Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace
Which productivity suite is right for your business?
Both are excellent platforms — there's no wrong choice. The right answer depends on your business needs, team size, workflow, and budget. Let's help you figure it out.
Which Is Right for Me?
Answer 6 quick questions to get a personalized recommendation.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Click any category to expand and see detailed feature comparisons.
Which Suite Fits Your Scenario?
Quick recommendations based on common business profiles.
Solo Entrepreneurs
Just you, keeping costs low while staying productive and organized.
Best value at $7/user/mo with 30 GB storage, custom email, and easy-to-use tools.
Small Teams (2–10)
Growing team needing solid collaboration without complexity.
Depends on desktop app needs. Need Excel/Word desktop? Go M365. Prefer browser-first? Go Google.
Windows-Centric Businesses
Your team runs Windows PCs and relies on the Microsoft ecosystem.
Tight integration with Windows, Active Directory, and desktop Office apps makes M365 the natural fit.
Budget-Conscious Startups
Every dollar counts. You need professional email and docs without breaking the bank.
Simple pricing, no desktop apps to manage, and Google's tools are intuitive for new teams.
Advanced Excel Users
You live in spreadsheets — macros, pivot tables, Power Query, VBA.
Google Sheets is solid, but Excel's desktop app is unmatched for power users with complex workflows.
Remote-First Teams
Your team is distributed and collaboration happens online, all day.
Google's browser-native approach and real-time co-editing give it a slight edge for fully remote workflows.
Thinking About Switching?
Here's what you should know before making a move.
Gmail → Microsoft 365
- Typical timeline: 1–3 weeks for teams under 50
- Email, contacts, and calendar migrate via Microsoft's built-in tools
- Google Docs/Sheets convert to Office format (minor formatting tweaks may be needed)
- Google Forms, Sites, and Apps Script have no direct M365 equivalent — plan ahead
- Team retraining: moderate — Outlook and Teams work differently than Gmail and Chat
Microsoft 365 → Google Workspace
- Typical timeline: 1–2 weeks for teams under 50
- Google's data migration service handles email, contacts, and calendar well
- Office files can stay as-is in Drive or convert to Google format
- Complex Excel macros/VBA and SharePoint workflows won't migrate — rebuild required
- Team retraining: low to moderate — Google tools are generally simpler to learn
Can You Use Both?
Technically, yes. Practically, it gets messy. Running both platforms means double the admin overhead, confusion about "which docs are where," and collaboration friction between team members using different tools.
Our advice: Pick one ecosystem and commit. Your team will be more productive, your IT will be simpler, and your costs will be lower. The only exception is if you need desktop Excel specifically — some businesses use Google Workspace as their primary platform and add standalone Microsoft 365 licenses for a few power users.
Simplissit's Recommendation
We help businesses evaluate and set up both platforms every day. Here's our honest guidance.
Slight Edge to M365
- Heavy reliance on Excel, Word, or PowerPoint desktop apps
- Windows-centric environment with Active Directory
- Need for advanced email features (shared mailboxes, rules)
- Teams needing integrated chat + video + files in one hub
- Industries with strict compliance requirements
Slight Edge to Google
- Startups wanting simplicity and fast setup
- Remote-first teams that live in the browser
- Budget-conscious businesses prioritizing value
- Teams that prioritize real-time co-editing
- Mixed device environments (Mac, Chromebook, mobile)
The Bottom Line
Both are excellent choices — you truly can't go wrong with either. The best platform is the one your team will actually use effectively. That's why the decision should be based on your workflows, not marketing materials.
Need Help Deciding or Migrating?
Simplissit specializes in setting up and migrating business productivity suites. We'll assess your needs, handle the setup, and train your team — so you can focus on running your business.
Contact Simplissitsimplissit.com/contact