Best Alternatives To Google Workspace

It seems as though Google has an application for every conceivable need. Ranging from having the most used browser in the world to a suite including Google Docs, Drive, Meet, Sheets, and Chat, the list goes on. This plethora of offerings can significantly enhance productivity and streamline online experiences, wouldn’t it be even easier if they were all accessible from a single place?

Enter Google Workspace – a unified collection of Google’s applications, seamlessly integrated into one platform to facilitate greater productivity and collaboration. Unsurprisingly, Google Workspace has emerged as a highly favoured productivity solution. However, it’s not the only player in town

Today, there is an array of such tools. Curious to branch out? Let’s delve into some of the top Google alternatives available.

What Is Google Workspace? Is It The Best Option?

 
As touched upon, Google Workspace is a collection of Google apps in one convenient platform. This suite essentially encompasses a comprehensive collection of all the applications Google offers, which explains its widespread popularity as a working tool.

Available on several subscription models, the Business Starter package is the lowest tier, priced at £5 per user per month. Meanwhile, the Business Plus model, priced at £15 per user per month, remains relatively affordable. However, for businesses with numerous employees, this could quickly add up. Especially for businesses aiming to expand or small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that don’t possess a large budget, you may want to look elsewhere.

Or, perhaps you don’t like the Google Workspace interface, find the applications lacking, or are simply curious to look elsewhere. There are several compelling reasons to consider alternatives. So, let’s get into a curated list of some of the best alternatives around.

Top Google Workspace Alternatives

Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a well-known productivity suite, offering a rich assortment of tools designed to facilitate sharing and collaboration within a single platform. With applications such as Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and more, users can enjoy a comprehensive suite of productivity tools. Additionally, Microsoft 365 provides access to Windows 11 and incorporates robust Microsoft Security features, ensuring seamless integration across Windows and other Microsoft services.

Renowned for its value in file sharing and backed by excellent customer support, Microsoft 365 offers added convenience by providing a free web browser experience upon signing up with a Microsoft account. However, access to the full suite requires a subscription.

Unlike Google Workspace, which caters more towards business needs, Microsoft 365 can be tailored to this as well as for family or personal use. Subscription options include a Family plan priced at £79.99 per year for up to six individuals, a Personal plan at £59.99 annually, and Office Home & Student 2021 at £119.99 per year, all compatible with PC and Mac platforms.

Zoho Workplace

Zoho Workspace is another highly popular alternative to Google Workspace. Aimed at consolidating a team’s workspace into a single hub, the platform has a focus on unified file storage and communication, which closely mirrors the structure of Google Workspace. It offers a diverse array of applications, including Email, Chat, Spreadsheet, File Management, Presentation, Online Meeting, and more.

These applications allow teams to collaborate seamlessly, even when working remotely, allowing people to contribute and comment on documents simultaneously, analyse and visualise company data, and present all this seamlessly in presentation. Whether meeting colleagues or clients or engaging in casual chats via the chat function, Zoho Workspace provides a comprehensive platform for collaboration.

Offering both a free tier and subscription models, Zoho Workspace stands out as a more budget-friendly alternative compared to Google Workspace. Its Standard tier is priced at £2.40 per user per year, with the Professional version topping out at just £4.80 per user annually. This affordability makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a budget-friendly alternative.

ClickUp

ClickUp has quickly garnered attention for its project management and productivity platform. Its interface is specifically crafted for high customisability, enabling individuals to tailor it precisely to their needs and streamline their workflow effortlessly. Users can easily drag and drop desired features onto their interface, simplifying the visualisation of work or study spaces.

Distinguishing itself from Google Workspace, ClickUp offers robust features for visualising Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), enhancing project management and workflow visualisation. Other noteworthy features include complimentary training to aid users in mastering the platform and access to 24/7 customer support.

ClickUp also provides a free version for users to test the platform before committing to it. For small businesses seeking expanded capabilities, the unlimited version – featuring AI functionalities – can be unlocked for approximately £5-6 per user per month. Alternatively, mid-sized businesses can opt for a tier offering enhanced storage and advanced features at a price point of around £9-10 per user per month.

