We love to talk tech—Microsoft this, Google that—but here’s the truth: our customers use both. Some are die-hard Microsoft fans, others are flying the Google flag, and quite a few are happily living in a mixed-tech household.

We get asked all the time, “Should we switch?” And… well, it’s complicated. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s kind of like asking if coffee is better than tea—depends on who you ask, and what kind of day they’re having.

So instead of giving you a yes-or-no, I thought I’d lay out some of the pros and cons of each. That way, you can decide what’s best for your team (or at least feel more informed the next time this debate comes up in a meeting). I took a deep dive into both platforms—comparing them across performance, quality, cost, convenience, and user satisfaction. Hopefully, what I discovered will help you make an informed decision.

The Titans of Collaboration

When it comes to workplace collaboration, two giants dominate the conversation: Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace. Whether you’re setting up tools for a brand-new team or looking to get more value from your current setup, choosing the right platform can significantly influence how your organization communicates, collaborates, and stays secure.

What about Zoom?

Everyone loves Zoom. Truth be told, I prefer it over Teams for video meetings—the interface and usability are just better. But is it worth switching platforms for that alone, especially when it comes with added cost? Personally, I choose to stay within the unified environment of Teams. That said, many of our customers continue to use Zoom alongside Teams or Google Meet.

For the sake of simplicity, we’re not covering Zoom in this article. Comparing Microsoft and Google alone is already complex enough.

Performance: Video Calls and Scalability

Microsoft Teams brings serious horsepower, supporting 1080p video by default and handling up to 1,000 participants in a single meeting. It’s built on Microsoft’s global Azure backbone, so it generally performs well, although users have noted occasional slowdowns during peak usage periods.

Google Meet emphasizes consistency. While its 1080p resolution is limited unless you’re using a desktop extension, it excels with low latency and smart AI-powered adjustments, resulting in smoother calls—especially for smaller, everyday meetings.

Winner: Teams for large events; Google for everyday stability.

Security and Compliance: Keeping Your Data Safe

Both platforms are secure—but in different ways.

Google Workspace offers excellent spam and malware filtering, plus transparency logs for auditing internal access (particularly at the Enterprise level). However, Microsoft Teams has an edge in regulated industries, thanks to its Advanced Threat Protection, Data Loss Prevention, and compliance with stringent standards like HIPAA and ISO 27001, making it ideal for organizations with rigorous security needs.

Winner: Microsoft Teams for high-security environments.

Cost: Which One Saves You More?

Answering this question is like asking to be flogged! Pricing changes constantly, especially when you factor in nonprofit discounts and promotions. On top of that, there’s the learning curve to consider. If your users are already comfortable with Microsoft or Google, switching platforms can introduce unwanted friction.

Google might save you money on infrastructure if you’re cloud-first, but Microsoft might provide better ROI if you’re already invested in the Office ecosystem.

Winner: Google for lean budgets; Microsoft for built-in value and Enterprise security.

User Experience: Interface and Integrations

Google Workspace wins points for simplicity. Its clean, familiar interface (especially for Gmail and Google Drive users) makes onboarding effortless. Real-time collaboration in Googe Docs and Sheets is another major benefit.

Microsoft Teams, on the other hand, offers deeper integrations, particularly valuable if you frequently use Excel, Power BI, or Outlook. However, its interface can feel dense and typically requires more training.

Winner: Google for ease of use; Microsoft for power users.

Who Uses Each Platform

This is a bit of an apples-to-oranges comparison and can’t be answered succinctly in a single paragraph due to the wide variety of licensing plans and usage scenarios. Most estimates place Google’s user base—including primarily Gmail users—at around 2 to 3 billion. In contrast, Microsoft reports that as of 2025, Microsoft Teams has approximately 320 million daily active users worldwide.

Google dominates education and startup spaces, favored for its simplicity and broad device support. Meanwhile, Microsoft is preferred by enterprises that value control, compliance, and desktop app functionality.

Winner: Depends on your audience.

Final Thoughts: Which Should You Choose?

Both platforms have evolved considerably and are investing heavily in AI—Microsoft with Copilot and Google with various incarnations of Gemini—reshaping how we work.

So, how do you decide?

• Choose Microsoft Teams if your organization requires advanced security, manages complex projects, or is already embedded deeply in the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Opt for Google Workspace if rapid collaboration, cost-effectiveness, and cross-device accessibility are your priorities.

The bottom line is that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Your decision should align with your organization’s people, processes, and priorities.

Want help choosing—or switching? We work with organizations to match the right collaboration tools with their unique goals. Let’s talk! Reach out to me today at g.*******@***et.com.