Google Workspace offers a convenient cloud-first productivity suite, but many business users are discovering alternatives that offer superior privacy, richer desktop apps and more affordable scaling. In this guide, I will break down the best Google Workspace alternatives, comparing pricing, features, security, performance and collaboration.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Proton
Cloudwards’ Choice: Proton
Proton is the ultimate Google Workspace alternative, as it combines secure email, cloud storage, calendars and editing in one unified platform. It also improves upon Google’s privacy weaknesses, offering zero-knowledge encryption and transparent privacy policies. Get started today with the Proton Unlimited Plan for $9.99 per month billed annually.
Why You Might Want an Alternative to Google Workspace
Google Workspace stands out for smooth collaboration and ease of use. Tools such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Calendar are tightly integrated. This provides a user-friendly interface that helps teams collaborate in real time with minimal setup. Learn more from our Google Workspace Review.
However, privacy is a major concern. Google manages encryption keys on its servers, meaning that data is not protected by true client-side or zero-knowledge encryption. Businesses that want stricter data control and stronger privacy boundaries may consider alternatives.
The Best Google Workspace Alternatives: Quick Comparison
Choosing the right Google Workspace alternative for your business can feel overwhelming. The table below breaks down the essentials to help you quickly compare what each service offers and who it is designed for.
Lab Data & Hands-On Testing
Our team tested storage speed performance using a consistent 5GB dataset with a variety of file types and a 100 Mbps connection in a dedicated test environment. The hardware consisted of a Windows 365 virtual machine running on a dual-core CPU, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Security & Privacy Analysis
All of these alternatives offer strong measures to protect customer data, with AES-256 being the baseline. The main differentiator is key ownership. Providers like Proton and OnlyOffice offer superior privacy through zero-knowledge encryption, ensuring that not even the service provider can access your files or customer data.
| Provider: | Encryption Type | Client-Side Encryption | 2FA Options | Server Locations | Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
End-to-end encryption (OPENPGP) | Yes, zero-access architecture | 2FA supported | Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands | ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA |
 |
AES-256 at rest, TLS/SSL in transit | No, keys managed by Microsoft | 2FA supported | Global Microsoft infrastructure | ISO 27001, SOC, HIPAA, GDPR |
 |
AES-256 | No | 2FA supported | U.S., Europe, India, Australia, Japan, Canada, Saudi Arabia | ISO 27001, SOC, HIPAA, GDPR |
 |
AES-256 at rest, TLS/SSL in transit | Advanced plan only | 2FA supported | U.S., U.K., EU, Australia, Japan | SOC 1/2/3, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR |
| OnlyOffice | AES-256 (at rest and in transit) | Yes, via “private rooms” feature | 2FA supported | EU/U.S. (cloud) or self-hosted | GDPR, HIPAA, ISO 27001 |
Collaboration & Features Overview
Zoho and Microsoft 365 excel in team collaboration, with real-time editing and integrated video calls for extensive workflows. Privacy-focused alternatives such as Proton lack robust communication tools and support fewer document types.
| Provider: | Real-Time Editing | Document Types | Communication | Version History | Sharing Controls | Desktop/Mobile Apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Docs (text editor), Sheets | Calendar, encrypted email, video meetings (beta) | Up to 10 years, depending on the plan | Password-protected links, temporary links | Web App |
|
|
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote | Teams, Outlook, SharePoint | More than 500 versions | Advanced permissions, link expiration dates, block downloads | |
|
 |
Writer (Docs), Sheet, Show (Slides) | Email, meeting, chat (Cliq) | Unlimited versions on paid plans | Passwords, download limits | |
|
|
Dropbox Paper, Google/Microsoft files | Comments, Slack, Zoom integration | 180 days for business plans | View-only mode | |
|
| OnlyOffice | Forms, Slides, Text, Sheets | Chat, mail, comments | Unlimited versions | Suggested edits mode, personal views | |
The Best Alternatives to Google Workspace
While Google Workspace covers the basics for many teams, it is not the only productivity suite worth considering. Depending on your priorities, several alternatives offer compelling advantages. Below, I break down the best Google Workspace alternatives, highlighting where each one excels and who it is best suited for.
1. Proton — Best for Privacy and Advanced Security
Proton provides privacy-first email, encrypted storage and secure
collaboration for sensitive business data.
