Adelaide owned and operated, IT & Digital + Web since 2001 .AUdomains have arrived — claim yours

Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace for Adelaide businesses

It's one of the most common questions we get from Adelaide businesses — should we go with Microsoft or Google? Both are solid platforms, but the right choice depends on how your team works, what tools you already use, and what you actually need day to day.

The short answer

If your team lives in Excel, works with enterprise clients, or needs deep integration with Windows tools, Microsoft 365 is usually the better fit. If you're a smaller, cloud-first team that values simplicity and real-time collaboration in the browser, Google Workspace does the job well and costs a bit less. Neither is a bad choice — but picking the wrong one means your team fights the tools instead of using them.

What to consider

Pricing

Both start around $7–10 per user per month — Microsoft gives you more storage at the entry level, while Google keeps things simpler with fewer plan tiers.

Email & calendar

Outlook is more powerful for complex scheduling and shared mailboxes; Gmail is cleaner and easier to pick up without training.

File storage

OneDrive and SharePoint suit businesses that need structured file libraries; Google Drive is simpler but less organised at scale.

Desktop apps

Microsoft 365 includes full desktop versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint — Google's equivalents are browser-only and lighter weight.

Collaboration

Google Docs still edges ahead for real-time co-editing in the browser, though Microsoft has closed the gap with its web apps.

AI features

Microsoft's Copilot and Google's Gemini both offer AI assistance — Copilot is available as an add-on from $21/user/month for small business plans.

Who this guide is for

  • Business owners choosing a platform for the first time or switching from an old setup.
  • Teams already on one platform wondering if the other would suit them better.
  • Businesses growing and needing to standardise on one system across the team.
  • Anyone tired of conflicting advice and just wanting a straight answer.

What to do next

  1. List what your team actually uses. If no one touches Excel beyond basic lists, you probably don't need full Microsoft.
  2. Check what your clients use. If you're constantly swapping Word docs with enterprise clients, Microsoft avoids formatting headaches.
  3. Think about email needs. Shared mailboxes, room booking and complex calendars point to Outlook; simple email points to Gmail.
  4. Factor in the rest of your stack. If you're already on Windows PCs with Active Directory or Entra, Microsoft slots in more naturally.
  5. Talk to someone who sets up both. We work with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace daily and can give you an honest recommendation based on your setup.

How WaTo can help

  • We set up and manage both platforms — no bias towards one or the other.
  • We'll look at your current setup and recommend what actually fits, not what has the biggest commission.
  • We handle the full migration — email, files, contacts — without losing anything or disrupting your day.
  • Licensing sorted properly so you're not overpaying for features nobody uses.
  • Ongoing support from a real person in Adelaide, not a ticket queue overseas.

Related questions

Can we switch from one to the other later?

Yes, but it's a proper migration — email, files and habits all need to move. It's worth getting the choice right upfront, but it's not a life sentence if things change.

Is Microsoft 365 more secure than Google Workspace?

Both offer strong security when configured properly. The difference is usually in how well it's set up, not the platform itself. MFA, proper admin controls and email filtering matter more than the brand name.

What about the free versions of Google apps?

Free Gmail and Google Docs are fine for personal use, but for a business you need your own domain, admin controls, proper storage and support — that's what Workspace provides.

Do we need to buy hardware to use either one?

No. Both work on the computers you've already got — Windows, Mac, tablets and phones. Microsoft's desktop apps are a bonus, but the web versions work on anything with a browser.

Still not sure?

Give us a call or send a message. We'll have a quick look at how your team works and tell you straight which platform makes more sense — no obligation, no sales pitch.

No two businesses are the same — so nothing we do is off-the-shelf. Every solution is built around yours, and kept simple.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

How do your plans and pricing work?

Whatever suits you — a fixed contract, a monthly retainer, prepaid blocks of hours, or simple hourly rates. You pick the model that fits your business, and we keep it transparent with no surprise bills.

How quickly do you respond?

Fast. You talk to a real person, not a call queue — and for urgent issues we're often on-site within the hour across Adelaide, with remote support Australia-wide.

