Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace Comparison

The Short Answer

Choose Microsoft 365 if you need desktop apps (Excel, Word), work with Windows Server/Active Directory, or your team is already comfortable with Microsoft products.

Choose Google Workspace if your team works primarily in the browser, you want simpler administration, or you're a startup wanting to minimise costs.

Both are excellent. I support clients on both platforms daily and there's no "wrong" choice.

Pricing Comparison (January 2026)

Microsoft 365 Business Plans

• Business Basic: $9/user/month - Web apps, email, Teams, 1TB OneDrive
• Business Standard: $18.70/user/month - Adds desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Business Premium: $33/user/month - Adds advanced security, Intune, Azure AD P1

Google Workspace Plans

• Business Starter: $9/user/month - Gmail, Drive (30GB), Meet, basic admin
• Business Standard: $18/user/month - 2TB storage, recording in Meet, better admin
• Business Plus: $27/user/month - 5TB storage, eDiscovery, enhanced security

When Microsoft 365 Makes Sense

1. You need real Excel - Google Sheets is good, but complex spreadsheets with macros, pivot tables, or financial modelling work better in Excel.

1. You're already on Windows Server - If you have Active Directory, on-premises servers, or hybrid identity, Microsoft 365 integrates naturally.

1. Teams is your hub - Microsoft Teams is more feature-rich than Google Meet for businesses that live in chat/video.

1. Desktop apps matter - Some staff prefer installed applications over browser-based tools.

When Google Workspace Makes Sense

1. Browser-first workflow - If your team already lives in Chrome and rarely uses desktop apps, Google feels more natural.

1. Simplicity matters - Google's admin console is cleaner. There's less to configure, which means less to break.

1. Real-time collaboration - Google Docs pioneered real-time editing and it still feels snappier for collaborative work.

1. Mac-heavy team - While Microsoft 365 works on Mac, Google Workspace is platform-agnostic by design.

Migration Considerations

Moving from one platform to another is work, but it's doable. I regularly migrate Adelaide businesses:

• Gmail to Microsoft 365: 2-4 hours for small teams. Emails, contacts, calendars transfer cleanly.
• Microsoft 365 to Google: Similar timeframe. OneDrive to Google Drive migration included.

The real work is training staff and updating habits. Budget time for that.

My Recommendation for Adelaide Small Businesses

For most Adelaide small businesses (1-20 staff), I'd suggest:

• Default to Microsoft 365 Business Standard if you're unsure. It's the safe choice that works for everyone.
• Consider Google Workspace Business Starter if you're a lean startup, want lower costs, or your team already uses Gmail personally.

Either way, I can help you get set up properly - the right security settings, proper user configuration, and training for your team.

Need Help Deciding?

Book a quick call and I'll assess your current setup. Sometimes the right answer depends on what software you already use, what your accountant prefers for file sharing, or whether your industry has specific requirements.

Book a consultation →