Google Docs vs. Microsoft Office 365

Cloud-hosted office productivity/collaboration suites are critical these days.

Google Apps and Microsoft’s Office 365 are the two leading suites. Both offer similar hosted email and calendaring options, web-based document editing plus cloud-based storage — and, for business users, the ability to communicate and work collaboratively.

Small businesses will find it difficult to choose between the online productivity/collaboration suites offered by Google and Microsoft — especially after the recent Office 365 update. Google Apps for Business still leads the way and seems better value. But, the story might be different when you consider the cost of Microsoft’s desktop Office apps — which many users still need. For businesses with little investment or interest in non-Windows devices, Office 365 might be the better option.

Recently, ZDNet came up with the following  list of the Pros and Cons, along with a Verdict, for Google Apps and Office 365…

Google Apps for Business

Pros
. Simple fixed licence regardless of deployment size
. Extensive browser/device support
. Everything done from a browser

Cons
. Users may need to revert to Office for complex document

Verdict
Affordable, feature-rich and easy to use, Google Apps for Business comes the closest to abolishing desktop dependence. However, power users may not be able to abandon Office entirely.

Office 365 Small Business Premium

Pros
. Highly integrated and compatible with desktop Office suite
. Office 2013 for use on 5 devices
. Office on Demand
. Familiar look and feel

Cons
. Complicated licensing
. Limited compatibility outside Windows 7/8 devices
. Can be significantly more expensive than Google apps for large deployments

Verdict
Quicker, cleaner and more functional, Office 365 Small Business Premium moves the product up a gear to challenge Google Apps for Business with a tightly integrated suite of cloud and desktop office productivity tools that will appeal to companies of all sizes.