Do you only do IT support?

No — IT & Digital, cyber security, websites & hosting (via Whosts.au), business solutions and currency equipment, all from one local team. One number to call.

What does it cost?

It depends on your size and the cover you need. We keep pricing simple and transparent, with no surprise bills — call us for a tailored quote.

Do you support businesses outside Adelaide?

Yes. We're Adelaide-based and provide remote support Australia-wide, with on-site visits across South Australia.

Will you work with our existing IT person?

Absolutely. We often co-manage — taking on monitoring, security and after-hours cover alongside your in-house team.

Why we're different

Not your typical IT company

We keep it simple, and fix things for the future — not just patch them today.

A typical IT company
WaTo Consulting
You wait in a call queue
A real person on the WaTo team answers
One rigid plan — take it or leave it
Contract, retainer, blocks or hourly — your choice
Patch it today, deal with it again later
Fix the root cause — and what it could cause next
Jargon and over-engineering
Kept simple and explained in plain English
IT only — you juggle other vendors
IT, cyber, web, business & currency under one roof
Hosting resold from someone else
Our own Australian hosting — Whosts.au
WaTo character — happy to help

Still not sure what you need?

Tell us what's slowing you down and we'll point you to the right fix. You're a partner, not a client.

Call (08) 7123 0805 Email info@wato.com.au
Why clients choose us

Trusted by Adelaide business since 2001

★★★★★

"No sales spiel, no waiting in line on the phone — and always an effective, quick result when needed."

SA Construct
★★★★★

"Our IT consultant since 2010. Always quick to respond, and we're very happy with our website and every system he's maintained."

Major Real Estate
★★★★★

"They took the hassle out of setting up our restaurant — website, point of sale, even HR advice. Professional and great value. Highly recommended."

RAF Group
★★★★★

"Outstanding service since 2013 — from website design to any IT issue, always prompt and informative. I've recommended WaTo to many of my own customers."

Trymoss Engineering
★★★★★

"Their ability to grasp and apply product-specific technical process has allowed us to meet all customer KPIs."

Cummins Allison
★★★★★

"Often on-site within the hour. Knowledgeable, dependable, and he can explain IT in plain layman's terms. An incredible asset to our business."

Major Pub / Hotel
★★★★★

"As a non-geek, I appreciate that Wato's always got my back and never makes me feel I'm imposing. Local and reliable — Wato's your man!"

Mike, Mike Roberts Music
★★★★★

"We sleep easy at night knowing our data is safe and secure. Quick to act whenever we have a problem."

CRS Accessories
★★★★★

"Streamlined our medical practice IT, reduced operating costs and simplified backups. 100% quality customer service to small business."

Lasers in Medicine, Adelaide
Cummins Allison CRS Accessories Emali Early Learning Centre Trymoss Engineering SA Construct Norwood Day Surgery Glenelg Psychology Flo Medical HAIMS Health Day Lawyers Munro Property Group Mike Roberts Music Olive Tree Food & Wine PLM Wines Kitchensmith Adelaide Appliance Gallery VIP Home Services Future You

See the web work we've done →

Our story

Built in Adelaide, since 2001

WaTo Consulting was founded by John Watson in Adelaide in 2001. Over two decades it's earned a name for tailored work across a wide range of industries — helping businesses of every size run more smoothly, work more efficiently and grow steadily, without blowing the budget or disrupting the day-to-day.

Emma Watson (née Dickenson) played a significant part in shaping what WaTo became. She brought real expertise and a clear vision for where it could go — expanding the business, bringing in new systems and fresh thinking, and raising the standard of how things are done. A great deal of what WaTo is, we owe to her.

Today it's all tailored, never off-the-shelf — IT & Digital, Business & Web Hosting, built around what each client actually needs. Over the years those areas have come together under one roof: our IT & Digital, Currency, Business and Web work (through Whosts.au) now all sit within WaTo Consulting — one team, one standard, looking after the lot.

When you work with us, you're not a client — you're a partner.