Google Workspace vs Microsoft Teams
Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams are both team communication tools. Google Workspace is aimed at small businesses and enterprise, while Microsoft Teams is aimed at enterprise and small businesses. Microsoft Teams costs less, from $4/mo versus $8.40/mo for Google Workspace. Only Microsoft Teams has a free plan.
Google's suite of Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet and Gemini for business
Microsoft's chat, meetings and calling hub inside Microsoft 365
| Pricing | Paid · $8 | Freemium · $4 |
| Starting price | $8.40/mo | $4/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Free trial | 14 days | 30 days |
| Built for | Small businesses, Enterprise, Freelancers | Enterprise, Small businesses |
| Platforms | web, ios, android, macos, windows | web, macos, windows, ios, android |
| Country | US · 2006 | US · 2017 |
| 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 Teams if
Organisations already standardised on Microsoft 365 that want chat, meetings and files in one governed platform.
- Included in most Microsoft 365 business plans at no extra cost
- Deep integration with Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive and Office
- Strong security, compliance and identity management via Entra ID
Look elsewhere if: Startups and developer teams that prefer fast chat and a large third-party app ecosystem, or Google Workspace users (Slack, Google Meet).
Google Workspace vs Microsoft Teams 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 Teams
- Teams (free)$0Personal use; 60-minute group calls, up to 100 people
- Teams Essentials$4/user/moAnnual commitment; standalone meetings and chat
- M365 Business Basic$7/user/moAnnual commitment; Teams plus web Office, email, 1 TB
- M365 Business Standard$14/user/moAnnual commitment; adds desktop Office apps, webinars
- M365 Business Premium$22/user/moAnnual commitment; adds Intune and advanced security
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 Teams · Key features
- Persistent channels, group chats and threaded conversations
- Video meetings with recording, transcription and live captions
- Webinars and town halls for large internal and external audiences
- Microsoft 365 Copilot recaps, chat summaries and drafting
- Real-time co-editing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in chats
- Teams Phone add-on for cloud PBX calling
Cons
- Heavier and slower than Slack for fast chat
- File and permission model follows SharePoint and can confuse users
- Best features such as Copilot and Premium cost extra
Google Workspace vs Microsoft Teams: FAQ
Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams starts at $4/mo and Google Workspace at $8.40/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.
Do Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams have a free plan?
Google Workspace has no free plan, a 14-day free trial. Microsoft Teams has a free plan.