Keeping up with ever-changing technological trends is hard, but choosing which bandwagon to hop on to is even more complicated. Most of us face a similar dilemma when choosing word-processing programs. Google Docs or Microsoft Word, which is the better one?
Table Of Contents
Google Docs vs Microsoft Word
In this blog, we aim to provide a detailed comparison, including the merits and demerits of Google Docs and Microsoft Word, to help you make an informed choice.
Cost Effectiveness
Google Docs come free with your Google account. This means that if you want to use Google Docs, all you need to do is set up a Google account and start using Google Docs.
To learn how to set it up, check out a tutorial on Google Docs.
Microsoft Word, on the other hand, is not free software. It is part of a package with other software such as Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.
Once the Microsoft Office Package is purchased, it can be used only on a fixed number of devices, depending on your chosen plan. You need to purchase another plan for other devices. A detailed list of the prices can be found here.
Multiple plans are available for home and business use. However, these plans are expensive compared to Google Docs’ free services, which can be used on multiple devices.
So, regarding cost-effectiveness, we see that Google Docs is one up over Microsoft Word.
Compatibility
Microsoft Word can be installed on Windows and Mac OS X computers. On the other hand, Google Docs can be accessed from any browser on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, or Chrome OS computers.
If only computer or laptop compatibility is considered, Google Docs is more convenient as it can be used without worrying about the operating system of devices.
These days, we use our phones more than our computers, so it is important that our documents are available and editable on our phones as well. Google Docs is available for iOS and Android devices but not on Windows-based phones.
On the other hand, Microsoft Word comes preinstalled on Windows devices and is available as a free app for Android and iOS phones. This app might not have all the features, as it consists of the bare minimum. To avail of all the benefits and features, you must buy the Microsoft Office pack.
Sophistication
Microsoft has been in the market for a long time, way before Google Docs. Hence, it is expected that Word is superior to Google Docs in terms of editing options and other functionality.
Judging by the features alone, Microsoft Word is superior to Google Docs. However, this depends mainly on the user and his/ her usage.
According to a survey, about 80-90% of users find that Google Docs’s word processing capacity is sufficient to ‘get their job done’. For some, the advanced features offered by Microsoft Word are significant.
Editing and Formatting options
The formatting options in Microsoft Word are far superior to those in Google Docs.
In Google Docs, you do not have many options for the font of the text you type. The drop-down menu provides only a limited number of options regarding the overall height and weight of the text. A few fonts are also available. However, the options are limited compared to those available with Microsoft Word.
In Word, on the other hand, you have more editing and formatting options regarding the font style, its style, and the overall look and feel of the text.
Both Google Docs and Microsoft Word have options for Bold underlining and Italics. The text color can be changed in both programs, but Microsoft Word has more options than Google Docs, which has limited options.
Page numbering and organization are also more accessible in Microsoft Word, which has more templates than Google Docs.
A document’s overall look and feel using Word are far more advanced in adding borders or other images. But again, it depends on what you use the word processor for.
If it’s for a formal project or assignment that requires a lot of formatting, Microsoft Word is the software to work on. If it’s plain text with minimal formatting that needs to be shared and edited faster, you can choose Google Docs.
Utility
This section reviews the availability of documents in Google Docs vs. Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word saves documents on the computer, making them available whenever required. You could carry them around on a pen drive or other portable storage device, which works fine.
The document is available here, but it may be difficult to co-author or edit it on the go unless you have the Microsoft Office pack or you are carrying a laptop.
Google documents, on the other hand, require an internet connection. You can edit and view documents, but the edits will only be visible to your collaborators once you have an internet connection. To access offline accessibility for Google Docs, go to file > Make it available offline.
Sharing
Sharing files on Docs is very convenient. To do so, click File > Share, which is a shortcut next to your profile picture.
Once you click on Share, you’ll see a drop-down menu with how you want people to collaborate. From there, you can edit who can edit the document, who can view it, and who can comment on it.
You can share Google Docs by either sending a link or personal emails.
Click the Share button for collaborations in Microsoft Word. The only catch is that you must upload the document to an online platform called OneDrive, an online cloud storage system like Google Drive. After uploading the file, you can add the names of the people you want to share it with.
Unlike Google Docs, where you can give file access to a large number of people, Microsoft Word is a bit restrictive about file access. Here, you can collaborate only with specific people, making it difficult to work with a lot of people at once.
Google Docs vs Word Online
Google Docs and Word Online are both browser-based word-processing applications. They have many similarities, but there are also many differences. Let’s discuss a few key differences between Google Docs and Word Online.
| Google Docs | Word Online |
| Google Docs is a part of Google’s Office application or a Google G Suite app. | Word Online is a part of the Microsoft Office 365 module. |
| In terms of Collaboration or comments, Google docs use “suggestions” or allows the users to Edit. | Word Online uses the “Track Changes” feature in terms of collaboration or comments. |
| You can insert images from Google Photos, searching online, via image URL, and most importantly from Google Drive. | You can able to insert images by searching online, via some devices. But it’s not possible to upload images from OneDrive. |
| In terms of Linking, Google Docs provides you more options like linking to other documents in Google drive, provides search functionality that helps you to link different images from the internet, etc. | Here, in terms of linking, you can use a standard hyperlink or URL to link a text. |
| In terms of colors, you can customize the different colors option for coloring your text by using the hexadecimal color code or color mixer. It provides excellent color selection options as compared to word online. | A few color selection options available compared to Google Docs. You can use the default color palette to color your text. |
| There is no provision to use the quick edit toolbar in Google Docs. Instead, you can use a few keyboard shortcuts. | You can use the quick edit toolbar to do some quick changes. |
| Google Docs Provides the version history of each document where you can able to see the changes made by whom with the time stamp. | Word online doesn’t provide a version history capability. |
FAQs
Is Google Docs as good as Microsoft Word?
As of now, Microsoft Word provides more features than Google Docs. However, you have to pay for licensing. However, if you want to work with some manageable features, Google Docs is free of cost. Now, the choice is yours.
What is the Microsoft equivalent of Google Docs?
Google provides you with Google Docs, an online word processor. Similarly, Microsoft provides you with Word Online, an online word processor.
Is Google Docs compatible with Office?
Yes. Google Docs is compatible with Office.
Is Google Docs secure?
Yes, your data or content is absolutely secure with Google.
Is Google Docs Free
Yes, Google Docs is free to use.
Is Google Docs Free For Business Use
Yes, Google Docs is free for a small business. If you need additional features, you need to pay $6 /month/user. In the case of Business Starter, For Business Standard, you need to pay $12/user/month, and for Business Plus, you need to pay $18/user/month.
Our Verdict on Google docs vs Microsoft word
According to us, both word processing programs are good in their own way. The users’ needs determine their utility.
Microsoft Word is the best option for formatting and editing, as more options are available. But if you want to collaborate without being particular about formatting, Google Docs is a good option.
I am Rajkishore, and I have over 14 years of experience in the Software Industry. For a long time, I have been using Google Docs, Google Drive, and Google Sheets for my document usage, and I am sharing all the tips and tricks, the challenges I have come across, and their solutions to use Google Docs for your day-to-day use. I hope you will learn from these practical Google Docs tutorials. Read more.