Getting things done these days is all about using the right apps and programs, no matter if you’re in school, working a regular job, or wrangling a team. Two super popular options are Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace, but which one is best for you? We’re gonna break them down side-by-side to see which one wins! Check out the tables below to see how their features stack up against each other.

1. Word Processing

When it comes to word processing, both Google Workspace’s Google Docs and Microsoft 365’s Microsoft Word are industry leaders.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Docs	Microsoft 365: Microsoft Word	Winner
Formatting Options	Variety of text formatting tools	Extensive text formatting tools	Microsoft 365
Templates	Range of templates for various documents	Wide range of customizable templates	Microsoft 365
Real-time Collaboration	Allows multiple users to edit simultaneously	Allows multiple users to collaborate but with less seamless real-time updates	Google Workspace

2. Spreadsheet Management

Spreadsheet management is crucial for businesses to handle data effectively. Here’s how Google Workspace’s Google Sheets compares with Microsoft 365’s Microsoft Excel.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Sheets	Microsoft 365: Microsoft Excel	Winner
Formulas	Variety of built-in formulas	Extensive built-in formulas	Microsoft 365
Charts	Tools for creating various types of charts	Wide range of chart types	Microsoft 365
Data Analysis Tools	Basic data analysis tools like pivot tables	Advanced data analysis tools	Microsoft 365

3. Presentation Tools

Creating engaging presentations is essential for effective communication. Let’s compare Google Workspace’s Google Slides with Microsoft 365’s Microsoft PowerPoint.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Slides	Microsoft 365: Microsoft PowerPoint	Winner
Templates	Variety of presentation templates	Wide range of customizable templates	Microsoft 365
Transitions	Basic transition effects	Variety of transition effects with more customization	Microsoft 365
Animations	Basic animation effects	Advanced animation effects and timings	Microsoft 365

4. Email and Calendar

Managing emails and schedules efficiently is vital for productivity. Here’s a comparison between Google Workspace’s Gmail and Google Calendar and Microsoft 365’s Outlook and Microsoft Calendar.

Feature	Google Workspace: Gmail and Google Calendar	Microsoft 365: Outlook and Microsoft Calendar	Winner
Email Management	Powerful email management features	Robust email management features	Tie
Scheduling	Integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar	Integrates with Microsoft Calendar	Tie
Reminders	Integrated reminders with Google Calendar	Reminders with notifications across devices	Google Workspace

5. Cloud Storage and File Sharing

Storing files in the cloud and sharing them securely is essential for collaborative work. Let’s see how Google Workspace’s Google Drive compares with Microsoft 365’s OneDrive.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Drive	Microsoft 365: OneDrive	Winner
Storage Space	Offers 15GB of free storage	Offers 5GB of free storage	Google Workspace
Sharing Options	Allows easy sharing of files and folders	Allows sharing with granular permissions	Google Workspace
Collaboration Features	Real-time collaboration on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations	Real-time collaboration on Office documents	Google Workspace

6. Communication and Collaboration

Staying connected is key when you work from home or a mix of home and office. Here’s a look at two popular options: Google Meet & Chat (from Google Workspace) and Microsoft Teams (from Microsoft 365). These tools help you chat and video call with your team, no matter where you are!

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Meet and Chat	Microsoft 365: Microsoft Teams	Winner
Video Conferencing	High-quality video conferencing	Video conferencing with advanced features	Microsoft 365
Chat	Real-time messaging and file sharing within the organization	Real-time messaging, file sharing, and collaboration within teams and channels	Tie

7. Note-taking and Organization

Taking notes and organizing information effectively is crucial for personal and professional productivity. Let’s compare Google Workspace’s Google Keep with Microsoft 365’s OneNote.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Keep	Microsoft 365: OneNote	Winner
Note-taking	Simple interface for taking notes and setting reminders	Powerful note-taking platform with handwriting support and audio recording	Microsoft 365
Organization	Categorizing notes with labels and color coding	Organizing notes into notebooks, sections, and pages with tags and search capabilities	Microsoft 365

8. Task Management

Juggling things to do and staying on top of them is important to getting stuff done and not missing things that need to be finished by a certain time. Here’s a breakdown of two popular tools that can help: Google Tasks (from Google Workspace) and Microsoft To Do (from Microsoft 365).

