Google Workspace vs Microsoft Exchange Online comparison

Google and Microsoft are both solutions in the Email Applications category. Google is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.1, while Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.8. Google holds a 16.0% mindshare in EA, compared to Microsoft’s 11.1% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Google users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 96% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Google Workspace

Read 105 Google Workspace reviews

6,815 Views
4,702 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

Microsoft Exchange Online

Read 92 Microsoft Exchange Online reviews

3,912 Views
3,756 Comparison Views

96% willing to recommend

Google Workspace

Microsoft Exchange Online

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 25, 2026

Microsoft Exchange Online and Google Workspace are cloud-based solutions in the business communication and productivity category. Microsoft Exchange Online is favored for its deep integration with Microsoft products, making it an optimal choice for businesses already using Microsoft's ecosystem. Google Workspace stands out for real-time collaboration, easily suiting organizations focused on cooperative workflows within Google's ecosystem.

Features: Microsoft Exchange Online offers robust email management, calendar sharing, and integrates seamlessly with services like Outlook and Teams. It is appreciated for its reliability, security, and features like spam filtering and large email storage. Google Workspace excels with document collaboration tools and real-time editing capabilities. It integrates seamlessly with Google Meet, Drive, and Chat, making it an intuitive choice for users.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Exchange Online could enhance user interface simplicity and improve synchronization across devices. Users also seek stronger security measures against phishing and spam. Google Workspace may improve integration with Microsoft Office, develop advanced features in Google Sheets to compete with Excel, and refine chat and Meet functionalities to match competitors like Zoom and Slack.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Microsoft Exchange Online and Google Workspace are easily accessible via public cloud platforms. Microsoft is seen for knowledgeable support, though response times might vary. Google Workspace is recognized for its reliable tech support, offering quick problem resolution and generally helpful assistance.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Exchange Online offers reasonable pricing with various licensing options suitable for different organization sizes. Although some users find it slightly expensive, its integration within Microsoft's ecosystem ensures a positive ROI. Google Workspace pricing remains competitive with users seeing overall value, though concerns exist around scaling costs. Both solutions enhance productivity and minimize hardware maintenance, providing substantial ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed Google Workspace vs. Microsoft Exchange Online Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Google Workspace vs. Microsoft Exchange Online

December 2025

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Helped 881,082 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

ROI

Sentiment score

6.3

Corporations report mixed ROI from Google Workspace, citing productivity benefits, cost concerns, and varying market value perceptions.

Sentiment score

7.0

Microsoft Exchange Online offers significant cost savings and efficiency, recouping investments quickly and outperforming on-premise solutions.

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Google Workspace report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Exchange Online report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

5.0

Google Workspace support has mixed reviews; effective email support contrasts with difficulties in direct contact and limited personal assistance.

Sentiment score

6.2

Microsoft Exchange Online tech support is generally excellent but varies in response time and agent expertise.

I sent several complaints and what they replied to me was that I should have dealt with the problem with the provider of my credit card.

AnnaRomagnuolo

Assosiate Professor at Palazzo del Mediterraneo

In the past, we experienced a problem with automatic emails being blocked, and the support team resolved the issue quickly.

Ovidiu Vasu

Technical Manager IT Development at Sostenia

Even as a technical person, I struggle to find appropriate contact numbers or email addresses.

Suresh-Kumaresan

Principal Consultant at Wipro Limited

For more quotes and insights, download the Google Workspace report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Exchange Online report

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.3

Google Workspace efficiently scales for any size organization, praised for seamless user accommodation and integration, though enhancements are suggested.

Sentiment score

7.8

Microsoft Exchange Online is celebrated for scalable, reliable cloud-based expansion, accommodating diverse organizational sizes, despite some cost concerns.

It supports around 2,500 users in our company, and this scalability assists us in maintaining our infrastructure.

Ovidiu Vasu

Technical Manager IT Development at Sostenia

Scalability involves another configuration with a new email configuration, involving some authentication issues with Microsoft Outlook.

Sunil-Nair

IT Manager at Universal Carpets & Rugs

If webinars were provided and universities were promoted with webinars, people are going to attend them.

AnnaRomagnuolo

Assosiate Professor at Palazzo del Mediterraneo

For more quotes and insights, download the Google Workspace report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Exchange Online report

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.8

Google Workspace is praised for its stability and reliability, with users noting minimal disruptions and high performance ratings.

