Key differences
- Pricing: neither publishes a per-seat price; Microsoft does publish Flex pay-as-you-go session pricing ($0.25 per AI-Assisted Session).
- Dictation: Dragon Copilot unifies Dragon Medical One dictation and ambient AI; Abridge focuses on ambient capture.
- Verification: Abridge's Linked Evidence ties each sentence to transcript and audio; Dragon Copilot offers an activity timeline and Q and A over the transcript.
- Retention: Abridge follows the organization's configured policy; Dragon Copilot retains audio and transcripts up to 90 days.
- Training: Microsoft uses de-identified data for model improvement; Abridge's policy is not publicly disclosed (ask vendor).
Company background
Abridge
Abridge was founded in Pittsburgh in 2018 by cardiologist Dr. Shiv Rao. It raised $250 million in February 2025 and a $300 million Series E in June 2025 led by Andreessen Horowitz with Khosla Ventures, at a reported $5.3 billion valuation (Reuters, WSJ). Abridge's site now says it is trusted by 300+ health systems and powers 100M+ conversations a year; named customers include Kaiser Permanente, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Duke Health, Yale New Haven Health, Geisinger, and Sutter Health. It is ranked Best in KLAS for ambient AI in 2025 and 2026 (vendor-cited). Abridge sells only to organizations; there is no individual plan.
Microsoft Dragon Copilot (formerly DAX Copilot)
Dragon Copilot is Microsoft's clinical AI assistant, announced March 3, 2025, combining Nuance Dragon Medical One dictation with DAX Copilot ambient listening and generative AI. Microsoft acquired Nuance in 2022. Dragon Copilot became generally available in the US on May 1, 2025 and in Canada on June 1, 2025, with the UK, Germany, France, and the Netherlands following. At launch Microsoft said DAX had assisted over 3 million ambient conversations across 600 healthcare organizations in a single month. It is sold through Microsoft and certified partners to organizations, with role-based experiences for physicians, nurses, and radiologists.
Side-by-side comparison
Prices in USD unless noted. "Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor)" means the vendor does not publish it. Each cell carries an evidence label; see how we label evidence. No hands-on clinical testing has been done yet.
| Feature | Abridge | Dragon Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Note quality and accuracy | Not yet independently tested by ClinicalAIWeekly Not yet independently tested | Not yet independently tested by ClinicalAIWeekly Not yet independently tested |
| Pricing tiers (exact, as published) | Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor). Enterprise contracts only; no self-serve plan or published price Not verified | Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) for the Physician Per User license. Physician Flex: per-user dictation license plus pay-as-you-go AI-Assisted Sessions at 25 consumption units ($0.25) each, with 10 sessions per license per month included (Microsoft licensing guidance) Not verified |
| Free tier / trial | No free plan or self-serve trial; pilots are arranged through sales Documentation reviewed | No free plan; organizational licensing only Documentation reviewed |
| EHR integrations | Deep Epic integration (Abridge Inside: Haiku, Hyperspace, Hyperdrive) plus other enterprise EHRs; full list: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Vendor-reported | Epic (embedded, including Haiku and Rover), plus athenahealth and MEDITECH listed on Microsoft's health solutions pages; other EHRs via integration Vendor-reported |
| Specialties and templates | 50+ specialties including behavioral health (vendor support docs as reported) Vendor-reported | Specialty-specific, customizable notes across ambulatory, inpatient, and ED; nursing flowsheets; radiology reporting Vendor-reported |
| Languages | 28 languages with automatic detection; note written in English Vendor-reported | Microsoft Learn release notes cite multilingual capture (including mixed English and Spanish in Epic mobile); output in English Vendor-reported |
| Platforms | Epic Haiku and Rover mobile, Hyperspace desktop, Abridge web portal; standalone apps vary by deployment Documentation reviewed | Desktop, web, iOS (17+), Android (13+), and embedded in Epic mobile apps Documentation reviewed |
| In-person, telehealth, offline | In-person, inpatient, ED, and telehealth workflows per deployment; offline recording: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Vendor-reported | In-person and on-demand recording; telehealth support per deployment. Offline recording: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Vendor-reported |
| Note styles (SOAP/DAP/BIRP) | Specialty note settings chosen per encounter; named DAP/BIRP: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Vendor-reported | Specialty templates and customizable sections; named DAP/BIRP: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Vendor-reported |
