With so many different options out there, it can be hard to decide what your business or personal office space should run on. If you are looking for new opportunities and need a change from the norm, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 is another great option to look into for your productivity software.

These are often the two cloud-based writing hubs that teams decide upon. However, it’s important to know the difference between each and decide which one is best for your needs – let’s take a look at these two.

Overview of Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based option for home and small business users, with added benefits for large organisations as well. The suite is packed with software applications and productivity tools to help your business thrive. Microsoft’s Cloud-first approach helps users by delivering a seamless experience from the moment they sign up, to use, and after as well. It helps business users enjoy better security and manage their virtual environment with ease. Microsoft 365 also offers support for multiple devices, so that users can access their files from any computer or phone in their office.

Google Workspace is an online workspace management tool which lets users easily share their files with other users. It is available as a Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer or edge extension. Users can create a workspace for collaboration. Workspaces allow users to organise and store files. Workspaces are either public or private. A workspace’s content can be shared with other users. The sharing process is safe and secure.

Pros and cons of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

User Management

The major difference we observe with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 differ in terms of user management and security. Google Workspace requires users to share their workspace with other users. On the other hand, Microsoft 365 does not require users to share their workspace with other users. Furthermore, Workspace administrators cannot modify or delete workspace files.

Microsoft 365 allows workspace administrators to view and manage files shared by other users.

Pricing

Workspace products from Google and Microsoft vary in terms of pricing. For example, the cost of Google Workspace is $8.4 per user, while Microsoft 365 costs $6.90 per user per month. Pricing for Microsoft 365 may vary depending on the type of subscription package selected.

Different Microsoft plans offer different app access. The Business Basic Plan does not include desktop apps, but offers access to Online Apps. Users who subscribe to the Business standard monthly plan have access to features such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or Exchange Online. The Business Premium, E3, and E5 monthly plans include access to more apps and security features.

Features

Google Drive’s 30GB of storage space and easy accessibility is perfect for simple writing documents. Additionally, its features like a table of contents and text style editing make it a powerful tool for writers.

But this is not to say that Word doesn’t have its advantages over Google. For example, its extensive collection of templates allows users to create unique and comprehensive documents that catch the reader’s eye. Users need only to replace standard placeholder text and spaces with the images and text of their choosing. Word also offers better formatting options, allowing users to customise paragraph spacing to create an impactful document.

Now, Microsoft 365 lets you integrate other features such as PowerPoint and Excel, giving you more versatility when creating projects.

Document Sharing and Collaboration

Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both offer great document sharing and collaboration features, but Google Workspace has a slight edge because it was designed to have this feature from day one. Microsoft 365 incorporated this later on, but both companies have made it a focal point to grow the functionality of this specific feature. This makes it a great choice for business-to-business operations.

So, What do you think is better?

Which productivity suite should you choose for your business? Well, that depends on a variety of factors. If you’re looking for a suite that can handle simple word processing tasks, then Google Workspace is a great option. But if you need more complex features, like the ability to create charts and presentations, then Microsoft 365 is the better choice.

If you’re still struggling deciding whats best for your business, Setup4 Is there to help their clients determine what might be best for them and offer different cloud services that are tailored specifically to each client.