Sentiment score

8.0

Microsoft Exchange Online is highly stable and reliable with minimal downtime, quick recovery, and significant stability improvements.

The stability of Google Workspace is excellent and very solid.

Suresh-Kumaresan

Principal Consultant at Wipro Limited

With Microsoft now that we are using, we have a security system by which every now and then you have to change your password, and whenever you try to access multiple times to the same email from different devices or many times in the same day, they will ask you for a code that you have to insert.

AnnaRomagnuolo

Assosiate Professor at Palazzo del Mediterraneo

This stability is crucial to us because it ensures we do not lose communication or connection while using messaging and accessing files.

Ovidiu Vasu

Technical Manager IT Development at Sostenia

For more quotes and insights, download the Google Workspace report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Exchange Online report

Room For Improvement

Users desire improved integration, storage, synchronization, features, and functionality in Google tools to enhance productivity and collaboration.

Microsoft Exchange Online users face challenges with integration, security, scalability, optimization, support, documentation, and pricing, needing significant improvements.

The new integration was implemented last September, and we are facing some issues with OAuth 2.0 authentication.

Sunil-Nair

IT Manager at Universal Carpets & Rugs

The security functionalities are similar to those in competitors like Active Directory, but they could be optimized for stronger security features.

Ovidiu Vasu

Technical Manager IT Development at Sostenia

It is hard to find categories and folders in Teams.

AnnaRomagnuolo

Assosiate Professor at Palazzo del Mediterraneo

For more quotes and insights, download the Google Workspace report

In third world countries, they need local support.

AdesojiAdeniji

IT Officer at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Exchange Online report

Setup Cost

Users have mixed opinions on Google Workspace pricing, appreciating the value but desiring clearer cost structures and flexible licensing.

Microsoft Exchange Online's pricing is seen as reasonable but varies, appreciated for value and integration despite regional cost concerns.

The current cost is approximately seven to ten euros per user per month.

Ovidiu Vasu

Technical Manager IT Development at Sostenia

For more quotes and insights, download the Google Workspace report

No quotes available

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Exchange Online report

Valuable Features

Google Workspace excels in scalability, integration, security, and collaboration, making it ideal for businesses and educational institutions.

Microsoft Exchange Online offers seamless integration, robust security, scalable solutions, and cloud-based features for efficient remote communication and administration.

The ability to share documents with students and assign them things and correct them in real time has been beneficial.

AnnaRomagnuolo

Assosiate Professor at Palazzo del Mediterraneo

These tools enhance productivity by allowing us to edit the same file at the same time, making collaboration much smoother.

Ovidiu Vasu

Technical Manager IT Development at Sostenia

The valuable features include the email service, email updates, and Google Drive.

Sunil-Nair

IT Manager at Universal Carpets & Rugs

For more quotes and insights, download the Google Workspace report

Microsoft Exchange Online Protection helps by providing cloud-based security.

AdesojiAdeniji

IT Officer at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Exchange Online report

Categories and Ranking

Google Workspace

Ranking in Email Applications

1st

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.7

Number of Reviews

105

Ranking in other categories

Wireless Email (1st), Cloud Storage (8th), Content Collaboration Platforms (2nd)

Microsoft Exchange Online

Ranking in Email Applications

2nd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Email Applications category, the mindshare of Google Workspace is 16.0%, down from 23.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Exchange Online is 11.1%, down from 15.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Email Applications Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Google Workspace	16.0%
Microsoft Exchange Online	11.1%
Other	72.9%

Email Applications

Featured Reviews

AnnaRomagnuolo

Assosiate Professor at Palazzo del Mediterraneo

Collaborative work with students has improved but storage limitations and support issues remain

We have Google Workspace, and we use it primarily for Drive to collect items. We categorize folders with topics and material either for students or for research. We use Google Doc to share documents, especially when we assign homework to be corrected for peer correction or classroom correction. With Teams and Microsoft, we use it for collective calls and exam supervision because we use video surveillance through camera with Teams. We use Teams for meetings and to share material with students. The ability to share documents with students and assign them things and correct them in real time has been beneficial. You can verify what they write, and they can contribute and cooperate to create a collective document, which is something that our society nowadays requires. The ability to cooperate, especially those who work with languages and those who work with writing, need to learn how to cooperate. There is co-editing and co-writing, all these sorts of things. I love the fact that I can easily have access to folders that I can categorize and where I can upload research material and teaching material.

