Businesses need to collaborate and be productive across geographies more than ever before, and moving to cloud SaaS environments is the natural result. Over the last several years, using local storage for company files has fallen out of Favor. Managed cloud services and cloud-based applications allow greater flexibility, remote access to data, and typically lower and more predictable costs for the customer. Businesses comparing either Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365, two of the most popular cloud-based productivity suites on the market, will have these benefits, but some finer details should be considered.
There are two main players regarding business productivity suites for businesses. The Microsoft Office suite ruled the market for years until the late ’90s and early 2000s. Then Google came up with Google Docs and Spreadsheets in 2006 and combined those with other business services to form the Google Apps suite, later called G Suite. It posed tough competition to the former giant. But which one is the best fit for your organization? Let's dive into a detailed comparison to help you make an informed choice. So which tool is the better option for your business management? In this post, we’ll put these tools head-to-head and find out. But first, let’s look at the decision to migrate to either tool. Why do businesses need Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) or Office 365 anyway?
Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite, is a comprehensive suite of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools developed by Google. Designed for businesses, educational institutions, and other organizations, Google Workspace integrates various applications to streamline workflows, enhance communication, and boost productivity
Office 365, now known as Microsoft 365, is a subscription-based suite of productivity and collaboration tools developed by Microsoft. It includes a range of applications and services designed to enhance productivity, streamline communication, and support collaboration in business, education, and personal use.
IMicrosoft 365 and Google Workspace are both great for boosting productivity and enhancing communication between business teams. However, the applications and tools differ in how they work and integrate with existing workflows.
Each suite includes vital applications like word processors, spreadsheets, email, and other important tools that businesses rely on to keep the business running smoothly. For a quick overview of what features and applications are included with each suite, please review the comparison chart below.
Here is a comparison chart that highlights the key features of Zoho and Google Workspace to help you decide which is right for your business:
| Feature | GOOGLE WORKSPACE (FORMERLY G SUITE) EMAIL | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|
| Office Applications | Docs Sheets Slides Keep Sites Google Drive Calendar Meet Gmail Chat |
Word Excel PowerPoint OneDrive Teams Outlook Exchange SharePoint Planner |
| Gmail | Outlook | |
| Video Conferencing | Google Meet | Teams |
| Chats | Google Meet | Teams |
| File Storage | Google Drive, Shared Drives | OneDrive, SharePoint |
| Collaboration | Real-time collaboration in Docs, Sheets, Slides | Co-authoring in Office apps, SharePoint |
| Notes | Google Keep | OneNote |
| Security | Security Center, Data Loss Prevention | Advanced Threat Protection, Data Loss Prevention |
| Compliance | Meets various industry standards and regulations | Extensive industry compliance standards |
| Cloud Storage | Business Starter – 30GB Business Standard – 2TB Business Plus – 5TB |
OneDrive – 1TB Email – 50GB |
| Collaboration and Communication Tools | Multi-user editing Online meetings and video calls for up to 250 people Advanced chatrooms |
Multi-user editing Online meetings and video calls for up to 300 people |
Although both suites have similar features and functions, there are some key differences to consider when choosing your business.
One key difference is the availability of dedicated desktop applications for offline use that Microsoft provides. All Microsoft 365 applications like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel have licensing available for full desktop versions of the applications. Google Workspace does not offer any desktop applications, making offline work more difficult and less efficient overall.
Microsoft 365 also offers a wider variety of different applications across the available tiers. Some of these applications include Publisher, Planner, and Project.
Cloud storage is another area where Microsoft 365 outshines Google Workspace. Microsoft 365 offers a full 1TB of cloud storage while Google Workspace offers 5TB in their highest Enterprise plan.
Finally, security is handled much better by Microsoft 365, as the multi-factor authentication tools offer a much safer environment. Google Workspace offers two-factor authentication but the use of third-party applications adds additional security risks that Microsoft 365 is not subject to.
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are two of the leading solutions for workplace optimization and collaboration tools. When choosing between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for your business, Google Workspace stands out as the best choice due to its superior real-time collaboration capabilities, user-friendly interface, and seamless integration with popular Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Meet. Its web-based nature ensures accessibility from any device, promoting flexibility for remote and mobile work. Google Workspace also offers competitive pricing, robust security features, and continuous updates, making it an ideal solution for businesses seeking efficient, scalable, and cost-effective productivity tools that enhance teamwork and streamline operations.
Switching from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace offers significant advantages in real-time collaboration, ease of use, and seamless integration with widely-used Google services like Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Meet. Google Workspace's web-based nature ensures accessibility from any device, enhancing mobility and flexibility for remote and on-the-go work. Its intuitive interface, competitive pricing, strong security features, and continuous updates make it a compelling choice for businesses seeking efficient, scalable, and user-friendly productivity solutions..
For large enterprises, Google Workspace is often the better choice due to its unparalleled real-time collaboration capabilities, ease of use, and seamless integration with widely used Google services such as Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Meet. Its web-based nature ensures accessibility from any device, which is crucial for a mobile and geographically dispersed workforce. Google Workspace also offers robust security features and comprehensive admin controls, meeting various industry compliance standards.
Google Workspace is generally easier to use compared to Microsoft 365. Its intuitive, user-friendly interface and web-based applications like Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides make it accessible even for those with minimal technical expertise.
When it comes to storage options, Google Workspace generally offers better flexibility and ease of use compared to Microsoft 365. Google Workspace provides ample cloud storage through Google Drive, with generous storage allowances per user and the option for unlimited storage in higher-tier plans. The platform's Shared Drives feature enables efficient team-based file management and collaboration. Google Drive's integration with other Google services ensures a seamless experience for storing, sharing, and collaborating on files
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