July 11th 2023
Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace: A Deep Dive
If you’re looking for an online productivity suite, Microsoft 365 for Business and Google Workspace are both great options to consider. However, with each company offering an array of plans at different price points, it’s not easy to conclude which is best for your small business.
To really compare the difference of each one, we’ll need to drill down into the features. In this blog we’ll directly compare the business packages that they both offer, to make your decision a little easier.
Storage space
Microsoft 365 has a strong offering of 1TB cloud storage across all of their business plans, giving users plenty of space to save documents, videos and more. Google, on the other hand, only offers 30GB in their starter business plan, considerably limiting the amount a user can save in comparison to Microsoft. Microsoft’s position is only strengthened further by the fact that within Google Workspace, emails and attachments also count towards your storage allowance. However, Google’s Business Standard and Business Premium plans do offer enhanced levels of storage for those who need it.
For a small business, it’s clear that Microsoft comes out on top. Although Google does offer higher levels of storage in advanced plans, they come at a higher cost and most small to medium sized businesses won’t require more than 1TB of storage per user.
Desktop apps
Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have similar product offerings (i.e., Microsoft Word vs Google Docs, Excel vs Sheets), however, one of the biggest advantages that Microsoft 365 has over Google Workspace is the ability to access files via desktop-based applications. Although both Google Workspace and Microsoft’s web apps provide adequate day-to-day functionality, they don’t compare to Microsoft’s extensive list of features that are available in their desktop apps. Just one example is Excel’s advanced data analysis tools – a feature you need when working with numbers at such a high level.
Video conferences
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both offer a video call tool within their business packages. However, there are some differences between the two.
Google Meet offers a maximum capacity of 100 on the ‘Business Starter’ plan, 150 on the ‘Business Standard’ plan and 500 on the ‘Business Plus’ plan. In contrast, Microsoft Teams offers an across-the-board capacity of 300 irrespective of business plans.
A difference that may sway your decision is that Google Workspace only enables meeting recording in their ‘Business Standard’ and ‘Business Plus’ plans, meanwhile recording is available on all versions of Microsoft Teams.
An additional consideration is that Microsoft Teams has become so much more than a video conferencing tool. It offers a wide range of tools to improve team collaboration, wellbeing and productivity. Check out our blog on the lesser-known features of Teams to find out more.
Collaboration
Since they’re both productivity suites, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 have plenty of features to facilitate virtual and in-person collaboration. Both video conferencing apps work with calendar and planning tools, as well as offering live screen sharing and a whiteboard function for brainstorm sessions.
One benefit to Microsoft Teams is its ‘app’ section, which has over 700 applications that can be downloaded to improve your business workflow. One example is their ‘approvals’ app that allows managers to approve work and suggest amends from one centralised place.
File security
As the storage of business data and applications within the cloud becomes more apparent - something which is possible with both Google Workspace and Microsoft’s suites - security is at the forefront of business considerations when investing in and committing to a workspace.
As standard, Google Workspace offers 2-step verification, password monitoring and strength control, as well as an alert centre, while setting session lengths for Google services is only available in the Business Plus package.
Similarly, Microsoft’s most basic package also comes with robust security as standard, while Microsoft 365 Business Premium offers enterprise-level security. From threat and vulnerability management to endpoint detection, response and auto investigation & remediation, this package has security covered from all angles. To establish this level of security with Google Workspace, you’d require extra bolt-ons at an added cost per user.
Price comparison
Pricing is one of the most important and ultimately, one of the key deciding factors for most businesses. So, let's get into it.
At the most basic level, ‘Microsoft 365 Business Basic’ comes in at £4.50 per user, per month, in comparison to the £5 per user, per month ‘Business Starter’ package with Google. Both providers offer a very similar level of service. The key differentiators occur, however, when you look to extend your licensing beyond basic functionality and access.
Both Google and Microsoft offer a premium business package. Priced at £15 and £16.50 per user per month respectively. The key differentiator is that Microsoft’s licensing costs are ‘all in’, encompassing market-leading enterprise-level security features, unlike Google Workspace, which does not offer any enhanced level of cyber security. In order for Google customers to improve their security standards, they’re required to take out additional licensing with security-focused vendors, which significantly increases monthly per-user costs.
So, although on paper Microsoft seems more expensive, when you do the math, it could save you hundreds of pounds, annually, per user. If you have any further questions about Microsoft pricing, speak to a member of our team. .
Our conclusion
Overall, both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are exceptional suites that will aid a business’s productivity as they scale. However, the key differentiators – and for us – benefits - between the two are the extensive functionality available within Microsoft’s desktop apps, and their unrivalled security. With an array of features across all of their tools, they have gone above and beyond to support teams with collaboration, wellbeing, efficiency and more.
Want to know more about Microsoft 365?
Read our blog on the 5 reasons a small business should switch to the platform.
Alternatively, get in touch with our team of expert advisors who can support you with integrating a suitable package into your business.
Call: 0343 507 1111
Email: info@lilycomms.co.uk