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Asad Mohammad

Assistant General Manager, IT Infrastructure at SAMI Pharmaceuticals (Pvt.) Limited.

Offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness with multiple service options but could improve support and mobile features

There are many things to consider about email management in Microsoft Exchange Online. The online management is good, the storage is sufficient, and we use most of the features such as the custom rules in Microsoft Exchange Online, which we cannot find in any other email solution. That is a very good option, as we have many options to create custom rules in Microsoft Exchange Online. Regarding security features in Microsoft Exchange Online, we also use Defender for Exchange which includes the basic Exchange Online protection that has spam and threat controls. The use of Defender is beneficial for our security. The flexibility of choosing plans in Microsoft Exchange Online is good. We have chosen the best plan for our use, including multiple licenses such as plan one and business basics, which leads us towards cost-effectiveness, and the pay-as-you-go option is more flexible. Microsoft Exchange Online is very scalable.

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Educational Organization

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	64
Midsize Enterprise	14
Large Enterprise	27

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	40
Midsize Enterprise	16
Large Enterprise	40

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Google Workspace?

Easy-to-build forms are allowing me to get feedback and information from my internal teams as well as from the customers very efficiently with the result data in structured manner.

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Google Workspace?

The pricing for Google Workspace is moderate. I would rate it a five out of ten, indicating it is neither cheap nor expensive. The current cost is approximately seven to ten euros per user per mont...

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What needs improvement with Google Workspace?

The only inconvenience is the fact that you have limited storage. After a while, you have to buy a surplus. It is not intuitive with Teams. It is hard to find categories and folders in Teams. I do ...

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What do you like most about Microsoft Exchange Online?

The benefits are widespread and effective communication. We use Microsoft Teams for meetings within and outside our organization. Additionally, Teams can be used for chat, allowing us to track comm...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Exchange Online?

If I segment it into three points: low price, average, and high price, I would place Microsoft Exchange Online between average and high price.

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What needs improvement with Microsoft Exchange Online?

There is room for improvement in Microsoft Exchange Online. Technical support for Microsoft is good, but in all fairness, I sometimes think more can be done. I have personally tried exploring with ...

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Comparisons

Office 365 vs Google Workspace

Compared 24% of the time

Amazon WorkMail vs Google Workspace

Compared 18% of the time

ProtonMail vs Google Workspace

Compared 8% of the time

Microsoft Exchange vs Google Workspace

Compared 4% of the time

Zoho Mail vs Google Workspace

Compared 3% of the time

More Google Workspace Competitors

Open-Xchange vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 16% of the time

Amazon WorkMail vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 10% of the time

Zimbra Collaboration vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 6% of the time

Microsoft Exchange vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 6% of the time

ProtonMail vs Microsoft Exchange Online

Compared 6% of the time

More Microsoft Exchange Online Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Google Workspace

January 2026

Download Google Workspace product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Exchange Online

January 2026

Download Microsoft Exchange Online product report

Also Known As

G-Suite Enterprise, G-Suite, Google Apps for Business, G Suite Basic, G Suite Business, G-Suite Basic, G-Suite Business, Google Vault

Exchange Online, Exchange Online Plan 1, Exchange Online Plan 2, MS Exchange Online

Overview

Similar to G Suite, all Google Workspace plans provide a custom email for your business and include collaboration tools like Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Chat, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, and more.

As we’ve evolved G Suite into a more integrated experience across our communication and collaboration tools, we’ve rebranded to Google Workspace to more accurately represent the product vision.

Google

Exchange Online helps protect your information with advanced capabilities. Anti-malware and anti-spam filtering protect mailboxes. Data loss prevention capabilities prevent users from mistakenly sending sensitive information to unauthorized people. Globally redundant servers, premier disaster recovery capabilities, and a team of security experts monitoring Exchange Online around the clock safeguard your data.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

There are over five million businesses that use Google Apps for Business worldwide. Some key customers include The Roche Group, National Geographic, American Red Cross, City of Los Angeles, Flight Centre, and Konica Minolta.

Bank Alfalah Ltd., Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport, Blue Star Infotech, Scitec Nutrition, Resolution Films, British Airways, Empire Cinemas, InnoGames

Buyer's Guide

Google Workspace vs. Microsoft Exchange Online

December 2025

Free Report: Google Workspace vs. Microsoft Exchange Online

Find out what your peers are saying about Google Workspace vs. Microsoft Exchange Online and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

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