The work aims to study the effect of copper on the friction and wear properties of Al2O3 coatings. Al2O3 and Cu-Al2O3 coatings were prepared on the surface of 20 steel by plasma spraying. The microhardness, bond strength and friction and wear properties of the two coatings were compared and the phase composition, microstructure and wear morphology of the coatings were analyzed. The Al2O3 raw powder contained α-Al2O3 phase, and a new phase of γ-Al2O3 was formed after coating was prepared. The Cu-Al2O3 raw powder was mainly composed of Cu and α-Al2O3 phases. The Cu-Al2O3 coating had a new phase of γ-Al2O3 and Cu2O. Both coatings consisted of a matrix, a tie layer, and a coating. There was a distinct interface between the layers, and the bond between the layers was good. The Cu-Al2O3 coating had fewer porosity and microcracks than the Al2O3 coating. After copper was added, the bonding strength was obviously improved. The bonding strength of Al2O3 coating was 7.56 MPa. The bonding strength of Cu-Al2O3 coating was 15.96 MPa. The microhardness did not change much. The friction coefficient of Cu-Al2O3 coating was significantly reduced and the fluctuation range was small. The wear rate was reduced, and the wear rate of Cu-Al2O3 coating was 5.93×10?4 mm3/m, which was 14.68% lower than that of Al2O3 coating. Compared with the Al2O3 coating, the Cu-Al2O3 coating had smaller peeling pit, the wear surface was relatively flat, the peeling phenomenon was reduced, and the main wear mechanism was spalling. The addition of copper improves the friction and wear properties of the Al2O3 coating.