Microsoft has published a list of what it considers the best productivity apps for Windows—and the top pick has sparked debate. Sitting at number one is Copilot, the company’s AI assistant designed to answer questions, summarize emails, and assist with organization and planning.
The ranking has raised eyebrows among Windows users who see it less as an objective recommendation and more as a promotional push. Copilot has faced criticism over reliability and usefulness, particularly around features like reminders and workflow assistance. While Microsoft continues to expand Copilot’s integration across Windows and Microsoft 365, adoption figures have reportedly remained modest compared to more established productivity tools.
Beyond Copilot, the rest of the list consists almost entirely of Microsoft’s own built-in apps. These include Microsoft To Do for task management, Windows Calendar for scheduling, OneNote for detailed digital note-taking, and the Snipping Tool for screenshots and screen recordings.
The list continues with Clock, which offers focus timers; Sticky Notes for quick reminders; File Explorer, an unusual inclusion given that it’s a core system component; and the Edge browser, where Microsoft again highlights AI-powered features such as Copilot integration.
While many of the apps mentioned are genuinely useful parts of the Windows ecosystem, placing Copilot at the top reinforces Microsoft’s broader strategy of positioning AI as central to productivity on Windows. Whether users agree with that ranking is another matter.