Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are both team communication tools aimed at small businesses and enterprise. Microsoft 365 costs less, from $1.99/mo versus $8.40/mo for Google Workspace. Only Microsoft 365 has a free plan.
Google's suite of Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet and Gemini for business
Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams and OneDrive in one subscription
| Pricing | Paid · $8 | Freemium · $2 |
| Starting price | $8.40/mo | $1.99/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Small businesses, Enterprise, Freelancers | Small businesses, Enterprise, Freelancers |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, macos, windows | web, windows, macos, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2006 | US · 2011 |
| Rating | — | — |
Choose Google Workspace if
Startups and SMBs that collaborate in documents all day and want email, files and meetings with little IT work.
- Best-in-class real-time collaboration in the browser
- Gemini AI included without a separate add-on fee
- Simple admin with low IT overhead for small teams
Look elsewhere if: Organizations built around desktop Word, Excel and Windows management (Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Microsoft Teams).
Choose Microsoft 365 if
Businesses and households that depend on Word, Excel and Outlook and want email, storage, security and AI under one Microsoft account.
- Industry-standard file formats and the most capable spreadsheet in Excel
- Desktop apps remain more powerful than any browser-based rival
- Business Premium bundles security and device management at a fair price
Look elsewhere if: Browser-first teams that prefer lightweight docs and chat (Google Workspace, Notion or Slack fit better).
Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 pricing
Google Workspace
- Business Starter$8.40/user/mo$7 on annual plan; 30 GB pooled per user, 100-person Meet
- Business Standard$16.80/user/mo$14 on annual plan; 2 TB pooled per user, Meet recording
- Business Plus$26.40/user/mo$22 on annual plan; 5 TB pooled per user, Vault, 500 in Meet
- EnterpriseCustomContact sales; data regions, 1,000-person Meet, more security
Microsoft 365
- Microsoft 365 Basic$1.99/mo100 GB OneDrive and ad-free Outlook; no desktop apps or AI
- Personal$9.99/mo$99.99/year; 1 person, 1 TB, desktop apps with Copilot
- Family$12.99/mo$129.99/year; up to 6 people, 2 TB shared, Copilot for owner
- Premium$19.99/mo$199.99/year; Family plus extensive Copilot usage
- Business Basic$7/user/moAnnual commitment; web and mobile apps, Teams, 1 TB, email
Google Workspace · Key features
- Business Gmail on your own domain with groups and aliases
- Docs, Sheets and Slides with real-time co-editing and comments
- Pooled Drive storage from 30 GB to 5 TB per user
- Google Meet video calls for 100 to 1,000 participants
- Gemini AI in Gmail, Docs and Meet, plus the Gemini app and NotebookLM
- Admin console with 2-step verification, device management and audit logs
Cons
- Business plans are capped at 300 users
- Docs and Sheets lack some advanced Word and Excel features
- Annual commitments cannot be reduced until renewal
Microsoft 365 · Key features
- Desktop, web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
- Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on paid home plans
- OneDrive cloud storage from 100 GB up to 2 TB on home plans
- Teams chat, meetings and webinars on Business plans
- Exchange business email with custom domains and 50 GB mailboxes
- SharePoint intranet sites and document libraries for teams
Cons
- Plan and add-on licensing is confusing for small buyers
- July 2026 increase raised Business Basic and Standard prices
- Copilot usage limits and features vary by plan and region
Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 starts at $1.99/mo and Google Workspace at $8.40/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 have a free plan?
Google Workspace has no free plan, a 14-day free trial. Microsoft 365 has a free plan.