One of the most frequent questions we are asked at MBS is Microsoft vs Google for churches? This question is often asked as ministries consider Microsoft or Google for services like email, SPAM filtering, productivity apps like word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations and communication services such as video calls, chat and messaging.
Both offer charity donations for free use of their services and significant discounts for paid licensing for non-profits.
Microsoft vs Google for Churches
So, what’s the difference? Is one better than the other? While this is a bit of a loaded question, here are 3 distinctions worth considering.
Licensing
While both Microsoft and Google provide free charity and non-profit licensing there is a clear difference. Remember, these free licenses are how Microsoft and Google choose which charities and non-profits they wish to donate to, much in the same way you choose which charities and non-profits to support financially with your money.
RELATED: Do You Have Tech Policies in Place?
To determine who they support, each has set rules establishing who they will give their free software to. If you are using the free version, these rules impact churches and ministries. If you are using the paid version, these rules do not apply.
God has allowed MBS to help ensure churches and ministries are able to use Microsoft 365 without any impact on their religious beliefs. Google has stipulated in their free licensing certain terms with which your church or ministry may not be comfortable. If so, use the paid version.
More information on these differences is available here.
From a paid perspective, both license per user and offer different levels of discounts for non-profits. The decision should not be made solely based on what’s cheapest as these suites are critical to ministry operations.
LICENSING: Microsoft vs Google for churches? In our opinion, Microsoft is the better choice when it comes to licensing.
Applications
Historically Microsoft was first with MS Word 1.0 in October 1983. Google Docs was officially released in 2006. Microsoft was driving Word, and eventually its Office suite of products for business productivity back in the early days of PC development.
Generally speaking, since Microsoft was first, their suite is considered more feature rich but also a bit bloated in terms of navigation and ease of use. Google’s suite, being newer, appears more modern and can appeal to younger users but in general, the feature sets are similar enough to not be a significant factor in deciding which one to use.