| Editing and customization | Linked Evidence maps each note line to transcript and audio for verification; customization through organization settings Vendor-reported | Customizable notes, voice editing with Dragon dictation, activity timeline for verification Vendor-reported |
| Coding and billing help | Revenue cycle product with coding and billable documentation support Vendor-reported | Coding suggestions listed as a feature Vendor-reported |
| Patient instructions and letters | Patient-facing summaries and orders (Abridge Inside for orders); letters: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Vendor-reported | Referral letters and after-visit summaries Vendor-reported |
| Data retention and deletion | Audio, transcripts, and drafts retained per the organization's configured policy, then audio permanently deleted; early deletion of single encounters not supported Documentation reviewed | Audio, recognized text, transcripts, and flowsheet values retained up to 90 days; deletion via Microsoft Purview lifecycle management; customer data deleted when the contract expires Documentation reviewed |
| HIPAA BAA (and which plan) | Yes. Published Business Associate Agreement terms; signed as part of the enterprise contract Documentation reviewed | HIPAA commitments are in the Microsoft Products and Services DPA and Product Terms; confirm BAA coverage in your enterprise agreement Documentation reviewed |
| SOC 2 / ISO / HITRUST | SOC 2 Type 2, HIPAA, TX-RAMP, CCPA listed on Trust Center. ISO 27001 / HITRUST for Abridge itself: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Vendor-reported | SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, C5, NEN 7510; ISO/IEC 27001 and 27701 listed as certification pending in the FAQ. Microsoft cloud also lists HITRUST and others. Vendor-reported |
| Where data is stored | HIPAA-secure, US-based data centers (Google Cloud per a VA privacy assessment) Documentation reviewed | Microsoft cloud as a Core Online Service, per Microsoft's data location terms Documentation reviewed |
| Data used for model training? | Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Not verified | Customer data is de-identified or anonymized before use for model improvement; not used to train general LLMs Vendor-reported |
| Consent features | Epic workflows prompt clinicians to obtain consent from everyone recorded; consent language can be added to templates Documentation reviewed | Transparency documentation requires patient consent per organization policy before recording Documentation reviewed |
| Support | Enterprise implementation and support via contract Vendor-reported | Microsoft and certified partner support Vendor-reported |
| Contract terms | Annual or multi-year enterprise contracts; specifics: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor) Documentation reviewed | Enterprise licensing via Microsoft or partners; Flex requires a linked Azure subscription Documentation reviewed |
Workflow walkthrough
Abridge
In an Abridge deployment the clinician opens the patient in Epic Haiku or Hyperspace, confirms consent, records, and a draft note appears inside the chart. Each sentence links back to the transcript and audio (Linked Evidence), which is the main tool for verification. Orders, coding support, and nursing documentation are separate product lines layered on the same capture. Setup is done by the health system's IT and informatics teams.
Dragon Copilot
For most clinicians Dragon Copilot shows up inside their EHR (often Epic) or as a desktop and mobile app tied to the organization's Dragon admin center. You start an ambient session or dictate, the draft note lands in the EHR for review, and you can ask questions of the transcript and trusted references. Because it unifies Dragon dictation and ambient AI, clinicians who already dictate can keep doing so in the same tool. Administration, licensing, and retention are managed centrally by IT.
Psychiatry and behavioral health fit
Two federal rules matter for behavioral health. HIPAA treats psychotherapy notes (kept separate from the medical record) as a special category, so check that a scribe's default note does not blend process notes into the chart. Federally assisted substance use disorder programs are also covered by 42 CFR Part 2; the 2024 final rule aligned Part 2 more closely with HIPAA, with a compliance date of February 16, 2026 (HHS). None of the vendors here publicly describe Part 2 specific controls, The rule states that segregating Part 2 records is not required, and it creates a new category of SUD counseling notes that need separate patient consent, much like HIPAA psychotherapy notes. Part 2 programs should get written answers on how each tool handles consent, counseling-note content, and redisclosure before use.
