kitio.aiMicrosoft Bing vs Penelope.ai
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Microsoft Bing is completely free, while Penelope.ai is paid.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI-generated answers
- Copilot Search
- Bing Image Creator
- Visual search
- News, maps and shopping
- Microsoft Rewards
- 30+ configurable manuscript checks
- Ethics and declarations checks
- Reference checking
- Annotated interactive report
- Manuscript Manager integration
- Metadata extraction
| Feature | Microsoft Bing | Penelope.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Microsoft's web search engine with AI answers and Copilot Search | Automated checks that a manuscript meets a journal's requirements |
| Category | Research & search | Research & search |
| Pricing model | Free | Paid |
| Starting price | Free | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes, fully free | No |
| Made by | Microsoft | Penelope.ai |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Microsoft Bing is completely free, while Penelope.ai is paid.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Under 500 submissions
£750/yr
- £1.50 per submission
- Full suite of checks
501 to 1,000 submissions
£1,350/yr
- £1.20 per submission
- Full suite of checks
1,001 to 2,500 submissions
£2,850/yr
- £1.00 per submission
- Full suite of checks
2,501 to 5,000 submissions
£4,850/yr
- £0.80 per submission
- Full suite of checks
Over 5,000 submissions
Custom
- £0.80 per submission
- Custom annual price
Prices in USD, checked Nov 5, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Microsoft Bing
- Free with no account needed
- Answers cite their sources
- Image generation built in
- Some AI features vary by country and device
- Pushes Edge and Microsoft accounts
- Shows ads in results
Penelope.ai
- Results are explained, not a black box
- Each journal can set its own rules
- Option to offer author-paid checks for free
- Integrates only with Manuscript Manager so far
- Prices listed only in pounds
- Aimed at journals rather than individual authors
Which one should you choose?
Choose Microsoft Bing if you want:
- Free with no account needed
- Answers cite their sources
- Image generation built in
Watch out: some ai features vary by country and device.
Choose Penelope.ai if you want:
- Results are explained, not a black box
- Each journal can set its own rules
- Option to offer author-paid checks for free
Watch out: integrates only with manuscript manager so far.
Microsoft Bing vs Penelope.ai FAQ
What is the difference between Microsoft Bing and Penelope.ai?
Microsoft Bing: Microsoft's web search engine with AI answers and Copilot Search. Penelope.ai: Automated checks that a manuscript meets a journal's requirements. Both are research & search tools.
Is Microsoft Bing or Penelope.ai cheaper?
Microsoft Bing is completely free, while Penelope.ai is paid.
Do Microsoft Bing and Penelope.ai have free plans?
Microsoft Bing: Yes, fully free. Penelope.ai: No.
Who makes Microsoft Bing?
Microsoft Bing is made by Microsoft, based in United States.
Who makes Penelope.ai?
Penelope.ai is made by Penelope.ai.
Which should I choose, Microsoft Bing or Penelope.ai?
Choose Microsoft Bing if you value free with no account needed and answers cite their sources. Choose Penelope.ai if you value results are explained, not a black box and each journal can set its own rules.