Do you want to skip the read and get right to my winner? In this Microsoft 365 vs G Suite side-by-side comparison we find Office 365 suits medium to enterprise-level businesses and G Suite is the better choice for individuals and small business owners.
Introduction to our Microsoft 365 vs G Suite Comparison Review
Welcome to our Microsoft 365 vs G Suite comparison article!
Cloud-based productivity solutions are everywhere these days, making our work so much easier to do – and so much easier to archive and access – from just about anywhere in the world. But, of course, not all these solutions are made equal.
Today, we are pitting Microsoft 365 vs GSuite – which we know today as Google Workspace – to see which of these digital platforms offers a better cloud-based work experience both for those working at the office and those who have opted to shift their base of operations to their homes.
Overview: Microsoft 365 vs G Suite
Let's have a little backgrounder about Microsoft Office 365 vs G Suite:
Microsoft 365:
Launched in June 2011, Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that includes an online edition of Office, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Lync Online, as well as the Microsoft Office Web App suite. The suite is deployed through Microsoft's proprietary cloud service, so companies or individual users don't need to do the usual maintenance tasks like manual updating or patching.
Google Workspace:
Originally called Google Apps and later renamed GSuite, Google Workspace was originally launched in February 2006. It is a productivity suite composed of several cloud computing and collaboration tools and products all developed by the Google team.
These include Gmail and Chat for communication, Currents for employee management, Drive for Storage, and a selection of tools for the creation of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. In its version for the academic sector, Workspace for Education, the suite includes the learning platform Google Classroom.
Ease of Use:
Which is more user-friendly – Microsoft 365 vs Google Suite?
Microsoft 365:
If you know how to use Microsoft Office, then navigating through Microsoft 365 should be a cinch for you. As it’s cloud-based, Microsoft 365 can be used anywhere at any time (well, as long as you have an active internet connection), and you can use it on just about any device from desktop machines to your handheld phone.
Google Workspace:
You know the drill: if you know how to use one, you will most certainly know how to use the other. It’s a statement that applies to Google Workspace. The erstwhile GSuite brings together the features and functionality of the classic Microsoft Office app suite and melds it with the capabilities of a file sharing / hosting service (the Google Tool Suite x Google Drive); it also throws in a communication tool like Gmail and its attendant apps for organising your schedule and even your trips for maximum convenience.
Winner – Google Workspace! It’s a close one, but we are giving this ease of use round to Google Workspace in this G Suite vs Microsoft 365 comparison.
Features:
Moving on with our Microsoft 365 vs Google Suite comparison, what features can you expect from both productivity tools?
Email and Communication:
Which between Microsoft 365 vs Google Suite offers better email service?
Microsoft 365:
One of the key highlights of Microsoft 365 is the inclusion of Microsoft Exchange, the company’s flagship POP3 email platform. This time, it’s called Exchange Online and it combines the functionalities of the original Exchange interface with an expanded calendar function. Likewise, Skype is bundled in for the corporate / enterprise plans to facilitate interpersonal communication, while Yammer puts social networking on a VLE level.
Google Workspace:
Along with its signature Gmail for work and/or personal emails, Google Workspace comes bundled in with Chat for quick conversations and coordination on the fly with friends, family, and colleagues, as well as Google Meet, a teleconferencing platform that enables users to hold meetings or forums virtually.
Applications:
For this Microsoft 365 vs Google Suite matchup, which has better and more applications?
Microsoft 365:
The primary inclusions of Microsoft 365 are as follows:
- Basic Office applications (Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Skype for Business, and Word);
- Exchange Online for email and calendar;
- SharePoint Online for collaborative work;
- Yammer for enterprise-level social networking;
- OneDrive for file storage;
- Planner for project management;
- Power Business Intelligence (BI);
- Delve for social documents;
- MS Video library; and
- Sway for report creation and newsletters.
Google Workspace:
Conversely, in this G Suite vs Microsoft 365 toss-up, Google Workspace offers the following applications through its platform:
- Gmail;
- Google Meet;
- Chat;
- Calendar for setting events and appointments – and this also syncs with Meet as well as Google Travel, particularly for meetings out of the office, out of town, and even overseas;
- Google Office Suite which includes MS Office analogues Docs, Sheets, and Slides (the cloud-based equivalent of PowerPoint;)
- Keep, a notepad-style application;
- Drive for file storage; and
- Access to numerous proprietary and third-party applications through Google Marketplace / Google Play.
Winner – Microsoft 365! Based on the volume of apps you can use, we are giving the Features round to Microsoft 365 in this G Suite vs Microsoft 365 matchup.
Support and Resources:
Of course, help should be readily available when you need it. So, in this Microsoft Office 365 vs Google Suite comparison, which takes the cake in terms of quality of support?
