Google Workspace
vs Microsoft 365
We support and sell both platforms every day, so we have no reason to push one. Here is how they compare for Australian small and medium businesses on apps, security, AI, cost and where your data is stored.
- Partner for both platforms
- Australian data storage compared
- Migrations both ways
We support Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 every day, and migrate in both directions.
Businesses supported
Platforms we support and sell
Google to Microsoft, and back
Month-to-month terms
It comes down to how your team works
Both are mature, secure business platforms. Neither is the wrong choice when it is set up properly.
Microsoft 365 is usually the better fit when
Your people spend their day in desktop Excel, Word and Outlook, your clients send complex Office files, your industry software plugs into Outlook or Windows, or contracts say your data must stay in Australia. Business Premium also bundles device management and access controls that many Windows businesses need.
Google Workspace is usually the better fit when
Your team works mostly in a browser, co-edits the same documents at the same time, uses Macs, Chromebooks or Android, and values simple day-to-day administration. Gemini AI is included in the business plans.
The bigger risk is not the platform you pick. It is leaving either one on its default settings.
- Who relies on desktop Excel or Word?
- What does your industry software connect to?
- Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks or a mix?
- Must your data stay in Australia?
- How much does your team co-edit live documents?
The business plans side by side
The three levels most small and medium businesses choose from, and what each one adds.
Business Basic: web and mobile apps only
Business Standard: adds desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Business Premium: adds device management and advanced security
Microsoft and Google set their own prices and change them from time to time. See the current list prices on Microsoft’s Australian pricing page and Google’s Australian pricing page, or ask us for a quote. We supply both as a Microsoft Partner and Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and a Google Cloud Partner.
Which platform fits your team?
Answer a few questions about how your people work and we’ll point you in a direction. Your answers stay in your browser.
Your answers stay in your browser. Nothing is stored or sent unless you choose to add your result to the enquiry form.
A starting point, not a recommendation. We confirm the fit after looking at your software, devices and licences.
How they compare, feature by feature
The differences that matter most to small and medium businesses, as of October 2026.
Email and calendar
Microsoft 365 runs on Exchange with Outlook. Google Workspace runs on Gmail and Google Calendar. Both handle shared mailboxes, room bookings and your own domain.
Documents
Microsoft 365 Standard and Premium include desktop Office apps. Workspace is browser-first: Docs, Sheets and Slides work offline and can edit Word and Excel files in Drive, but not Excel macros.
Storage
Microsoft 365 gives each person 1 TB of OneDrive and a 100 GB mailbox. Workspace pools storage across the business: 30 GB per user on Starter, 2 TB on Standard and 5 TB on Plus.
Meetings and chat
Teams hosts meetings of up to 300 people on every business plan. Google Meet’s limit rises with the plan, from 100 people on Starter to 500 on Plus.
AI
Copilot Chat comes with Microsoft 365 at no extra cost; Copilot inside Word, Excel and Outlook is a paid add-on. Gemini is included in Workspace business plans, with limited use on Starter.
Device management
Business Premium includes Intune for Windows PCs, Macs and phones. Workspace includes basic device management, with advanced and Windows device management on Business Plus.
Sign-in controls
Business Premium adds Conditional Access, so we block sign-ins from overseas by default. On Google Workspace, overseas sign-ins are detected and blocked through monitoring and alerts.
Where data is stored
Microsoft 365 tenants set up in Australia keep core data at rest in Australia. Google Workspace lets Standard and Plus customers choose the United States or Europe, but has no Australian data region.
Business Premium vs Business Plus: the security plans
On Microsoft 365, the jump from Business Standard to Business Premium matters more than any other choice. Basic and Standard turn on multi-factor authentication through security defaults, but they don’t include Intune device management or Conditional Access. Premium adds both, plus threat protection for devices and email and tools to label and protect sensitive files.
On Google Workspace, Business Plus adds Vault for retention and eDiscovery, advanced endpoint management and Windows device management. Context-aware access and data loss prevention rules are only in the Enterprise editions, which matters for businesses that want tight control over where people sign in from.
Whichever you choose, we apply the same baseline before your team starts using it.
- Multi-factor authentication on every account
- SPF, DKIM and DMARC on your domain
- Phishing and fake login page filtering
- External file sharing restricted by default
- Laptops and phones enrolled, encrypted and wipeable where your edition supports it
- Admin accounts kept separate from daily work
For EDR, 24/7 monitoring and staff training on top, see cyber security services.
Want a straight answer for your business?
Book a free consultation. We’ll look at how your team works, the software you rely on and your budget, then recommend one platform and the right plan for each person.
