Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365: Best Suite for SMBs

The Great Productivity Suite Debate

Every business needs email, documents, and collaboration tools. But should you go with Google or Microsoft? Let's break it down.

Google Workspace Strengths

• Best-in-class real-time collaboration
• Simpler, cleaner interface
• Everything lives in the cloud (no file sync issues)
• Generally easier to learn and use
• Better for modern, remote-first teams

Microsoft 365 Strengths

• More powerful desktop applications
• Better for complex spreadsheets and documents
• Familiar to most workers
• Stronger enterprise security features
• Better offline capabilities

Pricing Comparison

Google Workspace: Starts at $6/user/month (Business Starter)

Microsoft 365: Starts at $6/user/month (Business Basic)

Both scale up with more storage and features at higher tiers.

Key Considerations

Your team's background: If everyone knows Excel and Word deeply, Microsoft reduces retraining.

Collaboration style: If you co-edit documents constantly, Google's real-time collaboration is smoother.

Industry requirements: Some industries have compliance requirements that favor one platform.

Existing integrations: What do your other tools connect with more easily?

Our Take

For most SMBs, Google Workspace is the simpler choice. It's easier to manage, great for collaboration, and sufficient for typical business needs. Choose Microsoft 365 if you have power users who need advanced Excel or Word features, or if enterprise compliance is critical.