Google Workspace or Microsoft 365: which should a small business use?
Google Workspace, for most small teams that work in the browser and share documents; Microsoft 365 if your team or clients live in desktop Excel, Word and Outlook. In India, Google's Business Starter is ₹270 a user a month with 30 GB, Business Standard ₹1,080 with 2 TB, and a Base plan ₹99 with 20 GB for up to 20 users, all before tax. Microsoft 365 Business Basic is ₹170 a user a month paid yearly with 1 TB each but only web and mobile apps; desktop Office comes with Business Standard with Copilot at ₹1,955, or Apps for business at ₹830 without email, GST extra. Google's real-time editing and simpler admin suit a remote team; Microsoft's desktop apps, security and admin controls suit finance-heavy or compliance-bound work. Zoho Workplace, from an Indian company, is free for up to 5 users and ₹99 a user after that. Rule: choose the suite your clients send you files in.
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Gmail, Meet, Drive and Docs on your own domain, priced in rupees. The page lists Base at ₹99 per user a month for up to 20 users, Business Starter at ₹270 and Business Standard at ₹1,080, each with a 14-day free trial.
Microsoft's India pricing for business plans, GST extra: Business Basic ₹170 a user a month paid yearly with web and mobile apps and 1 TB each, Business Standard with Copilot ₹1,955 with desktop apps, and Apps for business ₹830 for desktop Office without email.
Microsoft's entry business plan: web and mobile Word, Excel and PowerPoint, email on your domain, cloud storage, Teams meetings and AI chat, at ₹170 a user a month on a yearly plan or ₹204 month to month.
Zoho's mail and office suite from an Indian company. The Forever Free plan hosts email on one domain for up to 5 users; Workplace Standard is ₹99 a user a month billed yearly.
