If all you need is a simple, free word processor – especially for collaborative working – Google Docs is an excellent choice. However, it has fewer tools than Microsoft Word. Google Docs is free, easy to access from various devices, and perfect for collaborative working.The main downside of MS Word is its cost, as the free version is limited. It also offers offline access, making it the more secure choice for sensitive files. Microsoft Word offers more functionality, especially in formatting.Each word processor has its own strengths: Google Docs showdown depends on your priorities. But Microsoft Word is by far the best option for working offline, so overall we’ll call this one a draw. Verdict: Google Docs is easy to use on any device and automatically saves all your documents to the cloud, giving it the edge over Microsoft Word in terms of accessibility. You can also store sensitive documents locally, offering better security than saving them in the cloud. As such, your work won’t be interrupted by server problems at Google or if you lose your internet connection. One definite advantage Microsoft Word has is the ability to work offline. But you’ll need to set up OneDrive to backup your files with the standalone Office package, which is a little less convenient. Office 365 offers similar options, allowing you to access your work via multiple devices. Because we all know the feeling off forgetting to save before this blighter shows up. And as a bonus, Google Docs saves every change you make to a document, so you never have to worry about losing work in the event of a computer crash or power outage. With Google Docs, you can access and share your work via any device that has a browser and an internet connection. Verdict: It’s a close one, but Google Docs is best for collaborative working. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! And since all you need to use Google Docs is a browser, you can have multiple people on different platforms working together, whereas collaborating in Microsoft Word requires every user to have their own copy of Microsoft Office, making it less accessible. Nevertheless, Google Docs was built with collaboration in mind, so it offers the smoother user experience. Live collaboration, where two people can work on the same document.Tools for suggesting edits and tracking changes made to a document.The ability to sync files with the cloud and share with other users.MS Word and Google docs offer a range of collaboration options, including: However, Google Docs is fine for basic word processing. Verdict: Microsoft Word wins this one, especially with its extra formatting options. So unless you’re planning some advanced formatting, the extra functionality of MS Word may not matter. However, Google Docs offers all the basic tools you could want from a word processor. The ribbon menu in MS Word also makes it easy to access these tools (and you can customize the ribbon to suit your needs). Microsoft Word currently has far more tools than Google Docs, offering more control over text styles, more templates, and a vast array of formatting options. Verdict: Google Docs wins this one, as you get all the main tools for free! Which Offers the Most Functionality? There is a subscription-only business version, but the basic package will cost you nothing. There is a free online version called Office Online, but this only offers limited functionality. To get Microsoft Word, you will either need to buy the Microsoft Office package as a one-off purchase or sign up to an Office 365 subscription (prices vary depending on the package). So which of these heavyweight word processors will reign supreme? Let’s drop the boxing analogy and find out. But a young buck called Google Docs is now on the scene, challenging for the title. Google Docs: Which Is Best?įor a long time, Microsoft Word was the undisputed champion of the word processing world.
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