Skip to main content
VS
software

Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365

A Versus B

Both are business suites with custom email, cloud storage, video meetings and AI. Google Workspace is browser-first (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet) with pooled storage of 30 GB, 2 TB or 5 TB per user by plan. Microsoft 365 centres on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, with desktop apps from Business Standard up and device security in Business Premium. Both cap business plans at 300 users. Choose by the apps your team already uses; check each vendor's current per-user price.

Google Workspace

Google's business suite: Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet and Gemini.

Teams that work in the browser and Gmail

Score60%
Learn More
VS

Microsoft 365

Microsoft's business suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and Copilot.

Teams that rely on desktop Word, Excel and Outlook

Score60%
Get Microsoft 365
4 attributes4 differences10 pros/cons
Skip to verdictSee differences
2Sources
12Data Points
Sources:Google Workspace: Pricing (opens in new tab)·Microsoft 365: Compare business plans (opens in new tab)
TL;DRVoice-ready

Both are business suites with custom email, cloud storage, video meetings and AI. Google Workspace is browser-first (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet) with pooled storage of 30 GB, 2 TB or 5 TB per user by plan. Microsoft 365 centres on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, with desktop apps from Business Standard up and device security in Business Premium. Both cap business plans at 300 users. Choose by the apps your team already uses; check each vendor's current per-user price.

Deciding factor: Google Workspace for browser-first teams; Microsoft 365 for desktop Office apps and device management.

Key fact: Both cap business plans at 300 users; Workspace pools 30 GB, 2 TB or 5 TB per user by plan.

Jump to full verdictSee all attributes

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Google Workspace: browser-first, pooled storage up to 5 TB per user on Plus. Microsoft 365: desktop Office apps from Business Standard, device security on Business Premium. Both cap business plans at 300 users. Check current per-user prices before buying.

G

Choose Google Workspace if

Teams that work in the browser and Gmail

M

Choose Microsoft 365 if

Teams that rely on desktop Word, Excel and Outlook

Share this verdict

Post on XShare on LinkedIn

Get notified when Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 changes

One email when prices, specs or our verdict on Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 change. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Compare next

Key Differences at a Glance

  • Core apps:Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet vs Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams
  • Business tiers:Starter, Standard, Plus vs Basic, Standard, Premium
  • Desktop apps:Browser-based; Drive for desktop vs Desktop apps on Standard and Premium
See all 4 differences

Key Differences

4 attributes compared head-to-head

GW
0Google Workspace
Evenly matched4 ties
M3
0Microsoft 365
  • Core apps

    Google Workspace

    Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet

    Microsoft 365

    Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams

  • Business tiers

    Google Workspace

    Starter, Standard, Plus

    Microsoft 365

    Basic, Standard, Premium

  • Desktop apps

    Google Workspace

    Browser-based; Drive for desktop

    Microsoft 365

    Desktop apps on Standard and Premium

  • User cap

    Google Workspace

    300 on business plans

    Microsoft 365

    300 on business plans

Full Comparison

GGoogle Workspace
MMicrosoft 365
Storage
30 GB / 2 TB / 5 TB pooled per user
OneDrive cloud storage per user
Meetings
Meet: 100 / 150 / 500 participants by plan
Teams meetings, calls and chat
Security add-ons
Vault, eDiscovery, secure LDAP on Plus
Defender for Business, Intune, Purview on Premium
AI
Gemini in Gmail; in Docs, Meet and more from Standard
Copilot Chat; Copilot in apps on plans with Copilot

Pros & Cons

6 pros·4 cons across both

GW
M3
GW

Google Workspace

+3-2

Pros

Pooled storage: 30 GB, 2 TB or 5 TB per user by plan
Browser-first Docs, Sheets and Slides
Meet calls up to 100, 150, 500 or 1,000 participants by plan

Cons

Business plans capped at 300 users
No desktop Office apps; works with Office files
M3

Microsoft 365

+3-2

Pros

Desktop, web and mobile Office apps on Business Standard and Premium
Business Premium adds Defender for Business, Intune and Purview
Copilot plans available

Cons

Business Basic has web and mobile apps only
Business plans capped at 300 users

Frequently Asked Questions

6 questions

  1. Neither is better for every business. Google Workspace suits browser-first teams using Gmail and Docs; Microsoft 365 suits teams that need desktop Word, Excel and Outlook. Both include custom email, storage, meetings and AI.

  2. Google Workspace pools storage per user: 30 GB on Business Starter, 2 TB on Business Standard and 5 TB on Business Plus. Microsoft 365 business plans include OneDrive cloud storage per user.

  3. Business Standard and Business Premium include desktop, web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Business Basic includes web and mobile versions only.

  4. Yes. Docs, Sheets and Slides work with Office files, and Drive for desktop syncs files to your computer.

  5. Both cap business plans at 300 users. Larger organisations move to enterprise plans.

  1. Both. Google Workspace includes Gemini in Gmail and, from Business Standard, in Docs, Meet and more. Microsoft 365 includes Copilot Chat for eligible users and Copilot inside apps on plans with Copilot.

Analysis: Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365

Both are business suites with custom email, cloud storage, video meetings and AI. Google Workspace is browser-first (Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Meet) with pooled storage of 30 GB, 2 TB or 5 TB per user by plan. Microsoft 365 centres on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams, with desktop apps from Business Standard up and device security in Business Premium. Both cap business plans at 300 users. Choose by the apps your team already uses; check each vendor's current per-user price.

Key takeaways

- Google Workspace business plans: Starter, Standard, Plus; Enterprise for more than 300 users. - Microsoft 365 business plans: Basic, Standard, Premium; enterprise plans for more than 300 users. - Workspace storage is pooled: 30 GB (Starter), 2 TB (Standard), 5 TB (Plus) per user. - Microsoft 365 Business Basic has web and mobile apps only; Standard and Premium add desktop apps. - Prices change with promotions and term, so compare on each vendor's pricing page.

Read 10 more paragraphs

Apps

Google Workspace includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Vids, Meet, Calendar, Chat and Gemini, and opens Office files. Microsoft 365 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint and Exchange, with Loop, Clipchamp, Bookings, Planner and Forms on higher plans.

Storage and meetings

Workspace pools storage across the organisation: 30 GB per user on Starter, 2 TB on Standard and 5 TB on Plus. Meet supports 100 participants on Starter, 150 on Standard, 500 on Plus and 1,000 on Enterprise Plus.

Security and management

1. Workspace Plus adds Vault, eDiscovery, secure LDAP and advanced endpoint management. 2. Microsoft 365 Business Premium adds Defender for Business, Intune device management and Purview data protection.

AI

Workspace plans include Gemini in Gmail and, from Standard, in Docs, Meet and more. Microsoft 365 includes Copilot Chat for eligible users, and Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams on plans with Copilot.

Who should pick which

Pick Google Workspace if your team lives in the browser and Gmail. Pick Microsoft 365 if you need desktop Office apps or Windows device management. Google Drive vs OneDrive and Slack vs Microsoft Teams cover related choices.

Drafted with AI from web research. How we research
Community feedback

Was this verdict helpful?

Explore More

Related comparisons and categories

Explore Entities

  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365

More Software

People Also Compare

Last updated
Our methodology

Debate this on r/ThisOrThatDebate (run by the AversusB team)