Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both give a small business a professional mailbox, shared calendars, video meetings, cloud storage and office documents. The day-to-day feel is different: Workspace is built around the browser and Google Drive; Microsoft 365 centres on Outlook, Teams and the desktop Office apps many teams already know.
Below we compare the business plans with list prices as of November 2026, spell out who tends to prefer which suite, and keep a soft path to help if you are also choosing CRM, ERP or email tooling alongside the suite — including Mailchimp vs Brevo vs Odoo Email Marketing.
Short verdict
Choose Google Workspace if your team is happy in the browser, collaborates heavily in Docs/Sheets/Drive and wants a clean, mail-first admin experience. Choose Microsoft 365 if you need full desktop Word, Excel and PowerPoint, live in Outlook/Teams, or want stronger device and threat protection on Business Premium. At list prices the entry business plans sit at the same US$7 per user per month on annual billing for Workspace Business Starter and Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
Side-by-side comparison
| Google Workspace | Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry business plan (Nov 2026) | Business Starter: US$7/user/month on annual/fixed-term; US$8.40 on flexible | Business Basic: US$7/user/month paid yearly (with Teams; commercial USD list after 1 July 2026) |
| Mid plan | Business Standard: US$14 annual / US$16.80 flexible | Business Standard: US$14/user/month paid yearly |
| Upper SMB plan | Business Plus: US$22 annual / US$26.40 flexible | Business Premium: US$22/user/month paid yearly |
| Storage (typical) | Pooled: 30 GB / 2 TB / 5 TB per user on Starter / Standard / Plus | Commonly 1 TB OneDrive per user on Business plans (vendor pages) |
| Meetings | Meet: up to 100 / 150 / 500 participants by plan | Teams meetings included on suites with Teams |
| Desktop Office apps | Browser-first Docs, Sheets, Slides; offline/desktop options vary | Desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint on Standard and Premium |
| Best for | Browser-native collaboration and simple admin | Outlook/Teams workflows and Microsoft desktop apps |
As of November 2026. USD list prices; local taxes and currency convert. Google figures from Google Workspace Help (Flexible vs Annual/Fixed-Term). Microsoft Business suite prices with Teams from Microsoft’s commercial pricing update effective 1 July 2026; packages without Teams and regional list prices differ. Always check the vendor pricing pages before you buy. Sources: Google Workspace Business editions, Google Workspace pricing, Microsoft 365 2026 pricing update.
Where they really differ
Price at the entry and mid tiers
On annual billing, Workspace Business Starter and Microsoft 365 Business Basic both list at US$7 per user per month. Workspace Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Business Standard both list at US$14. Workspace Business Plus and Microsoft 365 Business Premium both list at US$22. Workspace also offers a flexible monthly rate (US$8.40 / US$16.80 / US$26.40) if you want to add and remove users freely.
Documents and desktop apps
Workspace treats the browser as the primary workplace: Docs, Sheets and Slides with real-time cursors and comments. Microsoft 365 keeps the classic desktop Office apps at the centre on Standard and Premium, which matters for heavy Excel models, mail-merge layouts and offline work.
Email and meetings
Both give you [email protected] mail. Workspace leans on Gmail and Google Meet; Microsoft 365 leans on Exchange Online, Outlook and Teams. If your customers already send meeting links in one ecosystem, switching has a training cost.
Security and device control
Business Plus adds Vault and stronger admin controls on Google’s side. Business Premium on Microsoft’s side packages advanced identity, endpoint and threat protection that many SMEs would otherwise buy separately. Pick Premium when devices and phishing risk dominate the brief.
Ecosystem fit
Workspace pairs naturally with Google Ads, Analytics and Chrome. Microsoft 365 pairs with Entra ID, SharePoint, Power Platform and Dynamics. If you already run (or plan) Microsoft-centric ERP/CRM, that bias matters; if your stack is browser-first SaaS, Workspace often feels lighter.
Pros and cons
Google Workspace
Pros
- Strong real-time collaboration in the browser
- Clear Starter / Standard / Plus ladder with pooled storage
- Flexible monthly billing if headcount changes often
- Familiar Gmail experience for many users
Cons
- Desktop Office fidelity is not the same as Microsoft’s
- Heavy Excel / complex print layouts can frustrate power users
- Business editions cap at 300 users
- Admin features for eDiscovery sit on higher plans
Microsoft 365
Pros
- Full desktop Word, Excel and PowerPoint on Standard/Premium
- Outlook and Teams match how many B2B teams already work
- Business Premium bundles stronger device and threat protection
- Deep ties to the wider Microsoft cloud
Cons
- Can feel heavier to administer for a very small team
- Desktop-first habits can slow browser-only collaborators
- Packaging with/without Teams and regional prices add complexity
- Copilot and some advanced AI features are usually add-ons
Who should choose which
Pick Google Workspace if the team already lives in Gmail, collaborates in shared Docs all day, and does not need desktop Excel as a daily driver. Starter is enough for light mail and Meet; Standard is the usual sweet spot for storage and recording.
Pick Microsoft 365 if Outlook, Teams or desktop Office are non-negotiable, or if you want Business Premium’s security stack on company devices. Basic covers web/mobile apps and mail; Standard adds the desktop apps most offices expect.
Still unsure, or choosing CRM/ERP next? Suite choice often sits next to how you run sales and operations. Metanow implements Odoo and related business systems and can help you map identity, mail and processes in a short discovery call — see our business solutions.
FAQ
Are Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 the same price now?
At USD list prices on annual billing as of November 2026, the three main SMB rungs line up: US$7 / US$14 / US$22 per user per month for Workspace Starter/Standard/Plus and Microsoft 365 Business Basic/Standard/Premium (with Teams). Flexible Workspace rates are higher. Local currency, taxes and promotions still differ.
Which is better for Excel-heavy finance teams?
Microsoft 365, in most cases. Desktop Excel on Business Standard or Premium remains the safer default for complex workbooks, pivot-heavy models and macros. Sheets is excellent for collaborative tables, less so for some advanced Excel workflows.
Can we mix both?
Some companies keep Microsoft desktop apps and use Google Meet, or the reverse. It works, but you pay twice and support two admin consoles. Most SMEs are happier standardising on one suite for mail and documents.
Do the business plans have a user limit?
Google’s Business editions are documented for up to 300 users; above that you look at Enterprise. Microsoft 365 Business plans are likewise aimed at organisations up to 300 users. Confirm on the vendor pages for your region.
Will Metanow migrate our mail and files?
We can plan and run migrations as part of a wider systems project (for example alongside Odoo). Book a discovery call and we will tell you honestly what is in scope.
Choosing a suite — or the systems around it?
In a short discovery call we look at how your team writes, meets and files today, and whether Workspace or Microsoft 365 fits — and how that choice should sit next to CRM or ERP. Metanow has been building business systems with Odoo, Next.js and Laravel since 2022, with a team of 20+. Learn more about our business solutions.
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