Quick answer
- Pick Microsoft 365 if your team uses desktop Word and Excel, receives a lot of Office files from clients, uses Outlook, or you want device management and endpoint protection bundled (Business Premium).
- Pick Google Workspace if your team is comfortable in Gmail and Google Docs, collaborates live on documents, works on Chromebooks or mixed devices, and wants the simplest admin console.
- For email alone, both are reliable. The differences are in the apps, storage and security add-ons.
- Price-wise, the entry plans are close. Microsoft bills Singapore customers in US dollars, while Google shows Singapore dollars.
You don't have to get this decision perfect. Switching later is possible, though it takes planning (see the section on switching below).
Price per user in Singapore (October 2026)
These are the list prices shown on each provider's Singapore page in October 2026. Prices exclude GST, are per user per month, and can change at any time, so check the official pages before you buy. Both providers also run introductory discounts for new customers from time to time. Those discounts are not shown here.
| Plan | Price per user / month | Billing basis |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Basic | US$7.00 (or US$8.40 monthly) | Annual subscription paid yearly; higher price for a monthly subscription |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard | US$14.00 (or US$16.80 monthly) | Same as above |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | US$22.00 (or US$26.40 monthly) | Same as above |
| Google Workspace Business Starter | S$9.40 | Flexible monthly plan; Google says a one-year commitment saves up to 16% |
| Google Workspace Business Standard | S$18.80 | Same as above |
| Google Workspace Business Plus | S$29.40 | Same as above |
Sources: Microsoft 365 business plans for Singapore and Google Workspace pricing for Singapore. Microsoft also sells cheaper "no Teams" versions (for example Business Basic without Teams at US$5.40 on an annual plan) and "with Copilot" bundles at higher prices.
Because Microsoft charges in US dollars, what you actually pay in SGD depends on the exchange rate and your card's foreign-currency fees. Google Workspace's Starter plan is limited to 300 users, which won't affect most small teams.
You pay Microsoft or Google directly, by card, in your company's name. Be wary of anyone who wants to resell you licences on their own account, because leaving them later can be painful.
Email, storage and apps compared
| Microsoft 365 (Business Basic / Standard / Premium) | Google Workspace (Starter / Standard / Plus) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mailbox size | 100 GB per user mailbox on all three plans | Shares the pooled storage below |
| Email archive | 50 GB on Basic and Standard; up to 1.5 TB auto-expanding on Premium | Vault retention and eDiscovery on Business Plus |
| File storage | 1 TB OneDrive per user | 30 GB pooled per person (Starter), 2 TB (Standard), 5 TB (Plus) |
| Office apps | Basic: web and mobile only. Standard and Premium: desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook | Docs, Sheets, Slides in the browser and mobile apps; opens and edits Office files |
| Meetings and chat | Teams (unless you choose a no-Teams plan) | Google Meet and Chat |
| Shared inbox (info@) | Shared mailboxes need no extra licence (up to 50 GB) | Google Groups collaborative inbox, or aliases |
| Aliases | Supported on each mailbox | Up to 30 per user at no extra cost |
Sources: Microsoft's Exchange Online limits, the Microsoft plan pages linked above, Google's pricing page and Google's help article on email aliases.
One practical point: Google's storage is pooled. On Business Starter, a 30 GB allowance has to cover Gmail, Drive and Photos together. A team that keeps years of attachments can outgrow it faster than they expect. Microsoft keeps the mailbox and OneDrive allowances separate.
Security features by plan
For most small businesses, the biggest security win is turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA) for everyone. Both providers let you do that on every plan.
Microsoft 365
- All plans: Microsoft's free security defaults require every user to register for MFA and block legacy sign-in protocols. Microsoft says security defaults are switched on for new tenants by default.
- Business Premium adds Microsoft Defender for Business (device protection), Defender for Office 365 (safe links and attachments), Intune Plan 1 (device management, remote wipe) and Entra ID capabilities such as Conditional Access.
