Businesses are dropping Microsoft 365 in favor of Google, but if the ROI is
no different, why are people switching?

Date:
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Description:
Switching software vendors only makes sense in a few, very limited scenarios, and even then, things could all be about to change.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter M365 E5 plans tend to include more than their Google Workspace counterparts Google can sometimes work out cheaper for Mac and Chromebook users Software is undergoing an AI change, so is it best to just wait? New research from Senior Gartner principal analyst Domenico Scriva has deemed that switching from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace doesn't actually deliver any meaningful savings (via The Register
).

This is despite Google Workspace licenses generally coming in cheaper than their Microsoft 365 counterpart, M365 E5. Instead, Scriva claims that many companies are only switching to Google out of pure spite or dissatisfaction with M365, without assessing the ROI. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Why are businesses switching from M365 to Google Workspace?
Scriva argued that being unhappy with Microsoft isn't itself a business case for switching, while also noting that the E5 subscription adds additional things like telephony, security and even OS licences, which customers
wouldn't otherwise get with a Google Workspace subscription.

All of this considered, plus the fact that Gemini is included in Google plans while Copilot is a paid extra, still leaves Google coming out at $2 per month more expensive, the analyst revealed. You may like AI PCs might be the answer to spiralling costs, but that doesn't mean cloud computing is done Google Cloud VP explains why everyone from big businesses to start-ups can benefit from the AI age Tired of Google Workspace? Proton thinks it might have the answer

However, migrations could be spelling out much more than a preference of software, because Scriva admitted that Google Workspace plans can actually be most cost-effective for Macs, which tend to have longer service lives, and Chromebooks, which are usually cheaper to acquire in the first place.

With this in mind, it's possible that we're also seeing a shift in hardware tendencies, be it a reduction in refresh cycle frequency or a total migration to a new type of hardware. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features
and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Still, whether it's a software migration, a hardware switch, or both, Scriva warns that retraining costs can instantly wipe any ROI that a company could have otherwise achieved.

At the end of the day, Gartner warns that enterprises should consider
specific business outcomes rather than acting on instinct, and with AI likely to change software as a whole, many may be better off riding out their lesser-preferred software option to see where things are heading. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/businesses-are-dropping-microsoft-365-in-favor-o f-google-but-if-the-roi-is-no-different-why-are-people-switching


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)