If you’re looking for the best email for small business in Australia, you’ll quickly come across two options: Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Both give you a professional email address on your own domain. Both are solid products. The question is which one suits how you actually work.
Here’s a plain English comparison to help you decide.
What Do You Actually Get With Each?
Both platforms do the same core job. You get a professional email address, cloud storage, and a set of productivity tools. The difference is in the ecosystem around them.
Microsoft 365 gives you Outlook for email, OneDrive for storage, and the Office suite – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams. If you already use these tools, everything feels familiar from day one.
Google Workspace gives you Gmail on your own domain, Google Drive for storage, and Google’s productivity tools – Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet. Everything runs in a browser. That makes it easy to access from any device without installing anything.
How Do the Prices Compare?
For a sole trader or small business, entry-level pricing is reasonably similar on both platforms. Microsoft 365 Business Basic starts at around $9 AUD per user per month. That covers business email, Teams, and web-based Office apps. Google Workspace Business Starter starts at $9.90 AUD per user per month, which includes Gmail on your domain and 30 GB of storage.
One thing to be aware of: Microsoft 365 prices are set to increase from 1 July 2026. It’s worth checking current pricing directly with Microsoft before committing.
Microsoft 365 – Who Is It Best For?
Microsoft 365 suits businesses already living in the Microsoft world. If you use Word and Excel regularly, or your clients send and expect Office documents, 365 fits neatly into that workflow. It’s also a strong choice if you prefer a desktop email client. Outlook has been around for decades. Many small business owners find it easier to manage than a browser-based inbox.
Google Workspace – Who Is It Best For?
Google Workspace suits businesses that already use Google tools day to day. If you rely on Google Maps, Google Analytics, or YouTube for your business, Workspace slots in naturally alongside those. It’s also worth considering if you work across multiple devices. Everything runs in a browser, so there’s nothing to install and nothing to update manually.
What About Setup?
Neither platform is difficult to use once it’s running. However, both involve technical steps to get started – connecting your domain, configuring your email records, and making sure everything routes correctly.
If that sounds unfamiliar, it’s worth getting someone to handle it for you. At Wavebreak Technology, we set up Microsoft 365 for small businesses and sole traders across southeast Queensland. Get in touch and we’ll take care of it.
So Which One Should You Choose?
The best email for small business in Australia is the one that fits how you already work. Use Word and Excel daily? Go with Microsoft 365. Rely on Google tools? Google Workspace is the natural fit. No strong preference? Microsoft 365 is a solid default for most small businesses.
Either way, the important thing is getting off a free Gmail or Hotmail address. If you haven’t made that move yet, our post on why a professional email address matters for small business is a good place to start.