Trello

Trello is another excellent option, particularly for anyone looking for an interface which is easily customisable so they may enhance workflow visualisation. Upon registration, users are offered a choice of templates, enabling them to select the setup that best suits their workflow preferences.

Perhaps a simpler alternative when compared to Google Workspace, Trello is ideally suited for individual users and small to medium-sized businesses (SMEs). However, its relative simplicity may make it less suitable for larger enterprises seeking more advanced features and capabilities. Nonetheless, Trello compensates for this by seamlessly integrating with numerous other applications, potentially fulfilling all necessary requirements.

While testing if this is the case, users can explore the free version of the app. Alternatively, paid plans are available: the Standard plan is priced at £4 per user per month, the Premium plan at £8 per user per month, and the Enterprise plan at £15 per user per month. Each paid plan includes a 14-day trial period, allowing users to evaluate its suitability before making any financial commitment.

Dropbox Business

Dropbox Business is a professional version of the application that allows for seamless collaboration from any location. As its name suggests, Dropbox is specifically designed for storing information, enabling users to access, edit, and interact with company data from anywhere. With Dropbox Business, users can securely store content, edit PDFs, share videos, sign documents, and track file engagement, among other tasks.

These features are beneficial for both personal and business use alike, appealing to anyone seeking a robust file management system. Dropbox Business also accommodates the storage of larger files from various tools, such as Google Workspace or Microsoft Office, while seamlessly integrating with third-party applications like Slack and Zoom.

Priced at £24 per user per month for monthly billing or £230.40 per user annually, Dropbox Business is a slightly more expensive alternative. Nevertheless, its powerful file-sharing interface and comprehensive set of features make it a valuable collaboration tool, offering a handy alternative to Google Workspace.

Bitrix24

Bitrix24 may be a slightly less well-known tool, but overlooking it would be a mistake. One key reason is its availability as a free workspace option. While there’s also a flat-fee version, the free version provides a comprehensive set of features and can accommodate an unlimited number of users. With ample storage and access to most of its apps, upgrading to a paid tier may not be necessary for many users.

However, for those seeking to unlock advanced features, Bitrix24 takes a different approach compared to other platforms. It offers a flat fee based on the organisation’s size. For instance, the annual fee is £36 for up to 5 users, £74 for 50 users, £149 for 100 users, and £299 for 250 users. This scalability makes Bitrix24 an attractive option, capable of accommodating teams ranging from 5 to 250 employees at an affordable rate.

Regardless of the subscription tier, Bitrix24 provides a wealth of useful features. It seamlessly integrates with Google Docs and Microsoft 365 and offers a comprehensive suite of tools not found in Google Workspace, including CRM systems, project management tools, HR solutions, SaaS offerings, e-commerce capabilities, and more. This diverse feature set makes Bitrix24 a unique and worthwhile alternative to Google Workspace worth exploring.

Asana

Asana emerges as a standout tool for enhanced organisation and project management, tailored to help teams coordinate and organise tasks while effectively tracking project progress to ensure company-wide alignment.

Central to Asana’s approach is its interface, designed to be like a calendar to help users visualise workflow. While it lacks tools similar to Google Docs or Spreadsheets for task completion, Asana excels in facilitating task management by allowing users to mark tasks as completed, notify team members of progress, and set individual and team goals. As such, it caters more to individuals and teams seeking a platform to track company workflow rather than serving as an all-in-one solution for task completion. Nonetheless, its integration capabilities with third-party apps like Dropbox and Google Drive enhance its versatility in this regard.

Asana offers a range of pricing, with a free version available for personal use, ideal for anyone simply looking to enhance day-to-day productivity. Additionally, there’s a £9.49 per user per month Starter pack, a £20.99 per user per month Advanced pack, and an Enterprise version requiring direct contact for details, ensuring flexibility for users at different organisational levels.