Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?
Opinions differ. Microsoft has been offering an efficient software package with its Microsoft 365 package for years.
With its Drive and Google Docs file hosting service, Google first established itself as a free alternative to Microsoft. It was aimed primarily at private users. Google Workspace, therefore, aims to meet the requirements of professionals and establish itself as a serious competitor of Microsoft Office. But how does Google Workspace defend itself against the market leader?
Short introduction : Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace
Google and Microsoft office and collaboration tools both pursue the same approach: businesses need to be able to accomplish as many tasks as possible with office solutions without having to rely on third-party applications. In general, the different programs complement each other perfectly to ensure a smooth and continuous workflow.
Microsoft 365
Most of the applications in the Microsoft 365 suite are familiar to all PC users: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are among the best-known programs in the world and are standard equipment in many offices. Microsoft 365 is bringing these software solutions to the cloud to simplify mobile work and transform traditional office applications into modern collaborative tools.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✔ Popular office software | ✘ Complex licensing system |
| ✔ Solutions Cloud et desktop | |
| ✔ Extensive collaboration capabilities | |
| ✔ Cloud storage included |
Google Workspace
Google has for a long time ceased to limit itself to a simple search engine. The company also integrates office tools into its product line. Google was one of the first to offer spreadsheets, word processors, and presentation creation through a browser-based web application. The individual programs evolved into a complete cloud suite integrating Gmail and Google Drive.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✔ Independent use of the device | ✘ No desktop version |
| ✔ Professional email domain in Gmail included | |
| ✔ Extensive collaboration options | |
| ✔ Cloud storage included |
Comparison of cloud solutions from Google and Microsoft
With Google Workspace, Google targets professionals and declares war on market leader Microsoft and its Microsoft 365 product. Here is a comparison of the two products based on the following criteria:
- Available applications
- Cloud storage space
- File sharing
- Collaboration
- Security
- Data protection
- Availablity
- Support
- Price range
Our comparison was updated in May 2021.
The available applications
If you take a look at the product portfolio of the two Business packages, you will see that the scope of their functions is roughly the same. Google finally offers a suitable alternative for every Microsoft 365 application.
| Function | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Word processor | Microsoft Word | Google Docs |
| Spreadsheet | Microsoft Excel | Google Sheets |
| Presentations | Microsoft PowerPoint | Google Slides |
| Microsoft Outlook | Gmail | |
| Digital notepad | Microsoft OneNote | Google Keep |
| Webhosting | Microsoft Sharepoint | Google Sites |
| Video conference | Skype for Business | Google Meet |
| Instant messaging service | Microsoft Teams | Google Chat |
| Professional chat room | Microsoft Teams | Google Chat |
| Social media for business | Yammer | Google Currents |
However, a unique feature of the Microsoft product is the download option. All of the Microsoft 365 Business apps listed above are also available as desktop app if needed. They can be installed directly from the cloud on local devices (depending on the product selected) and be used offline.
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Google Workspace also offers offline functions for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. It’s not in the form of a desktop app, but as a feature of the web app. A prerequisite, however, is to use the Chrome browser and an extension for offline operation.
| Characteristics | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Desktop applications as a web application | Yes | Yes |
| Offline operation possible | Yes | Yes |
Cloud storage and file sharing
For businesses, cloud solutions such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace score mainly thanks to centralized data storage on the Internet.
Microsoft relies on Microsoft 365 on the file hosting service OneDrive. Google Workspace users have access to a storage space defined on the cloud platform Google Drive.
While Microsoft provides 1 TB of cloud storage for all Microsoft 365 users, the Google Workspace storage volume depends on the chosen subscription: it is possible to choose between 30 GB and 5 TB per user. The Enterprise version even includes unlimited storage.
Microsoft and Google both offer the ability to sync to a device. Files and folders stored online can be used offline if needed.
To manage files stored online, both solutions offer many options. Common handy features include version history and sharing features, which make it very easy for users to share files with people within or outside their organization (for a fixed period of time if necessary).
You may like to look at our Microsoft Office top 5 alternatives.
The little extra from Google: the suite also offers a complete search function based on automatic natural language processing (NLP).
| Characteristics | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Capacity for backup (per user license) | 1 To | Depending on the version 30 GB, 1 TB, 5 TB, or unlimited |
| Synchronization | Yes | Yes |
| Version history | Yes | Yes |
| File sharing with link and expiration date | Yes | Yes |
| Search function | Yes | Yes, NLP search |
Collaboration tools
As collaboration platforms, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace provide powerful tools for communicating and collaborating with your colleagues, customers, and business partners.
The two solutions make it possible to make video calls, exchange by instant messaging, but also to work collaboratively on texts, spreadsheets, or even presentations.
Google’s response to Skype for Business is the video conferencing Google Meet service. Google Chat also provides users with a communication platform for direct messaging and group conversations.
Corporate websites and other intranet applications can be implemented very professionally with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Google relies on an intuitive template system with Sites. Microsoft SharePoint is less intuitive but offers many more possibilities to implement internal web applications in the company.
