There’s no doubt that today’s businesses thrive on cloud-based productivity software. This is because most cloud software suites are scalable, efficient, and allow for unprecedented levels of real-time collaboration, which is especially important in a remote work environment.
These days, Google’s G Suite (now called Google Workspace) and Microsoft 365 are the major productivity software players competing for attention, and both are worthy of consideration for entirely different reasons.
If you’re wondering which one will best suit your needs and workflow, this guide will compare the pros and cons of each solution and help you make the right decision for your business.
The Pros and Cons of Sticking with G Suite
G Suite software is known for its seamless experience, allowing users to switch between a wide range of apps, including Gmail, Docs, Slides, Calendar, Chat, and Drive. G Suite also boasts a growing list of integrations, including customer relationship management platforms, accounting software, and more.
Its functional, but stripped-down, interface makes Google’s productivity suite easy and intuitive. Everything runs in the cloud, making collaboration a breeze as users can work simultaneously in shared documents, saving time and increasing productivity.
Still, G Suite’s simplicity its downfall, as these apps are nowhere near as advanced or as integrated as those in Microsoft 365. Having everything in the cloud means no offline access to desktop applications, which can limit features and capabilities.
G Suite apps feature some interoperability, but the lack of compatibility with Microsoft 365 apps makes it difficult to maintain formatting in complex business documents. G Suite also gets expensive quickly if you need more than the business starter plan, as $12 to $18 per month can add up quickly for enterprise organizations.
How Microsoft 365 Stacks up Against the Competition
Microsoft 365 takes the lead in productivity software, with cheaper pricing on entry-level enterprise tiers and storage starting at 1TB, even on the most inexpensive plan (compared to G Suite’s modest 30GB).
Microsoft 365’s real appeal is the access to its full suite of desktop apps. Microsoft desktop applications are universal and robust. This means businesses can do more with them comparted to what G Suite allows. They are also accessible offline, so you can work with them even when a network is unavailable. Here are some of the business-level features enterprise leaders enjoy most:
- A desktop email client that lets you manage email in a way that Gmail cannot.
- Real-time collaboration in desktop applications.
- Collaboration with up to 1,000 people in a Microsoft Teams meeting, as compared to G Suite’s limit of 500.
- OneDrive, which stores files locally and syncs them in the cloud.
Unlike G Suite, Microsoft 365 apps are beautifully integrated and play well together. Microsoft also features more unified, top-down security that protects all apps underneath the Microsoft umbrella.
Downsides to Microsoft 365 are hard to find. Digging deeper, Microsoft does have a more complex pricing structure, and not all apps and features are available with each plan. Still, it’s difficult to see the pricing structure as all bad. Although complex, it offers much more flexibility than G Suite, allowing you to maximize your budget as you mix and match plan types within the same organization.
You may need to consult your favorite IT professional before deciding which plan is best for you.
Why More Businesses Prefer Microsoft 365
G Suite works best with smaller businesses with minimal tech needs that aren’t ready to think about future growth. However, many companies eventually leave the startup phase and outgrow G Suite. This is when you know it’s time to migrate to Microsoft 365.
Growing organizations prefer Microsoft 365 because it gives them the robust features they need. It isn’t merely a collection of applications. It’s an entire ecosystem specifically designed for businesses in which all apps work together to help you increase collaboration and efficiency.
Microsoft 365 is scalable, secure, and reliable — all things business owners need to keep spending at a minimum, stay compliant, and maximize productivity.
AngelCom recently collaborated with Stanley Chevrolet Buick in Belfast, Maine, to migrate their software from G Suite to Microsoft 356. The business reached out to AngelCom specifically needing a solution for email encryption. They also wanted to migrate from a local server to a cloud-based Azure, specifically for the benefits of Active Directory. The choice to migrate to Microsoft 365 was the best solution for their growing needs.
Microsoft 365 is scalable, secure, and reliable — all things business owners need to keep spending at a minimum, stay compliant, and maximize productivity.
If you’re a growing business similar to Stanley Chevrolet Buick, and are looking for a productivity suite that can meet your ever-evolving needs, try Microsoft 365 and see how it can help you reach your long-term business goals.