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Tasks	Microsoft 365: Microsoft To Do	Winner
Task Creation	Simple interface for creating and managing tasks	Robust task management platform with lists, due dates, and priority settings	Microsoft 365
Reminders	Provides reminders for upcoming tasks integrated with Google Calendar	Provides reminders for tasks with notifications across devices	Microsoft 365

9. Forms and Surveys

Creating forms and surveys to gather information is essential for businesses and educational institutions. Here’s a comparison between Google Workspace’s Google Forms and Microsoft 365’s Microsoft Forms.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Forms	Microsoft 365: Microsoft Forms	Winner
Survey Creation	Simple interface for creating surveys	Variety of question types with customization options	Microsoft 365
Response Collection	Real-time collection of responses with built-in analytics	Real-time collection of responses with built-in analytics	Tie
Data Analysis	Basic analytics and visualizations for survey results	Analytics and visualizations for survey results with export options	Microsoft 365

10. Security and Compliance

Ensuring data security and compliance with regulations is crucial for businesses. Let’s compare the security and compliance features of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Workspace Security Center	Microsoft 365: Microsoft 365 Security and Compliance Center	Winner
Data Encryption	Offers encryption for data at rest and in transit	Offers robust encryption options for data at rest, in transit, and in use	Microsoft 365
Multi-factor Authentication	Provides options for enhanced security with multi-factor authentication	Provides advanced multi-factor authentication options for enhanced security	Microsoft 365
Compliance Features	Tools for managing compliance and auditing	Comprehensive compliance management tools with auditing and reporting capabilities	Microsoft 365

11. Video Conferencing

Video conferencing has become a staple for remote communication. Here’s a comparison between Google Workspace’s Google Meet and Microsoft 365’s Microsoft Teams.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Meet	Microsoft 365: Microsoft Teams	Winner
Meeting Scheduling	Integrates with Google Calendar for easy scheduling	Integrates with Outlook for easy scheduling	Tie
Participant Limits	Allows up to 100 participants in a meeting	Allows up to 300 participants in a meeting	Microsoft 365
Recording Options	Built-in recording options for meetings	Advanced recording options with automatic transcription and captions	Microsoft 365

12. Document Collaboration

Collaborating on documents in real-time is essential for team productivity. Let’s compare the document collaboration features of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

Feature	Google Workspace: Shared drives	Microsoft 365: Co-authoring in Word, Excel, PowerPoint	Winner
Simultaneous Editing	Allows multiple users to edit documents simultaneously	Allows multiple users to edit Office documents simultaneously	Tie
Version History	Keeps track of document versions with the ability to revert	Provides version history with the ability to view and restore	Tie
Comments	Allows adding comments and suggestions within documents	Allows adding comments and tracking changes within documents	Tie

13. Mobile Apps

Being able to work on-the-go is essential in today’s fast-paced world. Let’s compare the mobile app features of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Docs, Sheets, Slides apps	Microsoft 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint apps	Winner
Features	Basic editing and viewing features	Comprehensive editing and viewing features	Microsoft 365
User Interface	User-friendly interface optimized for mobile devices	Familiar interface consistent with desktop versions	Google Workspace
Offline Access	Allows offline access with automatic syncing when online	Allows offline access with automatic syncing when online	Tie

14. Integration with Third-Party Apps

Integrating with third-party apps can enhance productivity and streamline workflows. Let’s compare the integration capabilities of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Workspace Marketplace	Microsoft 365: Microsoft AppSource	Winner
Available Apps	Range of third-party apps and extensions	Variety of third-party apps and add-ins	Tie
Integration Capabilities	Seamless integration with Google Workspace apps	Seamless integration with Office apps	Tie
Workflow Automation	Allows automating workflows with third-party apps	Allows automating workflows with Power Automate and third-party apps	Tie

15. Customization and Extensibility

Customizing and extending the functionality of software can cater to specific business needs. Let’s compare the customization and extensibility options of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

Feature	Google Workspace: Google Workspace APIs	Microsoft 365: Office Add-ins and APIs	Winner
Custom Development	Offers APIs for custom development and integration	Offers extensive APIs and development tools for customizing Office applications	Microsoft 365
Extensibility	Provides options for extending functionality with third-party apps and scripts	Provides a wide range of add-ins and extensions for extending functionality	Microsoft 365

Final Thoughts – Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace

Deciding between Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 really depends on what you need and how you work. Both are great tools with lots of features to help you get things done.

If you value easy collaboration and simple tools, Google Workspace might be the way to go. It’s user-friendly, works well for remote teams, and offers good storage options.

On the other hand, if you need more advanced features, customization, and you’re used to Microsoft products, then Microsoft 365 could be better for you. It’s packed with tools, integrates well with Windows, and has strong security features.

So, think about what matters most to you—whether it’s ease of use, collaboration, advanced features, or something else—and choose the one that fits your needs best. Either way, both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 can help you and your team work smarter and achieve your goals.

More interesting comparisons are available on our article page.