Software · head to head
Google Workspace vs Microsoft Teams
Google Workspace
Software
Everything you need to get work done, all in one place
- From
- €3.4/month
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Teams
Software
Meet, chat, call, and collaborate in just one place
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Microsoft Teams has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Google Workspace starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage; Microsoft Teams resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives
- They diverge on capability: Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams actually diverge.
| Attribute | Google Workspace | Microsoft Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | €3.4/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2006 | 1975 |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Google Workspace
- Gmail business email
- Google Drive storage
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
- Google Calendar
- Google Meet video conferencing
- Google Chat
- Google Forms
- Google Sites
Only in Microsoft Teams
- Chat & channels
- Video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- File collaboration
- Office integration
- Live events
- Phone system
- Apps & workflows
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Google Workspace
- Business email and calendar managementnot Microsoft Teams
- Collaborative document editingnot Microsoft Teams
- Video conferencing and meetingsnot Microsoft Teams
- Secure document storage and sharingnot Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams
- Remote meetingsnot Google Workspace
- Team collaborationnot Google Workspace
- Document sharingnot Google Workspace
- Project managementnot Google Workspace
- Webinarsnot Google Workspace
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Google Workspace
- Starter tier storage limited to 30 GB per user, requiring upgrade to Standard or higher for adequate document storage
- Starter and Standard tiers both capped at maximum 300 users per organisation
- Video meetings limited to 100 participants on Starter tier, 150 on Standard tier
- Recording capabilities only available on Standard tier and above
- eDiscovery, Vault, and advanced security features only available on Plus and Enterprise tiers
Microsoft Teams
- Resource-heavy application; slow to load and consumes significant CPU/memory compared to alternatives
- Limited channel structure; maximum of 200 public and 30 private channels per team
- Cannot invite guest users to specific channels; guest access grants full team visibility
- Unable to chat during screen sharing; limits real-time collaborative communication
- Limited customization options for branding and interface; cluttered UX compared to Slack
- Channels cannot be moved between teams; requires manual replication for reorganization
Pricing, plan by plan
Google Workspace
€3.4/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Google Workspace review.
Microsoft Teams
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited chat
- 100 participants in meetings
- 5GB file storage
- Microsoft Teams Essentials$4/month
- 300 participants in meetings
- 10GB cloud storage
- Phone & web support
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic$6/month
- Everything in Essentials
- 1TB OneDrive storage
- Web & mobile Office apps
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard$12.5/month
- Everything in Basic
- Desktop Office apps
- Webinar hosting
Which should you pick?
Choose Google Workspace if
- You need gmail business email.
- You also want google drive storage.
Choose Microsoft Teams if
- You need chat & channels.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- You also want video conferencing.
Questions people ask
- Is Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams better?
- Neither clearly leads. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month and Microsoft Teams at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams?
- Microsoft Teams has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at €3.4/month for Google Workspace and Free for Microsoft Teams.
- Does Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams run on more platforms?
- Google Workspace runs on Web. Microsoft Teams runs on Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Microsoft Teams for free?
- Yes. Microsoft Teams has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Google Workspace starts at €3.4/month.
- What is Google Workspace best used for?
- Google Workspace is most often used for business email and calendar management, collaborative document editing, video conferencing and meetings, secure document storage and sharing. Of those, business email and calendar management and collaborative document editing are not what Microsoft Teams is typically brought in for.
- What can Google Workspace do that Microsoft Teams cannot?
- Google Workspace covers Gmail business email, Google Drive storage, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Calendar. Microsoft Teams covers Chat & channels, Video conferencing, Screen sharing, File collaboration.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Microsoft Teams: Does Microsoft Teams have a free tier?
Yes. Microsoft Teams offers a free Home tier with unlimited chat, 60-minute group meetings for up to 100 people, 5GB cloud storage, and basic file sharing, though limits are restrictive for growing teams.
SourceMicrosoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' paid plans?
Microsoft Teams Essentials costs $4/user/month (chat, calling, meetings, 10GB storage). Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $7/user/month (includes desktop Office apps, 1TB storage). Premium plans with Copilot start at $23.50/user/month.
SourceMicrosoft Teams: What are Microsoft Teams' primary features?
Teams provides real-time chat, video and voice calling, meetings with up to 300 participants, file sharing and storage integration with OneDrive, recording and transcripts, and deep integration with Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
Microsoft Teams: What integrations does Teams support?
Microsoft Teams integrates with calendar apps (Outlook, Google Calendar), project management tools (Trello), and works with Zapier for custom workflow automation. Teams also has native connectors to many Microsoft 365 apps and third-party services.