Mac OS X; Linux; Chrome OS; The Google Docs app is available for both iOS and Android devices—but not on Windows-based phones like BlackBerry. Microsoft may have the upper hand here since you can get your work done in the offline desktop version of Word. Microsoft’s version of Google Drive, so working remotely is just as secure as. Get 15GB of free cloud storage today and keep your life connected by downloading Google Drive for your smartphone, tablet, and computer.

Take your skills to the next level Start learning from hundreds of business video tutorials In recent years, Microsoft Word and Google Docs have been quietly waging a war for the title of best word processor. While most of us have been using Word for decades to draft everything from school essays to to important work documents, Google Docs web-based platform is a total game changer for editing and sharing documents in the connected age. So which is better? That depends entirely on what you need from a word processing program or mobile app. Today we’re going to cover the benefits and downsides of both Microsoft Word and Google Docs so you have the intel you need to decide for yourself.

How to use and access Microsoft Word and Google Docs You cannot purchase Microsoft Word as a standalone program. It comes as part of the Microsoft Office 365 package, which includes other programs like Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Once you purchase this suite, you can only install Word on a select number of computers, depending on the. So if you install Word on your desktop, you’ll need to bump up your plan to get a copy for your laptop, which can get pricey. It wasn’t until 2010 that Microsoft finally launched as part of its Office 365 package.

Though Word Online boasts enough features for casual users, it is not the full version of Word by any means. Select ribbons and toolbars were removed from the online version to help it load and run faster. It offers a more streamlined experience though it leaves others wanting more.

For instance, Word Online isn’t able to handle large or more complex documents and users find it clunkier to work around these bugs than using their regular Word program from the start. All of that is different with Google. As an internet-based company, Google Docs started out as a cross-platform word processor that works entirely online. You don’t have to download any software or purchase a suite of programs you don’t want/need to use it. Simply log in to your Google account from any browser and head over to. Unlike Microsoft Word, which can only be installed on Windows and OS X computers, you can use Google Docs from any computer and browser, including: • Windows • Mac OS X • Linux • Chrome OS The Google Docs app is available for both iOS and Android devices—but not on Windows-based phones like BlackBerry. The Word app comes pre-installed on Windows Phone devices and as a free (very bare) app for iOS and Android.

Our winner: You can access the full version of Google Docs, with all its features, from any browser. You have to purchase the entire Microsoft 365 software package just to receive a full version of Word. And the online version of Word lacks certain features which may render it useless for you. Unlike Microsoft Word, Google Docs is free to use Google Docs is free for the average user. If you want to purchase a “Business” version of, monthly plans start at $5 per user. It’s going to cost you more to get started with Microsoft Word.

You’ll need to either a: • One-time fee of $149.99 • Yearly fee of $69.99 / monthly fee of $6.99 (for an install on 1 computer) • Yearly fee of $99.99 / monthly fee of $9.99 (to install on up to 5 computers) Business plans are. Most of these packages include the desktop versions of all the Office apps and online access for their web-based counterparts. Our winner: You can’t beat free — Google takes the cake here.