For businesses already committed to a productivity suite, the choice between Microsoft 365 Copilot and Gemini for Google Workspace is usually made for them. Still, it is worth understanding what each adds, how they are licensed, and what to prepare before rollout.
What Both Do Well
- Draft and rewrite emails and documents
- Summarise long threads and documents
- Help analyse and visualise spreadsheet data
- Summarise meetings and list action items
- Answer questions using your organisation’s files
Microsoft 365 Copilot
Copilot works across Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, and can draw on your organisation’s data through Microsoft’s work graph. It suits businesses that rely on Office documents and Teams meetings.
Gemini for Google Workspace
Gemini is built into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Drive. For Google-first teams, it is the most natural way to bring AI into daily work. See our three-way assistant comparison for how it stacks up against standalone assistants.
How to Decide
| If your team… | Lean towards |
|---|---|
| Lives in Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams | Microsoft 365 Copilot |
| Lives in Gmail, Docs, Sheets and Meet | Gemini for Google Workspace |
| Uses both suites | Pilot both with a small group |
| Mostly needs standalone writing help | A standalone assistant may be enough |
Prepare Before Rollout
- Audit sharing settings on drives and sites; remove “anyone with the link” access to sensitive files.
- Archive outdated documents so AI does not surface stale information.
- Run a pilot with a handful of power users for a month.
- Create a short internal guide with approved use cases and prompts.
Pricing and plan limits for AI software change frequently. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor’s own pricing page before you buy.