If you still report against the Essential Eight
Two Essential Eight strategies, application control and restricting Microsoft Office macros, are written largely around Windows and Office. On Microsoft 365 Business Premium we manage both through Intune, alongside patching, admin rights and multi-factor authentication. SMB1001’s controls can be met on either platform: see Essential Eight vs SMB1001.
Google Workspace manages accounts, Chrome browsers and (with a Chrome Enterprise Upgrade) Chromebooks well, but it has no built-in application control or Office macro policy for Windows PCs. A Workspace business running Windows usually needs extra tools to reach those two strategies, which is part of the cost comparison.
The ASD Essentials, which is superseding the Essential Eight, is not tied to a platform, and ASD Essentials for cloud fits businesses entirely on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace with no servers. If you still report against the Essential Eight, factor this in before you choose.
Already on Workspace?
You don’t have to switch. We can close the gaps on your Windows devices and, if you still report against the Essential Eight, assess your maturity level.
Weighing up a move?
We map your current controls first, so the platform decision and the security plan line up.
Where your data lives, and why it can matter
For most small businesses, either platform keeps data safe and meets their obligations. The difference shows up when a client contract, a government agency or a professional body asks where data is stored.
Microsoft stores core Microsoft 365 data, including email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams chats, in Australian data centres for businesses set up in Australia, with no add-on needed. Google Workspace lets Business Standard and Plus customers keep data in the United States or Europe, but does not offer an Australian region.
If you hold health records, legal files or other sensitive information and someone asks you to keep it onshore, Microsoft 365 is usually the simpler answer. We’ll check your actual obligations before recommending either.
You are not locked in either way
Some businesses run both: Google Workspace for most staff and a handful of Microsoft 365 licences for heavy Excel users. It works when the accounts, files and sign-ins are planned rather than bolted on.
If you outgrow your choice, we move email, calendars and files in either direction, copied in the background and switched over at a quiet time. See Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace migrations.
Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365: common questions
Is Google Workspace cheaper than Microsoft 365?
At list price the two are close, plan for plan, and both vendors change their prices from time to time. Check the current figures on Microsoft’s and Google’s Australian pricing pages. The real cost depends on which plan each person needs and any extra security tools, so we quote current licence pricing with every recommendation.
Which is more secure, Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?
Both are secure platforms. The difference is in the plans: Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes device management and Conditional Access, while comparable Google Workspace controls sit in Business Plus and the Enterprise editions. Settings matter more than the brand, so we harden whichever you choose.
Does Google Workspace store data in Australia?
No. Google Workspace lets Business Standard and Plus customers keep data in the United States or Europe, but it does not offer an Australian data region. Microsoft 365 tenants set up in Australia keep core data, including email and files, at rest in Australia.
Can Google Workspace open Word and Excel files?
Yes. Docs, Sheets and Slides can open and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files in Google Drive without converting them. Excel macros are not supported, so teams that depend on complex Excel models usually prefer Microsoft 365.
Do Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace include AI?
Both include some. Copilot Chat comes with Microsoft 365 business plans at no extra cost, while Copilot inside Word, Excel and Outlook is a paid add-on. Gemini is included in Google Workspace business plans, with limited use on Business Starter. We help you roll out AI safely on either.
Which is better for the Essential Eight?
Microsoft 365 Business Premium, for most Windows businesses. Intune manages application control and Office macro settings, two strategies Google Workspace has no built-in way to handle on Windows PCs. A Workspace business can still meet Essential Eight obligations, but usually needs extra tools. The ASD Essentials, which is superseding it, is not tied to either platform.
Can we switch from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 later?
Yes, in either direction. We copy email, calendars, contacts and files in the background while your team keeps working, then switch over at a quiet time, usually a weekend.
Do you sell Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace licences?
Yes. We supply Microsoft 365, including Copilot, as a Microsoft Partner and Cloud Solution Provider (CSP), and Google Workspace, including Gemini, as a Google Cloud Partner. We set each person up on the plan they actually need.
Related services
Microsoft 365 support
Setup, security, licensing and everyday help.
Google Workspace support
Managed Google Workspace for small and medium businesses.
Migrations
Google to Microsoft, Microsoft to Google, or off an old server.
Essential Eight
What it is now, and the move to the ASD Essentials.
AI for small business
Copilot, Gemini and other AI tools, rolled out safely.
Copilot and Gemini for small business
How each AI assistant works and how to start safely.
Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace? Let's work it out
Tell us how your team works and what you use today. We’ll recommend a platform and the right plan for each person, and handle the move if you need one.
- Partner for both platforms
- Australian-based team
- Month-to-month, no lock-in
Prefer to talk? Call 1300 619 750, Monday to Friday.
Tell us what you need and we’ll get back to you.