- Suite apps: Proton Mail, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, Proton Docs, Proton Sheets, Proton Pass, Proton VPN, Proton Meet, Proton Authenticator
Proton uses a privacy-by-design approach with end-to-end encryption by default. Files are encrypted at the source and stored according to Swiss privacy law, meaning Proton cannot scan or access your information even for operational purposes.
What Makes Proton Business Special
Proton Business goes beyond email and cloud storage by offering a full privacy-focused ecosystem. It includes additional products such as Proton VPN for secure browsing, Proton Pass for password management and Lumo AI, a privacy-first AI assistant that does not train on user data. Read our Proton Drive review to learn more.
When to Choose Proton Business
Choose Proton Business if your top priorities are data privacy, industry-grade security and compliance. This is most important for organizations that handle sensitive information, such as those in healthcare, legal services and finance. Sign up for the Proton Unlimited Plan today for $9.99 per user to secure your business with an all-in-one productivity suite for privacy.
More plans
Drive Professional (for teams)
- per user, minimum of 2 users
- 1TB
2. Microsoft 365 — Best for Comprehensive Productivity
Microsoft 365 offers a centralized hub for all of its apps and tools for everyday business productivity.
- Suite apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint
Microsoft 365 stands out as a Google Workspace alternative by offering reliable cloud storage, professional email and core collaboration tools at a low monthly cost.
What Makes Microsoft 365 Special
Microsoft 365 delivers a familiar and reliable productivity experience where users benefit from integration across Office apps. Its compatibility with Microsoft Office files reduces friction especially for teams transitioning from traditional desktop software. Please read our detailed Microsoft 365 review to learn more.
When to Choose Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is a good option if you need reliable offline functionality and custom domain emails. Although it costs slightly more than other options, it offers great value for the price, with advanced security and document-handling features. Get started on the Microsoft 365 free trial today to see if it fits your workflow.
Microsoft 365 Basic (100GB)
Microsoft 365 Personal (1TB)
- Comes with Office 365 Personal
- 1TB
More plans
Microsoft 365 Family (6TB)
- Comes with Office 365 Home
- 6TB
OneDrive for Business (Plan 1)
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
3. Zoho Workplace — Best for Businesses on a Budget
Zoho WorkDrive provides cloud storage and document-sharing
capabilities within the Zoho Workplace ecosystem.
- Suite apps: Mail, WorkDrive, Writer (documents), Sheet (spreadsheets), Show (presentations), Cliq (team chat), Meeting (video calls), Calendar
Zoho Workplace is the best-value option for small businesses. It has a user-friendly interface and provides essential productivity tools such as Writer and Sheet at a fraction of the cost of competitors.
What Makes Zoho Workplace Special
Zoho is notable for its affordable pricing and tightly integrated ecosystem. It integrates with project management and CRM tools to help manage tasks, projects and customer relationships to enhance productivity within an organization. For a deeper look at its features and value, see our Zoho Workplace review.
When to Choose Zoho Workplace
Zoho Workplace is the best option if you are running a small agency or startup and need an affordable, well-rounded alternative to Google Workspace that balances cost, usability and functionality. It is an excellent fit for business users who need file sharing, document editing and seamless collaboration. Sign up today for the Zoho Workplace Free Plan to try it out yourself.
Standard
- Price per user. 30GB mail storage per user, 100GB file storage per team. Includes Mail, Calendar, WorkDrive, ToDo, Writer, Sheet, Show, Cliq, Meeting, Vault, Directory
Professional
- Price per user. 100GB mail storage per user, 1TB file storage per team. Includes Mail, Calendar, ToDo, eProtect, WorkDrive, Writer, Sheet, Show, Cliq, Meeting, Vault, Directory, Connect
Mail Lite
- Price per user. No monthly plan. 5GB mail storage per user, no file storage. Includes Mail, Calendar, ToDo, Directory, Cliq (Free)
More plans
Mail Premium
- Price per user. No monthly plan. 50GB mail storage per user, no file storage. Incudes Mail, Calendar, ToDo, eProtect, Directory, Cliq (free)
4. Dropbox Business — Best for File Sharing and Sync
- Suite apps: Dropbox Storage, Dropbox Paper, Dropbox Transfer, Dropbox Capture, Dropbox Replay
Dropbox Business has built its reputation on superior file sharing, secure cloud storage and fast sync performance. It includes powerful tools such as Dropbox Sign for eSignatures, DocSend for secure document tracking and Dropbox Replay for video approvals. Dropbox works well with tools such as Slack and Zoom for communication and file sharing.
