’s Google Workspace integration is also great if you’re looking to export your deep research reports to Google Docs or download as a PDF.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Gemini Notebook (formerly known as NotebookLM) is an amazing AI research tool as it allows you to upload your own sources to create your own study material. Injecting your notebooks with PDFs, research papers, notes, Google Docs, etc. helps Gemini Notebook get all the information it needs to answer any questions you may have about your current research topic. Being able to turn your notebooks into Audio & Video Overviews, Slide Decks, Quizzes, Flashcards, etc. also stands out as some of the best ways Gemini Notebook handles your research sessions.ChatGPT is known far and wide as the mainstream AI tool that your everyday AI chatbot user makes use of. Presenting it with super descriptive prompts (a good example of that being "Research the current AI landscape in 2026. Compare OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft and Meta. Include recent developments, strengths, weaknesses, market positioning, and cite sources”) helps it handle deep research tasks with more clarity. ChatGPT comes in handy when you’re looking to learn about new subjects, have the most complex topics explained to you in simpler terms and have research data built into structured reports.Elicit stands tall as one of the best AI research tools for users interested in deep academic literature discovery and structured data extraction. Students and professional researchers can definitely put their trust in this option since it cites 138 million academic papers and 545,000 clinical trials (with more scientific data sources set to arrive later).And finally, Google AI Mode is a viable pick when you’re looking for a web research option that can handle any tasks you once gave to Copilot’s Deep Research tool. Since it’s readily available inside the Google Search bar, it’s great for comparing products, simplifying complex subjects, comparing viewpoints and discovering up-to-date information.Bottom lineWhile the news of Microsoft Copilot’s Deep Research feature going away and being replaced by a mandatory paid option breaks our hearts, it’s less painful when you consider the wide range of free options you can use to replace it. It’s worth keeping in mind that chatbots are prone to hallucinating, which should compel you to always double-check every bit of information it sends your way. But for the most part, the seven AI deep research tools I’ve made you aware of are mostly dependable and worthy of your time. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds. Subscribe to Tom's Guide on YouTube and follow us on TikTok.More from Tom’s GuideI asked ChatGPT to improve my Apple Notes app — here are the 7 changes I actually keptChatGPT just gave me the ultimate 'Avengers: Doomsday' cheat sheet — how to watch Marvel films and shows in the right orderI always recommend the ChatGPT 'Escape Prompt' to friends looking for a new job — here's why it works Elton Jones covers AI for Tom’s Guide, and tests all the latest models, from ChatGPT to Gemini to Claude to see which tools perform best — and how they can improve everyday productivity.He is also an experienced tech writer who has covered video games, mobile devices, headsets, and now artificial intelligence for over a decade. Since 2011, his work has appeared in publications including The Christian Post, Complex, TechRadar, Heavy, and ONE37pm, with a focus on clear, practical analysis.Today, Elton focuses on making AI more accessible by breaking down complex topics into useful, easy-to-understand insights for a wide range of readers.