Managed IT · Productivity platforms
Prices are nearly identical in 2026, so the right choice depends on how your team works, what devices you run and how much control you need.
2026 list prices side by side
Security and device control compared
A decision rule you can use
30 minutes of data collection, your report the next day, yours to keep with no obligation. Or pick a time now. Or call 954-539-5678.
For most small businesses, the choice between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace comes down to three things: how your team works with documents, which devices you run, and how much security control you need. As of October 2026 the list prices are almost the same, so price rarely decides it.
Microsoft raised several business plan prices on July 1, 2026. According to Microsoft’s licensing announcement, Business Basic went from $6.00 to $7.00 per user per month, Business Standard from $12.50 to $14.00, and Business Premium stayed at $22.00 (annual commitment, US list prices). Google’s published Workspace list prices are $7 for Business Starter, $14 for Business Standard and $22 for Business Plus per user per month, with a discount for a one-year commitment and frequent promotions.
So the tiers now line up almost dollar for dollar. What differs is what each tier includes. The real cost question is which tier you actually need, not which brand is cheaper. Prices vary by country, reseller and term, so confirm on the vendor pages before you budget.
Microsoft Business Basic: web and mobile Office apps, Exchange email, Teams, 1 TB OneDrive. Google Business Starter: Gmail, Docs, Meet for 100 people, 30 GB pooled storage per user.
Microsoft Business Standard adds the installable desktop Office apps. Google Business Standard raises storage to 2 TB pooled per user, adds Meet recording and broader Gemini access.
Microsoft Business Premium adds Entra ID P1 (Conditional Access), Intune device management and Defender for Business. Google Business Plus adds Vault for retention and eDiscovery and advanced endpoint management.
This is the deciding factor more often than anything else.
Microsoft 365 is built around the desktop apps. If your finance person builds models with Power Query, macros or large pivot tables, the web version of Excel will frustrate them, and Google Sheets will frustrate them more. Law firms, accounting firms, engineering shops and anyone exchanging tracked-change Word documents with outside parties usually belong here.
Google Workspace was built in the browser. Real-time co-editing is fast and natural, sharing is simple, and there is nothing to install or patch on the desktop. Agencies, startups, schools and teams that write together all day often prefer it.
A quick test: ask your five heaviest users which file they open most and what they do with it. If the answers involve macros, complex formulas, mail merges or clients who send .docx files with tracked changes, lean Microsoft.
Both platforms are secure when configured well. They differ in how much control you get at the tiers small businesses usually buy.
Whichever you choose, the setup matters more than the logo. Turning on MFA, blocking old sign-in methods, stopping automatic forwarding to outside addresses and limiting admin accounts matter on both platforms. Our cybersecurity page covers the wider picture.
Our free Technology Health Assessment takes about 30 minutes of data collection. The next day you get a plain-language report that rates your applications, security, IT operations and spending, with a short list of next steps in order. It is yours to keep, and there is no obligation. Book your free assessment.
Moving between platforms is routine, but it is a project, not a weekend chore. Plan for these steps:
JLB USA supports both platforms as part of our managed IT services for businesses with roughly 25 to 100 employees, including setup, security, migrations and day-to-day help desk. If you want help deciding, start with the free assessment or call 954-539-5678.
Book it now
Choose a slot that suits you. We’ll confirm by email, collect the data with you on the call, and send your report the next day. It’s free, and the report is yours to keep with no obligation.
Prefer to talk first? Call 954-539-5678, or send the form and we’ll contact you.
As of October 2026 the list prices line up closely: about $7, $14 and $22 per user per month for the three main business tiers on each side, with annual commitments. The cheaper option is usually the one where you need a lower tier, so match features to each role before comparing totals.
Both are secure when configured properly. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Conditional Access, Intune and Defender for Business, which gives more control at the small-business price point. Google is simpler to secure but some advanced controls require the Enterprise tier.
Yes. You can buy Office desktop apps separately or open Office files in Google Docs and Sheets. It works, but running two platforms adds cost and confusion, so most businesses settle on one.
For a business of 25 to 100 people, plan for a few weeks of preparation and a cutover done in batches. Email moves cleanly; shared file permissions usually need to be rebuilt by hand.
Both Microsoft and Google will sign a business associate agreement for eligible services. That is only part of compliance; your configuration, policies and training still matter. Confirm details with your compliance advisor.