What Makes Dropbox Business Special
Dropbox Business stands out for reliable, high-performance cloud storage and file sharing that works smoothly across devices and operating systems. Its block-level sync updates only the changed file blocks, speeding up uploads and downloads. To learn more about Dropbox Business and its offering, please see our full Dropbox Business review.
When to Choose Dropbox Business
Choose Dropbox Business if your priority is cloud storage and file sharing. It is ideal for teams that collaborate heavily on large files (such as videos and design assets). Its fast sync offers unbeatable value especially for creative professionals. Start your 30-day free trial today to streamline your creative workflow.
More plans
Business
- Price per user, 30-day free trial
(minimum 3 users) - 9TB
Business Plus
- Price & storage per user, 30-day free trial.
(minimum 3 users) - 15TB
Professional (for professionals)
5. OnlyOffice — Best for Document Fidelity
OnlyOffice supports document editing with native Microsoft Office file compatibility
and flexible cloud or self-hosted deployment.
- Suite apps: Document Editor, Spreadsheet Editor, Presentation Editor, PDF Editor, Form Creator, OnlyOffice Mail, OnlyOffice Projects
OnlyOffice combines secure cloud storage, document editing and team collaboration in a single package. It gives organizations control over their data and offers the best fidelity with traditional Microsoft Office files.
What Makes OnlyOffice Special
OnlyOffice offers native compatibility with Microsoft Office file formats and a flexible workspace that supports self-hosting for full control over your data. Learn more about OnlyOffice from our list of the 10 Best Document Management Software.
When to Choose OnlyOffice
Choose OnlyOffice if you work in a mixed environment where some people use Linux and others use Microsoft. OnlyOffice provides excellent cross-platform compatibility and advanced security through self-hosting. You can sign up for the 30-day free trial of OnlyOffice Workspace Enterprise.
| Startup | Business | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $20 per admin per month, free users and guests | Custom quote |
Google Workspace Competitors: 3 App-Specific Honorable Mentions
Although the alternatives mentioned above replace a lot of what Google Workspace offers, these honorable mentions serve as powerful partial replacements.
- ClickUp: This project management platform is a stronger replacement for Google Tasks. It offers time-tracking, task management and document collaboration tools all in one place. Sign up for a ClickUp Unlimited plan for $7 per user per month, billed annually. Learn more about ClickUp from our ClickUp review.
- Slack: An industry leader in team communication offering a more robust interface than Google Chat. It integrates with third-party apps and provides video-conferencing and screen-sharing capabilities to match Google Meet. Test Slack risk-free with the Free Plan. See our Slack review for more information.
- LibreOffice: An open-source solution offering basic tools for creating documents without a subscription and editing them without an internet connection. Download LibreOffice today to get a private and free office suite.
Methodology: Testing Framework & How You Choose
To ensure a fair and practical comparison, I evaluated each Google Workspace alternative through my own hands-on, real-world testing. The goal was to evaluate the services based on how business users actually work, balancing cost, performance, security features and everyday usability.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right alternative to Google Workspace comes down to understanding your priorities. Proton stands out as the best Google Workspace alternative on the market due to its strong security features such as end-to-end encryption and zero-knowledge architecture. Get started with the Proton Unlimited plan for only $9.99 per month, annually.
Other platforms, such as Microsoft 365, Zoho Workplace, Dropbox Business and OnlyOffice, offer great value in specific areas, making them solid alternatives depending on your business size, budget, needed key features and privacy requirements.
Which Google Workspace alternative are you considering? Have you tried any of the options on this list? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and thank you for reading.
FAQ: Alternatives to Google Workspace
-
Proton is the best privacy-focused alternative to Google Workspace, offering a complete suite of email, cloud storage, calendar and document tools along with a simple interface and strong built-in security.
-
Although G Suite is technically discontinued, Google offersthe free Google Workspace Essentials Starter plan for teams to access key collaboration tools such as Drive, Docs and Meet by signing up with their existing email addresses.
-
The main disadvantage of Google Workspace is that it does not offer true client-side encryption. Google controls the encryption keys on its servers, meaning they have access to your data.