With Yammer and Google Currents, the two providers offer cloud computing solutions that allow the establishment of internal social networks.
| Characteristics | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Management of appointments and contacts adapted to the company | Yes | Yes |
| Simultaneous processing of texts, tables, and presentations | Yes | Yes |
| Videocalls | Yes | Yes |
| Instant messaging | Yes | Yes |
| Chat groups | Yes | Yes |
| Video conference | Yes | Yes |
| Internal company web pages / Intranet | Yes | Yes |
| Social network for business | Yes | Yes |
| Characteristics | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Data encryption | Yes | Yes |
| ISO / IEC 27001 (information security) | Yes | Yes |
| ISO / IEC 27017 (Cloud security) | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27018 (Cloud Data Protection) | Yes | Yes |
| SOC 1 | Yes | Non |
| SOC 2 | Yes | Yes |
| SOC 3 | Yes | Yes |
| FedRAMP | Yes | Yes |
| PCI DSS (security standard for credit card transactions) | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA | Yes | Not for all applications |
Availability and support
As with Microsoft Cloud, Google Workspace guarantees 99.9% uptime to users. The service teams of both platforms can be contacted 24 hours a day by phone, email, or chat.
| Characteristics | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Availability | 99,9 % | 99,9 % |
| Support 24h on 24 | Yes | Yes |
| Telephone | Yes | Yes |
| Chat / Email | Yes | Yes |
Price
Google offers three versions of Google Workspace.
| Version Google Workspace | Scope of functions |
| Business Starter | Office Suite with 30 GB of storage space |
| Business Standard | Optimized Office Suite with 2TB storage |
| Business Plus | Office Premium Suite with advanced functions, 5 TB of storage and archive functions |
Google also offers an Enterprise version for large corporations. In this version, the unlimited storage space is particularly interesting.
Microsoft offers a more differentiated product line. In total, 3 packs with various ranges of functions are available for professional use.
| Versions Microsoft 365 | Scope of functions |
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | All Office applications in the web version as well as Exchange, OneDrive, Sharepoint, and Teams |
| OfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Standard | All Office applications in web and desktop version as well as Exchange, OneDrive, Sharepoint, and Teams |
| OfficeMicrosoft 365 Business Premium | All Office applications in Web and desktop version as well as Exchange, OneDrive, Sharepoint and Teams; in addition: Intune & Azure Information Protection |
In summary: features overview
Google Workspace is a worthy competitor to the market leader and offers almost all of Microsoft’s functionality online. Only users who prefer to work with a desktop app rather than a web browser fare better with Microsoft 365.
| Applications offered | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Word processor | Microsoft Word | Google Docs |
| Spreadsheet | Microsoft Excel | Google Sheets |
| Presentation | Microsoft PowerPoint | Google Slides |
| Microsoft Outlook | Gmail | |
| Bloc-notes digital | Microsoft One Note | Google Keep |
| Webhosting | Microsoft Sharepoint | Google Sites |
| Video conference | Skype for Business | Google Meet |
| Instant messaging service | Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business | Google Chat |
| Chat space | Microsoft Teams | Google Chat |
| Social network for business | Yammer | Google Currents |
| Desktop apps as a web app | Yes | Yes |
| Offline use possible | Yes | Yes |
| Cloud storage and file sharing | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Storage capacity per user license | 1 To | According to the version 30 GB, 1 TB, 5 TB, or unlimited |
| Synchronization | Yes | Yes |
| Version history | Yes | Yes |
| File sharing with link and expiration date | Yes | Yes |
| Search function | Yes | NLP Search |
| Collaboration tools | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Management of appointments and contacts adapted to the company | Yes | Yes |
| Simultaneous processing of texts, spreadsheets and presentations | Yes | Yes |
| Videocalls | Yes | Yes |
| Instant messaging | Yes | Yes |
| Chat groups | Yes | Yes |
| Video conference | Yes | Yes |
| Internal company web pages / Intranet | Yes | Yes |
| Social network for business | Yes | Yes |
| Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace | |
| Without advertising | Yes | Yes |
| Own email domain included | Non | Yes |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Email client included | According to the versions | Non |
| Alias Email | Yes | Yes |
| Email Groups / Distributors | Yes | Yes |
| Security and data protection | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Data encryption | Yes | Yes |
| ISO / IEC 27001 (Information security) | Yes | Yes |
| ISO / IEC 27017 (Cloud Security) | Yes | Yes |
| ISO 27018 (Cloud Data Protection) | Yes | Yes |
| SOC 1 | Yes | Non |
| SOC 2 | Yes | Yes |
| SOC 3 | Yes | Yes |
| FedRAMP | Yes | Yes |
| PCI DSS (Security Standard for Credit Card Transactions) | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA BAA | Yes | Not for all applications |
| Support & Availability | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace |
| Availablity | 99,9 % | 99,9 % |
| Support 24/7 | Yes | Yes |
| Telephone | Yes | Yes |
| Chat / Email | Yes | Yes |
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