Microsoft 365:
In this Microsoft Office 365 vs G Suite comparison, depending on the sort of user that you are, the 365 platform offers several ways by which you can reach customer/technical support. For home users, support is browser based.
You just click the support button and you will be directed to a chat window where you can discuss the issue with a support representative who can walk you through the solution.
Corporate users, on the other hand, need to be Microsoft 365 admins in order to access the online support module. (Note that corporate users encompass all corporate clients from SMEs to VLEs, as well as educational / institutional clients.)
Note in this G Suite vs Microsoft 365 matchup that non-admin corporate Office 365 users are directed to the platform’s self-help section.
Otherwise, it is easy to learn more about the different tools and applications of the platform through the well-curated online knowledge base.
Google Workspace:
In this Microsoft 365 vs G Suite support comparison, those using Google Workspace for the corporate or industrial level can simply log into the official support page and choose either enhanced support or premium support.
Surfing onto the support page also activates a chatbot that you can engage with for quick resolutions for minor issues. The platform also offers 24/7 email and phone support for individual users.
While its knowledge base seems Spartan-simple, we find between Microsoft Office 365 vs G Suite, that the latter is easy to navigate and the information contained therein is both well-curated and regularly updated.
Winner – Google Workspace! We find that Google Workspace edges Microsoft 365 in terms of support and resources in this Microsoft 365 vs Google Suite comparison.
Microsoft 365 vs Google Suite Pricing:
Which offers better value for money? Let's dig deeper.
Microsoft 365:
For business accounts, here are the subscription rates for Microsoft 365:
Google Workspace:
If you compare Microsoft 365 vs Google Suite, the prices for the latter's corporate plans are as follows:
Enterprise plans, however, are tailored based on the needs of individual corporations. As such, these are given custom quotes and are subject to negotiation.
Free trial, refund policy, and money-back guarantee:
Let's look at free trial and refunds for Microsoft Office 365 vs G Suite.
The free trial period for Office 365 runs for a month (30 days) while Google Workspace only offers a free trial for 14 days. Therefore, between Microsoft 365 vs G Suite, the former is more advantageous for you.
In terms of refunds, which offers a better deal – Microsoft Office 365 vs G Suite?
Technically, Microsoft 365 users are entitled to a full refund if they cancel their subscription within 30 days of their last payment.
With respect to Google Workspace, for both group or individual users, any fees paid to Google Workspace are non refundable even if one opts to cancel their subscription.
Educate yourself on the Microsoft 365 terms of service pages and GSuite pages before subscribing.
Winner – Microsoft Office 365! In this Microsoft 365 vs G Suite price comparison, their price ranges are similar and offer equal value for money but Microsoft offers twice the trial period.
Comparison Winner:
In our Microsoft 365 vs G Suite (now Google Workplace) comparison, we score a battle draw as there is no clear winner.
Conclusion and Recommendations to our Microsoft 365 vs G Suite Comparison Test:
What is Microsoft 365 best for?
Office 365 suits medium to enterprise-level businesses better than small businesses in this Microsoft Office 365 vs G Suite comparison. It's also ideal for offices that work around the Windows PC since their desktop apps are optimised for use in the Windows ecosystem.
What is Google Workspace best for?
If you're an individual or small business owner, then G Suite is the much better choice between G Suite vs Microsoft 365. It's much easier to integrate mobile apps that are already hugely popular like Google Docs, Gmail, and more.
Microsoft 365 vs G Suite Alternatives:
If you don't find either appealing, you can look at alternatives such as Zoho Workspace. Zoho Workspace also features a rich collection of productivity apps much like Microsoft 365 vs G Suite, but at a more affordable price.
Microsoft 365 or G Suite Comparison Final Word:
When it comes to comparing G Suite vs Microsoft 365, two highly thought-of and widely used cloud-based productivity platforms, we favour Google Workspace by a hairline. Still, we recommend working their free trials so as to decide which of these are you most comfortable working with and which of them works best with your overall budget.
FAQ:
Which has a longer free trial policy - Microsoft Office 365 vs Google Suite?
Microsoft 365 offers a longer free trial at 30 days to Google Workspace's 14 days.
Between Microsoft Office vs G Suite, which has offline functionality?
Comparatively, both Microsoft 365 Business vs G Suite can be used offline. However, with Microsoft 365, you have to go online within 30 days to maintain your subscription.
If I'm a small business owner, which is better for me - Microsoft Office 365 vs Google G Suite?
As discussed in our Microsoft 365 vs G Suite review, Google Workspace is more suitable for small businesses.
That’s all for now:
If you've read our Microsoft vs G Suite comparison up to here, we are grateful.
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