Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 both start at $8.4/mo on their entry tier.
See price history: Google Workspace · Microsoft 365
Google's productivity suite (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, Calendar), positioned as the alternative to Microsoft 365 for organizations that grew up on Gmail rather than Outlook. Distinctive for its collaborative document model (real-time Google Docs preceded and inspired Office online) and its aggressive Gemini AI integration bundled into paid tiers in 2024-2026. Priced $6-$18/user/mo across four Business tiers. Losing enterprise share to M365 (Copilot bundling); still dominant in startups and education.
Microsoft's productivity suite combining Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) with Teams collaboration, OneDrive storage, and SharePoint. Four business plans: Apps for Business ($10/user), Business Basic ($7/user), Business Standard ($14), and Business Premium ($22, unchanged). List prices increased July 1, 2026 (Basic +16%, Standard +12%, Apps +21%). Copilot Chat now bundled into all business tiers — buyers pay for AI they didn't opt into. The dominant enterprise productivity platform, deeply integrated into Windows environments.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Google Workspace monthly | Google Workspace annual | Microsoft 365 monthly | Microsoft 365 annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid | Business Standard / Apps for Business | $16.8 | $14 | $10 | $10 |
| Mid tier | — / Business Standard | — | — | $16.8 | $14 |
| Pro / power | Business Plus / Business Premium | $26.4 | $22 | $26.4 | $22 |
| Teams | Business Starter / Business Basic | $8.4 | $7 | $8.4 | $7 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise / — | Custom | Custom | — | — |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
Google Workspace is worth it if… Google Workspace is worth it as the default productivity suite for teams (1-1000+ people) that want Gmail + Drive + Meet + Docs + Calendar in one bundle — particularly if you want mobile-first collaboration and don't need deep Microsoft Office file compatibility. Business Starter covers small teams; Business Standard adds Meet recording and larger storage; Business Plus adds vault and advanced admin.
Microsoft 365 is worth it if… Microsoft 365 Business is worth it for teams that need full Office desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) + email + Teams + SharePoint + OneDrive — particularly if you have Windows-heavy workforce or compliance requirements. Apps for Business covers desktop apps only; Business Standard adds Teams, SharePoint, and email; Business Premium adds Intune device management and Azure AD.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Google Workspace over Microsoft 365 if…
Choose Google Workspace if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $8.4/mo).
- You match the profile Google Workspace is built for: worth it as the default productivity suite for teams (1-1000+ people) that want Gmail + Drive + Meet + Docs + Calendar in one bundle — particularly if you want mobile-first collaboration and don't need deep Microsoft Office file compatibility.
- You're building for education.
Choose Microsoft 365 if…
- You want fixed-price predictability (per seat, from $8.4/mo).
- You match the profile Microsoft 365 is built for: Microsoft 365 Business is worth it for teams that need full Office desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) + email + Teams + SharePoint + OneDrive — particularly if you have Windows-heavy workforce or compliance requirements.
- You need a general-purpose productivity option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Google Workspace | Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Entry price | $8.4/mo | $8.4/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Seat | Per Seat |
| Last verified | September 15, 2026 | September 10, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 15, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
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- How much does Microsoft 365 cost in 2026?
- Does Microsoft 365 have a free plan?
- How often does Microsoft 365 change prices?
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