Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365: Which is better?

Most comparisons of Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 line up features and prices side by side. That matters, but for a growing business, the decision that counts for more is which platform gives you proper control over your people's identities, their devices, and your data as your team and your risks grow.

This guide compares the two where it counts, across flexibility, value, collaboration, and security, so you can choose with confidence.

Table of contents

1. Google Workspace plans (2026 Overview)
2. Microsoft 365 Business plans (2026 Overview)
3. Microsoft Enterprise options
4. Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace
5. Why choose Microsoft 365?
6. Move to Microsoft 365 with Texaport

Google Workspace plans (2026 Overview)

Google Workspace is still a strong contender in the collaboration space. Its core apps, Docs, Sheets, Gmail, Meet, and Drive are browser-based, lightweight, and intuitive. Here's a breakdown of their business plans:

• Business Starter (£5.90/user/month): 30 GB cloud storage, video calls up to 100 participants, custom email. Shared Drives are not included, which can limit team collaboration.
• Business Standard (£11.80/user/month): Adds Shared Drives, 2 TB storage per user, and 150-person meetings.
• Business Plus: (£18.40/user/month): 5 TB storage, 500-participant video meetings, recording, eDiscovery, and enhanced controls.
• Enterprise (Custom pricing): This top-tier plan has the most extensive and advanced features for every user, including S/MIME encryption, noise cancellation, in-call streaming, unlimited storage, and advanced security.
  
  

Microsoft 365 Business plans (2026 Overview)

Microsoft 365 offers robust cloud services, rich desktop applications, and industry-leading security. It’s also the platform of choice for many businesses transitioning from on-site to hybrid or fully remote working.

• Business Basic (£5.40/user/month): Online-only Office apps, Exchange email, OneDrive (1 TB), Teams (300 participants), and SharePoint.
• Business Standard (£10.80/user/month): Full desktop apps, Teams, email hosting with Exchange, SharePoint, and webinar hosting features.
• Business Premium (£16.90/user/month): Everything in Business Standard plus advanced cyber threat protection, endpoint security, and data access controls.

Each licence includes a 100GB mailbox and the ability to use a custom domain for professional email.

Microsoft 365 Enterprise options

For larger or security-focused organisations, Microsoft also offers four Enterprise plans:

• E3 (£33.50/user/month):  Full Office apps, security, compliance tools, and unlimited OneDrive storage.
• E5 (£51.60/user/month):  Advanced analytics, voice, threat protection, and compliance.

Still unsure which Enterprise plan is right for your organisation? Read our in-depth comparison: Microsoft 365 E3 vs E5 – Which plan is right for you?

Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace

At a glance:

Storage comparison

Regarding cloud storage, Google Workspace offers a range of storage on Google Drive, starting from 30GB per user on a Business Starter plan to 5 TB of storage per user on the Business Plus package.

At the same time, Microsoft 365 gives you 1 TB OneDrive storage for each user, along with 100 GB of email storage. Generally, 1 TB of storage per user is sufficient, and users seldom need more. So, if you don’t need more storage, Microsoft 365 has Enterprise plans that allow you to choose the amount that you need.

Email and communication

Gmail and Outlook are both powerful email platforms. Gmail excels at intuitive search and filtering. Outlook, especially the desktop version, offers better features for business users, including custom rules, integrations, and calendar sharing.

Microsoft 365 also includes Microsoft Teams for chat, calls, meetings, and webinars. Google Meet is improving, but Teams remains the more fully featured solution for hybrid work.

Productivity apps

Google Workspace Apps: Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Meet, Gmail, Calendar, and Chat.

Microsoft 365 Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Exchange, and Teams.

With Microsoft 365, you can work from the browser, mobile device, or desktop app. This flexibility, especially offline access via desktop apps, is a key reason many businesses choose Microsoft.

Collaboration and hybrid work

Both platforms enable real-time editing, file sharing, version control, and commenting. But Microsoft 365’s integration with Teams and SharePoint gives it the edge in long-term collaboration, especially across departments or external partners.

Teams supports video conferencing for up to 300 people by default, with webinar features and advanced scheduling tools. Google Meet is improving, but Teams integrates more deeply with Microsoft’s full ecosystem.

Identity and access

This is often the deciding factor, and it is where Microsoft 365 pulls ahead. Microsoft Entra ID can act as the single identity provider for your whole toolchain, not only your Microsoft apps.

You can give employees one secure sign-in across Microsoft 365 and any third-party or cloud service that supports SAML or OpenID Connect, then enforce multi-factor authentication and conditional access from one place. That means rules such as blocking sign-ins from unmanaged devices or unfamiliar locations are applied consistently across everything your team uses. For a business running a mix of tools, that central control is a genuine advantage.

Alongside identity, Microsoft Intune lets you manage and secure company laptops, desktops, and mobile devices across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android from a single console. That covers zero-touch setup for new starters, consistent policy enforcement, and remote wipe if a device is lost or an employee leaves.

Security and compliance

Security shouldn't be optional. Both Google and Microsoft operate at the forefront of cyber security. But Microsoft offers more granular control and policy management, particularly in its Business Premium and Enterprise plans.

Features include:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for threat detection and response
• Data loss prevention through Microsoft Purview
• eDiscovery and Compliance tools
• Conditional access and device compliance policies

For businesses in regulated sectors or concerned with data residency and compliance, Microsoft is typically the preferred choice.

AI in the workplace

Both platforms now include AI assistants. Google bundles Gemini into its Workspace plans, while Microsoft offers Copilot for Microsoft 365 as a paid add-on.

Copilot brings AI assistance directly into the apps your team already uses, from drafting in Word to summarising Teams meetings and analysing data in Excel. For businesses looking to adopt AI in a governed, secure way, having it sit inside the same platform as your identity and security controls is a real benefit.

Total cost and manageability

Sticker price is only part of the picture. Consolidating identity, device management, security, and productivity under one platform reduces the number of separate tools and contracts you need to manage, which usually lowers both cost and administrative effort over time.

A managed provider can also help you match the right licences to the right people, so you are not paying for features nobody uses.

Why choose Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 offers:

• Full-featured desktop and web apps
• Strong hybrid work tools
• Flexible, scalable plans
• Built-in advanced security and compliance
• Central identity and device management across your whole toolchain
  
  

Move to Microsoft 365 with Texaport

Whether you’re launching a new setup or moving away from Google Workspace, we’re here to make it simple.

At Texaport, we provide fully managed Microsoft 365 migrations with no disruption to your team. We’re certified Microsoft Partners and trusted by organisations across the UK to deliver secure, efficient cloud environments.

Get in touch today to explore how Microsoft 365 can support your growth, empower your people, and strengthen your security.