Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites: Which is Better for Your Business?
Both SharePoint and Google Sites are collaboration platforms and are mainly used by businesses of all sizes, from small to enterprise-level organizations. When it comes to opting for any of them, it becomes challenging, if we don’t have a clear understanding of their features, pricing, and other important factors. Today, through this guide, we will educate our users about Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites and which service best suits their business’s collaboration and security needs. Let’s get started with a quick overview of the topic.
Google Sites vs SharePoint: Overview and Key Features!
Microsoft SharePoint is the most preferred platform for sending or receiving data across organizations. With this one has the advantage of various SharePoint site types, choosing the one that best fits their needs and budget. Additionally, it provides enough storage to save and manage large documents effectively. If you are wondering about a service that offers real-time collaboration experience then, this can be your go-to solution.
It stores users’ data in the document library, lists, and in the backend i.e. OneDrive. Moreover, one can easily integrate this service with other Microsoft services such as Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and others according to your subscription plan. It comes in both on-premise and cloud-based.
Despite that, managing multiple sites can be a hassle, so it is suggested to opt for SharePoint Online Migrator to migrate SharePoint site to another site for managing the large data effectively and quickly.
What are the Key Features of Microsoft SharePoint?
In the comparison of Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites, it mainly wins because of the following exceptional features:
- Multiple users can work on the same document or project through it, which helps in effective collaboration, and saves more time.
- One can customize the entire SharePoint site including document libraries, lists, and workflow depending on your business requirements.
- It offers robust security measures, to safeguard crucial data from cyberattacks, malware attacks, and accidental data loss.
- It is a robust content management system, in which users can store and manage any type of data including videos, images, documents, and other resources.
On the other hand, Google Sites is a simple and quick platform for collaboration because of its user-friendly structure. One can create, and manage any type of data through this effortlessly, without needing technical knowledge. As it was developed by Google Workspace in 2008, users can integrate this with other platforms such as Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and others. However, in the Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites comparison, it’s clear that Google Sites lacks the customization and advanced features that SharePoint offers.
What are the Key Features of Google Sites?
- It offers a self-explanatory interface that helps users to manage and store data effectively.
- A real-time collaboration feature is also available in this service, through which an entire team can work on the same content.
- In this application, users have the advantage of pre-built templates for a new website creation.
- Provides effective security to safeguard user’s cloud data. However, sharing and permission options given by this service are basic, as compared to SharePoint.
Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites – Detailed Comparison!
Here is the comprehensive comparison between Google Sites and Microsoft SharePoint, just go through this table, and gain clear insights into them. This makes you understand which platform is better for you:
| # | Feature | Microsoft SharePoint | Google Sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collaboration & Integration | It offers advanced features like custom workflows and detailed collaboration. Additionally, simultaneous editing of documents is also supported by this. If you integrate it with MS Teams, then you can gain the benefit of team collaboration. Despite that, in SharePoint, a document library is available that stores version history. | This is suited by small-scale organizations and can be used even by naive users. It comes with various basic features, but not advanced ones like custom workflow and collaboration features. Users can integrate this with Google Drive for real-time collaboration on documents. With this, one can make, manage, and share basic websites. This means it won’t help in making a professional or highly customized website, as there are some options to do so. |
| 2 | Security & Permissions | Customizable permission settings type of security measure offered by SharePoint. Additionally, encryption and Multi-Factor Authentication securities are also available if configured with Active Directory. | It provides a feature to make the created site public or visible to limited users. That’s all, Google Sites does not offer customized permission options, or any other robust security to protect critical content, which makes it a less secure platform. |
| 3 | Cost & Licensing | SharePoint pricing is based on the Microsoft subscription that you are using. For multiple users, this can be expensive for organizations. So, it is better to merge SharePoint Sites for better management and minimize the cost. | It is a free service that comes with a Google Workspace account, and one can access this via a Google account. This is the best option for those looking for an affordable with basic features service. In the comparison of Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites, Google Sites won. |
| 4 | Design & Customization | It comes with an attractive layout and is customizable.SharePoint allows to creation of intranet portals, and personalized dashboards, as per the company’s needs. | It allows limited customization to change the layout of the site, text, and font style. However, it comes with a simple and user-friendly interface, so it is quite easy to use. |
| 5 | Technicalities Expertise | SharePoint doesn’t require any technical expertise to run. | Google Sites is one of the most effective platforms that comes with a simple user interface, which doesn’t need any coding or technicalities to work. |
| 6 | Features & Functionality | It offers various features including document management, versioning, advanced search, workflow automation, and many more. It is best suited for enterprises or large-scale businesses, that need a robust, and effective service for document and other resource creation. | Google Sites allows users to customize websites on a basic level, with fewer customize options. However, it doesn’t have advanced options to manage or customize content. But you won’t require technical or coding skills with this, thanks to its drag-and-drop interface. |
How to Choose the Right Platform: Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites?
Consider Microsoft SharePoint or Google Sites depending on several factors which are:
- If require advanced document management, and robust security features, SharePoint is the clear choice. It can make many tasks automatic. If you copy document library to another SharePoint Site, then it will act as a backup and make large data management tasks easier.
- Both platforms offer several collaboration features, still, SharePoint provides better features like document versioning.
- If needing a simple and quick solution, then opt for Google Sites. It supports fewer customization options and a simple UI which makes it easy for novice users to use it.
- For small businesses or startups who looking to make a website for free, then Google Sites will help to do so effectively.
Bring it All Together!
With the help of the above discussion, now you have a clear understanding of both the platforms i.e. SharePoint and Google Sites. Both are reliable and go-to solutions, depending on various factors and business needs. When considering Microsoft SharePoint vs Google Sites, it’s mandatory to first check your business requirements, like collaboration, customization, security, and others.
If found you need advanced options for customization or robust security measures then opt for MS SharePoint. But, if you need a budget-friendly solution with fewer features, then Google Sites could be the best option.
