Independent in Germany
9brains is an independently run German company without a foreign parent company or foreign investors.
Business comparison
9brains instead of Microsoft Copilot:
AI that goes beyond Microsoft 365.
Microsoft Copilot accelerates work in Word, Teams, Outlook and Excel. 9brains combines multi-model chat, data integration and agentic AI into an open AI platform for mid-sized businesses, including where your data still resides locally today.
German company Core infrastructure at Hetzner in Germany No training on your data
Our position
Together for a sovereign Europe.
Digital sovereignty is more than data residency. It also includes infrastructure, ownership structure, legal frameworks and the freedom not to tie your AI strategy to a single technology corporation.
Infrastructure in Germany
The core infrastructure of 9brains is operated at Hetzner in Germany. Workspace data, knowledge bases and files remain in European infrastructure.
An open AI strategy
You decide which models, data sources and systems work together in your AI environment. Microsoft 365 can be an important building block, but not the boundary of your AI strategy.
EU data residency is one building block, not a complete definition of sovereignty.
Microsoft offers eligible European customers commitments under the EU Data Boundary. Microsoft explains this in its documentation on data, privacy and security for Microsoft 365 Copilot. This is an important privacy and security characteristic. For organisations with high sovereignty requirements, however, infrastructure operators, ownership structure, jurisdiction and the concrete architecture also form part of the assessment.
Microsoft is a US corporation. The US CLOUD Act can be relevant for providers under US jurisdiction. The legal text is documented in 18 U.S.C. § 2713. The specific legal assessment always depends on the product, contractual arrangements, architecture and data processing.
An honest comparison
Copilot complements Microsoft 365. 9brains expands your AI strategy.
Both solutions help teams work more productively with AI. The difference begins where AI is meant not only to improve text in Microsoft 365, but to connect data, systems, knowledge and processes across the whole business.
Topic
9brains
Microsoft Copilot
Where 9brains goes further
The differences for companies whose AI strategy should extend beyond the Microsoft ecosystem.
From AI tool to platform
One platform for multi-model chat, company knowledge, data access, integrations, skills and agentic AI.
Productivity AI with a strong focus on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Graph and the related applications.
Free model choice
Use leading models such as Claude, GPT, Gemini, Mistral and DeepSeek centrally and selectively approve them for each workspace.
The available models and features follow the respective Microsoft Copilot product and licensing configuration.
On-premise data and business systems
The 9brains Connector purposefully connects Windows file servers, Oracle databases, local RAG systems and custom business applications.
Local sources can be connected via Microsoft Graph Connectors, typically within the Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Graph architecture.
RAG for mid-sized businesses
Custom on-premise RAG solutions adapt to your company’s data sources, permissions and processes.
Company knowledge is provided through Microsoft 365 data, Microsoft Graph and configured connectors.
Curated company knowledge
Capture and approve knowledge, identify contradictory content and document changes transparently.
Existing permissions, sensitivity labels and policies from Microsoft 365 are considered.
Open integration architecture
REST APIs, MCP servers, skills and custom connectors connect CRM, ERP, finance, DMS and bespoke systems.
Connectors, Copilot Studio and Agents Toolkit extend Copilot within the Microsoft ecosystem.
What both platforms cover well
Shared foundations for productive and controlled AI adoption.
Microsoft 365 integration
Integrate Microsoft 365, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and other systems into custom workflows.
Deeply integrated into Microsoft 365 apps and Microsoft Graph.
Assistants and agents
No-code assistants, skills and AI agents for recurring specialist tasks and workflows.
Agents and extensions for specialised tasks and Microsoft 365 contexts.
Governance and permissions
User management, model approvals, roles, Microsoft SSO and optional MFA.
Identities, permissions, policies and compliance controls from Microsoft 365.
Where 9brains goes further
The differences for companies whose AI strategy should extend beyond the Microsoft ecosystem.
From AI tool to platform
9brains
One platform for multi-model chat, company knowledge, data access, integrations, skills and agentic AI.
Microsoft Copilot
Productivity AI with a strong focus on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Graph and the related applications.
Free model choice
9brains
Use leading models such as Claude, GPT, Gemini, Mistral and DeepSeek centrally and selectively approve them for each workspace.
Microsoft Copilot
The available models and features follow the respective Microsoft Copilot product and licensing configuration.
On-premise data and business systems
9brains
The 9brains Connector purposefully connects Windows file servers, Oracle databases, local RAG systems and custom business applications.