- Defender for Business can also be bought as an add-on to other plans, listed at US$3.00 per user per month on an annual plan (excl. GST) on the Microsoft plans page.
Google Workspace
- All plans: 2-Step Verification, spam and phishing protection, and admin policy controls.
- Business Plus adds Google Vault (retention and eDiscovery), Secure LDAP and advanced endpoint management.
- Enterprise plans (quote only) add data loss prevention and context-aware access.
If you handle sensitive client data, for example in a clinic, a law firm or an accounting practice, or you are preparing for CSA's Cyber Essentials mark, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is often the simplest single plan, because device management and endpoint protection come in the box. On Google Workspace you would usually add a separate endpoint protection product.
Which suits which kind of team
| Your situation | Usually the better fit |
|---|---|
| Accountants, lawyers, engineers swapping Word and Excel files with clients | Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Premium |
| Clinics or firms with client data and company laptops to secure | Microsoft 365 Business Premium |
| Creative, marketing or start-up teams working live in shared docs | Google Workspace Business Standard |
| One or two people who mainly need email and a calendar | Either entry plan: Microsoft 365 Business Basic or Google Workspace Business Starter |
| Team already using personal Gmail and comfortable with it | Google Workspace |
| Team using Outlook with old hosting email (POP/IMAP) | Microsoft 365 |
You can also mix plans within the same provider. For example, Business Premium for the directors and finance staff who are most likely to be targeted, and Business Basic for staff who only need email.
Switching later: how hard is it?
Moving between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace is common and well supported, but it's a project, not a button. What moves easily and what doesn't:
- Email, contacts and calendars can be migrated with each provider's migration tools or a third-party tool. Large mailboxes take time.
- Files move from OneDrive/SharePoint to Google Drive, or the other way, but sharing permissions and links usually need re-checking.
- DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC) have to be changed at the cut-over. Get this wrong and email goes missing or lands in spam. Our email setup guide explains each record.
- Habits take the longest. Budget time for people to learn the new apps.
The way to keep switching easy later is to own your own domain and admin accounts from day one, rather than leaving them with a reseller or a former IT person.
Do it yourself or get help?
DIY is very doable for one to five people. Both providers have guided sign-up wizards. Sign up with the domain you own, add your users, then follow the wizard to add the DNS records at your domain registrar. After that, set up DKIM and DMARC, which the wizard may not finish for you. Turn on MFA for every user before you hand out passwords.
Get help if you're moving years of old email, you're not comfortable editing DNS records, or you want the security settings done properly from the start. Our Business Email Setup (S$249 for up to 5 mailboxes) sets up either provider on an account in your name, including MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC. You pay Microsoft or Google directly. If you are moving from old hosting email or Gmail, Email Migration (S$390 for up to 5 mailboxes) moves your existing mail, folders, contacts and calendars.
Frequently asked questions
Neither is better for everyone. Microsoft 365 suits teams that rely on desktop Word, Excel and Outlook, or want device security bundled in Business Premium. Google Workspace suits teams that work in the browser and collaborate live in Google Docs. Both provide reliable business email on your own domain.
As of October 2026, Microsoft's Singapore site lists Business Basic at US$7.00, Business Standard at US$14.00 and Business Premium at US$22.00 per user per month on an annual subscription, excluding GST. A monthly subscription costs more. Check Microsoft's page for current prices.
As of October 2026, Google's Singapore pricing page lists Business Starter at S$9.40, Business Standard at S$18.80 and Business Plus at S$29.40 per user per month on the flexible plan, excluding tax. Google says a one-year commitment saves up to 16%.
Yes. Google Docs, Sheets and Slides can open and edit Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, and you can keep using desktop Office if you have a separate licence. Complex Excel files with macros generally work best in Excel itself.
Usually not. In Microsoft 365 a shared mailbox doesn't need its own licence up to 50 GB. In Google Workspace you can use an alias or a Google Group as a collaborative inbox. You only need a paid licence for a person who signs in.