If you are setting up a new business in Jersey, or thinking about switching email and productivity platforms, you have two main options: Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Both are capable platforms, but for most Jersey businesses, one is a significantly better fit than the other.
Here is an honest comparison based on what we see working (and not working) for Channel Islands businesses.
The Quick Summary
For most Jersey businesses, especially those in professional services, finance, and legal, Microsoft 365 is the stronger choice. It offers better desktop applications, more advanced security and compliance features, and integrates seamlessly with the Windows environment most businesses already use.
Google Workspace is a good option for very small teams, startups, or businesses that do everything in a web browser and do not need advanced desktop applications.
Email and Calendar
Both platforms provide professional business email with custom domains. Outlook (Microsoft 365) and Gmail (Google Workspace) are both excellent email clients.
Where Microsoft 365 pulls ahead is in shared mailboxes, distribution groups, and email compliance features. If your business needs shared departmental inboxes (info@, accounts@, support@), detailed email retention policies, or legal hold capabilities, Microsoft 365 handles these natively. Google Workspace can do some of this, but it is less intuitive.
Desktop Applications
This is where the gap is significant. Microsoft 365 includes full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. These are industry-standard applications that your team already knows how to use, and they work fully offline.
Google Workspace relies on Docs, Sheets, and Slides, which are browser-based. They are great for basic tasks and real-time collaboration, but they lack the advanced features of their Microsoft counterparts. If your team uses complex Excel spreadsheets, detailed Word formatting, or polished PowerPoint presentations, Google's web apps will feel limiting.
Collaboration and File Storage
Google Workspace has historically been stronger for real-time collaboration. Multiple people editing the same document simultaneously works beautifully in Google Docs.
But Microsoft has closed this gap significantly. SharePoint and OneDrive now offer excellent real-time co-authoring, and Teams provides a central hub for communication, file sharing, and meetings that is arguably more comprehensive than anything Google offers.
Security and Compliance
For Jersey businesses in regulated industries, this is often the deciding factor. Microsoft 365 offers:
- Advanced threat protection with Defender for Office 365
- Data loss prevention (DLP) policies
- Information barriers and sensitivity labels
- Comprehensive audit logging and eDiscovery
- Conditional access policies through Entra ID
- Intune for device management
Google Workspace has security features too, but the depth and granularity of Microsoft's security and compliance tools is significantly greater. For financial services and legal firms in Jersey, this matters enormously.
AI Features
Both platforms now offer AI assistants. Microsoft has Copilot; Google has Gemini. Both can draft emails, summarise documents, and answer questions about your data.
In our experience, Microsoft Copilot currently has the edge for business use because it is deeply integrated with the full Office suite, including desktop apps. But this space is evolving rapidly.
Cost Comparison
Pricing is roughly comparable for basic plans. Both start at around £5-6 per user per month for basic email and storage. However, to get the full feature set (desktop apps, advanced security, compliance tools), Microsoft 365 Business Premium costs more than Google Workspace Enterprise.
The price difference is usually justified for Jersey businesses that need advanced security, compliance, or desktop applications. For very small teams that just need email and basic document editing, Google Workspace can be the more economical choice.
Our Recommendation for Jersey Businesses
For the majority of Jersey businesses we work with, Microsoft 365 is the right choice. The combination of familiar desktop applications, enterprise-grade security, compliance tools, and AI capabilities makes it the more complete platform for professional businesses.
If you are currently on Google Workspace and considering a switch, or setting up a new business and need guidance, our Microsoft 365 team can help you make the right decision and handle the migration. Get in touch for a free consultation.
