March 1, 2022

Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace

Bones Ijeoma

CEO and co-founder

Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both accomplish the same thing.

In terms of business productivity suites, Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) and Google Workspace (formerly Google business suite) are two of the most popular and widely utilized options. There are a number of ways Microsoft and Google hope to make communication and collaboration easier through their cloud-based applications and services. Both suites are robust and dependable, and they provide several advantages to companies of all sizes. As a result, it might be tough to choose the best productivity package for your company. To assist you in making an informed decision, we'll compare and contrast the two suites in terms of their features, plans, and pricing.

Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both accomplish the same thing.

It is possible to execute standard business functions 'in the cloud' using a web browser with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

Among them are:

  • Sending out email
  • Keeping track of appointments with a calendar
  • Creating spreadsheets, documents, and presentations
  • Teleconferences through the use of video
  • Keeping track of files
  • The ability of a group of people to work together

Additionally, Microsoft 365 offers a wide choice of desktop applications, which are programs that you may download and use on your computer rather than accessing online.

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace: What's the difference?

Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are geared toward increasing productivity and facilitating effective communication and team collaboration. There are, however, a number of distinct applications and management tools. Every day, these suites are relied upon by enterprises to perform important business tasks such as word processing and spreadsheet calculation, email, instant messaging, video conferencing, calendaring, web hosting, and note-taking.

Here’s a comparison chart of Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for a quick overview:

Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace comparison chart

Features Microsoft Google Workspace
Plans & Pricing
How much does Microsoft Office cost?
How much does Google Workspace cost?
Microsoft 365 Business Basic – $5/user/month

Microsoft 365 Business Standard – $12.50/user/month

Microsoft 365 Business Premium – $20/user/month

Microsoft 365 Apps for Business – $8.25/user/month

Enterprise Plans

Microsoft 365 E3 – $32/user/month (annual commitment)

Microsoft 365 E5 – $57/user/month (annual commitment)

Microsoft 365 F3 – $8/user/month (annual commitment)
Business Starter – $6/user/month
Business Standard – $12/user/month

Business Plus – $18/user/month

Google Workspace Enterprise Plans – Custom pricing
Business Apps Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Teams, Outlook, Exchange, SharePoint Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep, Sites, Google Drive, Calendar, Meet, Gmail, Chat
Security & Support Data encryption
Microsoft cloud security technology

Data loss prevention

Multi-factor authentication

Built-in spam, malware and unusual activity detection

99.9% financially backed uptime guarantee

Round-the-clock phone and online support
Data encryption
Google cloud security protection

Data loss prevention

Two-step verification

Built-in spam, phishing and unusual activity detection

99.9% application availability guarantee

Standard Support (paid upgrade to Enhanced Support)

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace plans & pricing

The plans and pricing of a cloud service are critical in assessing whether or not the solution suits your budget and business needs.

Pricing and plans for Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 for Business: Buy Microsoft office, simple remote solutions are the perfect fit for this budget-friendly package. For $5 a month per user, you can have this package. Email, OneDrive storage space for documents, and web and mobile apps for Microsoft Office are all included in this plan. This package does not include any Office desktop applications.

At $12.50 per month, Microsoft 365 Business Standard is best suited for organizations that need a complete set of remote and collaborative solutions. It includes all of the Microsoft 365 business premium office apps, including desktop versions, in the Business Basic subscription. There are two versions of Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Business. In addition to the premium apps and cloud services, Business Standard features superior security and administration services.. Companies in need of advanced threat prevention and remote work solutions can benefit from this package. If your company uses Office apps and cloud storage but does not require Microsoft’s enterprise email, this is the edition for you. It costs $8.25 per month per user. Microsoft Teams and SharePoint are not included in this package.

Pricing and plans for Google Workspace

Small Business Starter:

This plan is ideal for those who have a new or small business. This entry-level plan comes with 30GB of cloud storage for each user and costs $6 per month per user. There are no shared drives for your team, AppSheet, Cloud Search or Vault included in this package (for retaining, archiving and searching data). The most popular Google Workspace plan, Business Standard costs $12 per month per user. This plan provides each user with 2 terabytes of cloud storage. For up to 150 attendees, this package allows for video meetings to be recorded. For data retention and eDiscovery purposes, this plan does not include Vault.

Additional storage space and enhanced security make this plan ideal for businesses. Google workspace pricing for an additional $18 per month, users can host online meetings with up to 250 participants, track attendance, and use Cloud Search. Security and management controls like Vault and advanced endpoint management are included in this plan. In the Enterprise edition, Google offers unlimited cloud storage space (as much storage as you need). S/MIME encryption, data region and enterprise endpoint management are all included in this plan in addition to Business Plus’ key features. In addition, this plan includes all of Business Plus’ key features as well as other advanced capabilities and security solutions. Contact Google’s sales team to learn more about this plan’s flexible pricing options.

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace: Which is better?

Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 security

Security and privacy are top priorities when developing Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. The security of the suites is ensured by the regular updating of the software. It is possible for administrators of Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace to configure security protocols to control user access and permissions. With Exchange Online Protection, Microsoft 365 provides email security against spam, malware, and other threats. More than 1,000 security and privacy controls are included in the robust solution, which helps you meet industry standards and regulatory requirements. You can prevent unauthorized access to your company’s data with its security groups and custom permissions.

Advanced threat protection is included in Microsoft 365 Enterprise editions, including identity and access management, which ensures that all devices, applications, and data are connected securely. Other features include: Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics, Data Loss Prevention for email and files, Windows Information Protection and BitLocker, Microsoft Security and Compliance Center, eDiscovery, and advanced auditing with Microsoft Defender.

Google Workspace protects your email from phishing and spam. Endpoint management, Advanced Protection Program, and two-factor verification are just some of the features it offers. Vault, which allows you to store, archive, and search data, and LDAP, which allows you to connect LDAP-based apps and services to Cloud Identity or Google Workspace, are included in the Business Plus edition. Premium features like data loss prevention (DLP), security center, and S/MIME encryption are included in the Enterprise edition of Google Workspace.

How do I choose between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for my business?

Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace offer a robust set of tools aimed at streamlining and improving your day-to-day operations. Google Workspace is the best option for startups and small businesses that need simple, easy-to-use business applications that can get you up and running immediately.

Microsoft 365 is the productivity suite of choice for businesses that demand powerful and advanced features.However, when compared to the ease of use of Google Workspace, the learning curve could be a bit steep. Business owners who don’t require all of the features of Microsoft 365 can benefit greatly from Google Workspace, which can be a cost-effective alternative.