Office 365 vs G-suite 

G Suite and Office 365 have much in common. Both are subscription-based, charging businesses per-person fees every month, in varying tiers, depending on the capabilities their customers are looking for. Although G Suite is web-based, it has the capability to work offline as well. And while Office 365 is based on installed desktop software, it also provides (less powerful) web-based versions of its applications. 

Both includes the following features: 

• Business email and shared calendaring services attached to custom domains. 
• Online storage, with shared space for collaboration and a large allotment of personal storage space for each user account. 

• Productivity apps for creating and collaborating on documents. spreadsheets, and presentations. 
• Corporate communication tools, including messaging, online meetings, and video conferencing. 
• A management interface, with advanced features such as compliance and archiving for enterprise customers as well as security features including two-factor authentication. 
  
  

Both of these services are underpinned by a robust, highly reliable cloud infrastructure with data centers worldwide.  

What do Microsoft 365 and G Suite do? 

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are a suite of productivity tools that let you perform common business tasks ‘in the cloud’ using a web browser. 

These include: 

• sending emails 
• managing calendars 
• creating documents, spreadsheets and presentations 

• video conferencing 
• file management 
• team collaboration. 

Microsoft’s approach builds on its blockbuster Office franchise (the name change from Office 365 to Microsoft 365 was effective earlier this year). and the accompanying desktop apps, which are now available in Click-to-Run packages that update automatically.  

Google’s approach is cloud-native and browser-centric. The web-based services are identical to the personal tools your employees are already familiar with, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Sheets. When used with Google’s Chrome browser, those apps support offline storage of email and documents 

WHAT’S IN G SUITE? 

All G Suite plans include: 

• Gmail for Business 
• Meet (video and voice conferencing) 
• Chat (secure messaging) 
• Shared calendars 
• Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides 

• Keep (shared notes) 
• Forms (survey builder) 
• Sites (website builder) 
• Currents (the replacement for Google+ for Google Workspace) 
• At least 30GB of cloud file storage (Google Drive) 

• Security and administrative controls 

WHAT’S IN MICROSOFT OFFICE 365? 

Cloud-based services include the following: 

• Exchange Online email hosting with a maximum inbox size of 50 or 100GB 

• Web-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook 
• A minimum of 1TB of OneDrive for Business file storage per user 
• SharePoint Online team sites 
• HD video conferencing 
• Online meetings (Skype Meeting Broadcast or Microsoft Teams live events) 

• Secure messaging and collaboration (Microsoft Teams) 
• Security and administrative controls 

Productivity apps 

Google’s flagship productivity apps are designed to work exclusively in a browser or in one of its mobile apps. By contrast, the most popular Microsoft 365 plans include the latest release of the Office desktop applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote) on Windows PCs and Macs, in addition to increasingly full-featured web versions of those core apps. 

Communication and collaboration 

Both services allow simultaneous editing of documents in the web browser, so that people can work as a team on shared projects; for files stored on OneDrive for Business, you can collaborate using the Office desktop apps, as well. 
 

Pricing 

Google Workspace pricing 

• Business Starter — $6 per user per month
• Business Standard — $12 per user per month
• Business Plus — $18 per user per month
• Enterprise — custom pricing

Microsoft 365 pricing 

Small business / SMEs 

Microsoft 365 Business Basic — $5 per user per month 

Microsoft 365 Apps — $8.25 per user per month 

Microsoft 365 Business Standard — $12.50 per user per month 

Microsoft 365 Business Premium — $20.00 per user per month 

Enterprise 

Microsoft 365 E1 — $8 per user per month 

Microsoft 365 E3 — $20 per user per month 

Microsoft 365 E5 — $35 per user per month 

Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise — $12 per user per month 

Conclusion 

Each subscription comes with its unique set of strengths and weaknesses.  

G Suite is usually the right choice for businesses that need employees to constantly collaborate with each other on various documents.  

For offline users who require more features and customizability, Office 365 is the best bet.  

Your budget will also be a core factor in your decision, as the paid plans offered by the two services differ significantly in their contents.