Abridge
Abridge lists behavioral health among supported specialties, and its enterprise retention model means the health system, not the clinician, controls how long audio and transcripts exist. That is good for governance but means an individual psychiatrist cannot delete a single sensitive encounter early. Health systems running SUD programs should map Abridge data flows against 42 CFR Part 2 consent and redisclosure rules; Part 2 specific controls are not publicly disclosed (ask vendor).
Dragon Copilot
Dragon Copilot's 90-day retention and its use of de-identified data for model improvement are central questions for behavioral health. Organizations should confirm how sensitive encounters are handled, whether ambient capture can be disabled for specific visit types, and how Part 2 records are segregated. Microsoft's documentation addresses HIPAA but does not publicly describe 42 CFR Part 2 specific controls: Not publicly disclosed (ask vendor).
Strengths and weaknesses
Abridge
Strengths
- Deepest Epic-native workflow in this group
- Linked Evidence for line-by-line verification
- Large health system track record and KLAS recognition
- Coding and revenue cycle products
- Organization-controlled retention and published BAA
Weaknesses
- No individual or small-practice plan
- No public pricing or free trial
- Less seamless outside Epic (reviewer reports)
- Single encounters cannot be deleted early
- ISO 27001 / HITRUST not listed on Trust Center
Dragon Copilot
Strengths
- Unified dictation and ambient AI from one vendor
- Broad platform support including Epic-embedded mobile
- Large set of Microsoft compliance attestations
- Nurse and radiology workflows for system-wide rollouts
- Official consumption pricing for Flex sessions
Weaknesses
- No individual plan; enterprise licensing only
- Per User license price not published
- Up to 90-day data retention
- De-identified data used for model improvement
- Setup requires IT and Azure administration
Who should pick which
| Practice type | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Epic health system choosing ambient AI | Run a bake-off; both are Epic-integrated |
| Organization already on Dragon Medical One | Dragon Copilot |
| System prioritizing line-level verification | Abridge |
| Rural or variable-usage organization | Dragon Copilot Flex |
| Behavioral health department | Either, after a Part 2 and retention review |
Verdict
Choose Dragon Copilot if you already run Dragon dictation or want a Microsoft-wide stack and consumption pricing. Choose Abridge if line-by-line verification and Epic-native workflow are your top priorities.
Whichever you choose, sign the BAA before any real patient audio is recorded, set retention to the shortest period that fits your workflow, and test with your own templates during the trial or pilot.
Related reading: Abridge review, Dragon Copilot review and the psychiatry AI scribe guide.
FAQ
Is DAX Copilot the same as Dragon Copilot?
Yes. Microsoft combined DAX Copilot and Dragon Medical One into Dragon Copilot, announced March 3, 2025.
Can a solo clinician buy either?
No. Both sell to organizations; Dragon Copilot through Microsoft or certified partners.
Which keeps data longer?
Dragon Copilot retains audio and transcripts up to 90 days. Abridge follows a retention period configured by the organization.
Is this medical or legal advice?
No. This is general information. Confirm BAA terms, data use, and consent requirements with each vendor and your compliance advisor before using patient data.
How were facts checked?
Each fact comes from the vendor's official pricing, security, trust, or help pages, checked on 2026-10-12. Where a vendor does not publish something, we say so rather than estimate it.
Sources and last checked
All links checked 2026-10-12 (2026-10). Vendors change prices and terms often; re-verify before buying.
- Abridge Trust Center (checked 2026-10-12)
- Abridge BAA terms (checked 2026-10-12)
- Abridge data security support article (checked 2026-10-12)
- Abridge retention (support article) (checked 2026-10-12)
- Abridge languages (support article) (checked 2026-10-12)
- Abridge Series E (checked 2026-10-12)
- Microsoft Dragon Copilot product page (checked 2026-10-12)
- Dragon Copilot licensing guidance (checked 2026-10-12)
- Dragon Copilot data FAQ (retention, certifications) (checked 2026-10-12)
- Dragon Copilot privacy white paper (checked 2026-10-12)
- Dragon Copilot security white paper (checked 2026-10-12)
- Dragon Copilot announcement (checked 2026-10-12)
- HHS, 42 CFR Part 2 final rule fact sheet (checked 2026-10-12)