Microsoft Copilot
Local sources can be connected via Microsoft Graph Connectors, typically within the Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Graph architecture.
RAG for mid-sized businesses
9brains
Custom on-premise RAG solutions adapt to your company’s data sources, permissions and processes.
Microsoft Copilot
Company knowledge is provided through Microsoft 365 data, Microsoft Graph and configured connectors.
Curated company knowledge
9brains
Capture and approve knowledge, identify contradictory content and document changes transparently.
Microsoft Copilot
Existing permissions, sensitivity labels and policies from Microsoft 365 are considered.
Open integration architecture
9brains
REST APIs, MCP servers, skills and custom connectors connect CRM, ERP, finance, DMS and bespoke systems.
Microsoft Copilot
Connectors, Copilot Studio and Agents Toolkit extend Copilot within the Microsoft ecosystem.
What both platforms cover well
Shared foundations for productive and controlled AI adoption.
Microsoft 365 integration
9brains
Integrate Microsoft 365, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint and other systems into custom workflows.
Microsoft Copilot
Deeply integrated into Microsoft 365 apps and Microsoft Graph.
Assistants and agents
9brains
No-code assistants, skills and AI agents for recurring specialist tasks and workflows.
Microsoft Copilot
Agents and extensions for specialised tasks and Microsoft 365 contexts.
Governance and permissions
9brains
User management, model approvals, roles, Microsoft SSO and optional MFA.
Microsoft Copilot
Identities, permissions, policies and compliance controls from Microsoft 365.
This assessment is based on publicly available information about Microsoft 365 Copilot and describes the platform approach as of July 2026. Feature scope and product configurations may change.
More than an AI chat
The platform for the next three stages.
From the first secure request to an integrated company workflow: 9brains brings AI to the places where teams work every day.
Stage 1: Multi-model chat
All relevant AI models in one secure access point. Your team uses the right model for the task instead of working with individual subscriptions and shadow AI.
Stage 2: Data integration
Connect Microsoft 365, SharePoint, CRM, ERP, local file servers, Oracle databases and bespoke business systems. Your data provides the context needed for useful AI results.
Stage 3: Agentic AI
Build skills, assistants and AI agents for recurring tasks, from preparing quotes and research to documentation and system updates.
Curated knowledge that answers
Make policies, processes, documents and specialist knowledge reliably discoverable, with approvals, a change history and contradiction detection instead of uncontrolled document collections.
Choose the right fit
When is 9brains the right Microsoft Copilot alternative?
9brains is particularly suitable when you want to complement Microsoft 365 sensibly and extend your AI strategy to data, systems and processes throughout the business.
- Microsoft 365 is part of your IT, but your AI strategy should not end there.
- Your team should be able to choose between leading AI models depending on the task.
- Local data sources, business systems, Oracle databases or on-premise RAG solutions need to be connected.
- You want to connect chat, company knowledge, integrations and agentic AI on one platform.
- You expect a personal contact for rollout, enablement and custom integrations.
Frequently asked questions
9brains and Microsoft Copilot compared
Is 9brains an alternative to Microsoft Copilot?
Yes, if you are looking for an AI platform that goes beyond Microsoft 365. 9brains combines multi-model chat, company knowledge, data integration, skills and agentic AI. Microsoft 365 can remain a central part of your IT.
Does 9brains replace Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Copilot?
No. 9brains replaces neither Word, Teams nor Outlook. The platform complements Microsoft 365 and, where needed, connects it with additional models, data sources, business systems and custom workflows.
Can I connect Microsoft 365 with 9brains?
Yes. 9brains can integrate Microsoft 365, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint into workflows. CRM, ERP, finance and bespoke business systems can additionally be connected via REST APIs, MCP servers, skills and connectors.
Can 9brains use local databases and on-premise RAG?
Yes. The 9brains Connector is designed to purposefully connect local sources such as Windows file servers, Oracle databases, internal RAG systems and further business applications. We develop the right architecture together with your team.
What is the difference between the EU Data Boundary and digital sovereignty?
The EU Data Boundary describes commitments for processing and storing certain data within a European framework. Digital sovereignty additionally considers infrastructure, ownership structure, legal sphere of influence, dependencies and control of your own AI architecture.
Does 9brains also offer AI agents?
Yes, 9brains also lets you run agents with all AI models, enabling ROI optimizations.
The next decision
Your AI strategy must not end at the Microsoft tenant.
Test 9brains with your team or discuss directly with a founder how Microsoft 365, local data sources and bespoke business systems can work together in a sovereign AI platform.