Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace: Which Is Better for Your Business?
The two biggest options for small business email are Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Both are great email services, with strong security, and tools to help your business. But when comparing Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace, which one is right for your business?
At Full Scope Creative, we work with both platforms and help businesses get their email set up, secured, and working properly. We use Google Workspace for our own email and love it. But Microsoft 365 has some great features too, and for some businesses it may be the better choice.
What Is Google Workspace?
Google Workspace is Google’s business email platform. If you’ve used Gmail, you’re already familiar with a big part of how Google Workspace works.
Along with professional email addresses using your own domain name, Google Workspace comes with several other tools. These include:
- Gmail: sending and receiving emails
- Google Drive: storing and sharing files
- Google Docs: creating text documents
- Google Sheets: working with spreadsheets
- Google Meet: for video calls
- Google Calendar: for managing schedules
A top benefit of Google Workspace is how easy it is to use. The tools simply work great together. It’s very easy moving between Gmail, Drive, Docs, and the other apps.
Need to have two team members working on the same doc at the same time? No problem with Google Workspace! Google Workspace allows for teams to work on the same files at the same time and not need to email files to each other.
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both have a lot to offer. We can help you compare features, security, and pricing to find the best fit for your business. We’ll even handle setup, migration, and ongoing support.
What Is Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365, formerly Office 365, is Microsoft’s business email and productivity suite. It includes business email through Microsoft Exchange and access to many of the Microsoft tools businesses have used for years.
Some of the tools offered with Microsoft 365 include:
- Outlook: for business email
- Microsoft Word: for documents
- Microsoft Excel: for spreadsheets
- PowerPoint: for presentations
- OneDrive: for storing and sharing files
- Microsoft Teams: for meetings and working together
On some plans, you can use apps like Word and Excel on your computer or with a web browser.
For businesses that use Microsoft Office, this can be an advantage. If employees already know how to use the programs they won’t need to learn a new system.
Microsoft 365 also works great for businesses that use Windows computers and other Microsoft products.
Email Security With Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
One of the strongest benefits of Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 is the security they offer.
Both have great spam filters, secure virus protection, and tools to prevent spammers and hackers from getting in. Both have two-step verification and authentication which adds an even greater level of security.
Google Workspace and Gmail come with a lot of security built in. This security works to detect spam, fake emails or spoofs, and suspicious attachments – all before they reach your inbox. Higher-level plans have more advanced security tools available as well.
Microsoft 365 also has great built-in protection. One of its advantages is the option to add more security through tools like Microsoft Defender. Some Defender features are included with higher-level plans, while others can be added separately.
Microsoft also offers other business tools, like Azure and Microsoft Entra, that can help manage security, employee access, and other parts of a company’s technology.
Neither platform is 100% safe from every email threat. But both give businesses some great tools to protect their accounts and information.
Better Security Than Basic cPanel Email
Many small businesses start with basic email accounts that come with their website hosting. These are often managed through cPanel.
There isn’t anything wrong with using cPanel email. We offer it with our website hosting services too.
Both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 offer much more advanced security tools, spam protection, and account management options than basic hosting email options.
They also keep your business email on a separate platform from your website hosting. Moving to one of these platforms adds a great layer of additional security for your website as well with this.
Can You Still Use Outlook or Thunderbird?
One concern some businesses have about changing email platforms is having to learn a new email program. With these email options, you don’t need to.
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both work with programs like Outlook and Thunderbird. There are differences in how they are set up and all the features that work, but you can use the email program you’re familiar with.
Both platforms are great on phones and tablets. You can manage email, work on files and documents while not at the office.
Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 Pricing
There isn’t one price point or plan that works for every business.
Both systems have plans with different features, storage, and security options needed. Some plans are designed for basic business email. Some have more apps and advanced features.
If your business is looking for desktop versions of programs like Word and Excel, Microsoft 365 is a great choice.
If your team works online and collaboratively, Google Workspace is great with Gmail, Google Drive, and Google’s apps.
You also need to consider how much email and file storage your business needs. Some plans offer much more storage than others.
At Full Scope Creative, we can review what your business needs and help compare the costs of each option.
Why We Use Google Workspace at Full Scope Creative
Here at Full Scope Creative, we use Google Workspace for our own business email.
I’ve been a big fan of Google’s tools for years. I love how easy Gmail is to use and how well it works with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Calendar. The whole system is pretty intuitive.
Managing email accounts is easy too. When we need to add a new email address or make changes to an account, we can do that without much trouble.
I’m also a big fan of the security Google has built into the platform.
That doesn’t mean Microsoft 365 isn’t a great option. It absolutely is. If your business already uses Microsoft Office and prefers that system, there are plenty of good reasons to stay with it.
We simply prefer Google Workspace for how we work at FSC.
Full Scope Can Help With Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
If you work with a partner like Full Scope Creative you don’t need to navigate all this alone.
We’ll go over Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 and the options, help make sure you have the right licenses, and even set everything up. If you’re moving from cPanel email on our hosting we can migrate the existing email accounts and emails.
Our help doesn’t stop once the email is set up.
Need a new email address? Have questions about your licenses? Have an issue of any kind with your email? Our US-based support team is ready to help.
Which Email Platform Is Right For Your Small Business?
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are great for small business email and productivity. They have strong security, great tools, and features that work for businesses of all sizes.
If you love Google’s tools and want an easy system for email, files, and collaboration, Google Workspace is a great choice. If you know Microsoft Office and want to keep using those programs, Microsoft 365 is a great choice.
At Full Scope Creative, we offer business email licenses for both platforms. We can help determine which one makes the most sense for you, the pricing, and what features need.
Contact us and we’ll be go through your options.