“Should we use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?” is one of the first questions small businesses ask us. Both are good. The right answer depends less on features and more on how your team already works and what software you need to connect to.

Price in Canada (2026)

List prices are close. Per user, per month, in Canadian dollars with an annual commitment:

  • Google Workspace: Business Starter about $9.20, Business Standard about $18.40, Business Plus about $28.70
  • Microsoft 365: Business Basic about $9.50, Business Standard about $19.00, Business Premium about $29.80

Prices change, and monthly (flexible) billing costs more, so check the current price before you buy. For most small businesses, cost is not what decides it.

Choose Microsoft 365 if…

  • Your team lives in Word and Excel. Complex spreadsheets, macros, formatted proposals and templates work best in the desktop Office apps.
  • Your clients and suppliers use Microsoft. Engineering firms, accountants, government and larger companies usually do, and file sharing in Teams and SharePoint is smoother.
  • Your industry software integrates with Microsoft. Many accounting, CAD, ERP and line-of-business tools expect Outlook, Excel or Windows sign-in.
  • You want device management and advanced security in one licence. Business Premium includes Intune for managing laptops and phones, plus Conditional Access and Defender for Business.

Choose Google Workspace if…

  • Your team works mostly in the browser and collaborates on the same documents at the same time.
  • You use Chromebooks or a mix of personal devices, and don’t rely on desktop Office files.
  • You want the simplest possible admin and don’t need Windows device management.

The things people forget to consider

  • Security needs setting up either way. Neither platform is secure out of the box. Multi-factor authentication, admin accounts and email protection need to be configured.
  • Backups. Both platforms keep your data available, but neither is a full backup for accidental deletion or ransomware. Plan for it.
  • Switching later is a project. Moving email, calendars, shared drives and permissions between platforms takes planning. Pick the one that fits where your business is going, not only where it is today.

Our take

For most small businesses in Northern Ontario that deal with larger clients, suppliers or industry software, Microsoft 365 is usually the safer fit. Google Workspace is a strong choice for browser-first teams that collaborate heavily and don’t need desktop Office. If you are already on one and it works, switching is rarely worth it — improving how you use it usually is.

Meet Software Solutions supports both. If you are deciding, moving between them, or want your current setup cleaned up, book a free technology review or see our Microsoft 365 & Google Workspace services.

Prices: published Canadian list prices as reported in September 2026 (before tax). Always confirm current pricing with Microsoft or Google.