SideXSide: Google Business Apps or Microsoft Office Web Apps

Don Reisinger Avatar

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For many companies, trying to choose an online productivity service from either Google or Microsoft can be a challenge. After all, Google Business Apps provides several products to get your employees working over the Web. But Microsoft’s Office Web Apps, while in its infancy, makes for a simple solution to quickly produce Office documents, spreadsheets, or PowerPoint presentations.

Although there are several features that are similar between Google Business Apps and Office Web Apps, the solutions also have many differences. And determining your company’s needs, and how they’ll be met by one service or another, is paramount to making a strong decision on which product to go with. Realizing that, we’ve decided to break down the essential features that you’ll want to consider in choosing either Google Business Apps or Microsoft’s Office Web Apps for your enterprise. This side-by-side comparison gives you a one-stop overview of functionalities and is not meant as a critical review or endorsement of any company’s products or services.

SideXSide: Google Business Apps or Microsoft Office Web Apps

Features

Google Business Apps

Office Web Apps

Price

$50 per user per year

Free

Word, Excel, Powerpoint support?

Yes

Yes

E-mail support?

Yes

No

Online storage support?

Yes

Yes

Document Style handling

Limited

Fully Functional

Same functionality as local option?

Does not match Office local power

Does not match Office local power

Calendaring?

Yes

No

Mobile editing?

Yes, through Google App

Yes, through several apps

IT management functionality Control user access, turn services off, and more included with basic package. Available for volume license holders with SharePoint Server/Foundation.

Source: CIO Insight, November 2010