The main difference between Microsoft Teams and Google Meet is scope. Teams is a full collaboration hub, with chat, channels, files, calling and meetings in one app. Google Meet is a browser-first video meeting tool that sits inside Google Workspace, alongside Google Chat, Gmail and Drive.

For most businesses, the better choice follows the productivity suite they already pay for. Organizations on Microsoft 365 already own Teams, and organizations on Google Workspace already own Meet. Running both usually means paying twice for the same job.

Key takeaways

  • Cheapest paid plan: Teams Essentials at $4 per user per month, versus $7 for Google Workspace Business Starter (both on annual plans).
  • Meeting size: Every Teams business plan allows 300 people per meeting. Google Meet allows 100 to 500 depending on plan, and 1,000 on Enterprise.
  • AI: Gemini in Meet (notes, summaries, translation) is included from Workspace Business Standard. Microsoft includes Copilot Chat, but full Microsoft 365 Copilot in Teams is a paid add-on.
  • Free versions: Both cap group meetings at 60 minutes and 100 people.

Microsoft Teams vs. Google Meet at a Glance

Feature Microsoft Teams Google Meet
Best for Microsoft 365 organizations that want chat, channels, files and meetings in one app Google Workspace organizations that want simple, browser-based meetings
Free version 60-minute group meetings, 100 people, 5 GB storage 60-minute group meetings, 100 people; no limit on 1:1 calls
Cheapest paid plan (annual) Teams Essentials, $4/user/month Workspace Business Starter, $7/user/month
Max people per meeting 300 on business plans; 1,000 on enterprise and frontline plans 100 (Starter), 150 (Standard), 500 (Plus), 1,000 (Enterprise)
Max meeting length 30 hours 24 hours
Recording All paid plans Business Standard and up
Built-in AI Copilot Chat included; Microsoft 365 Copilot is a $21/user/month add-on Gemini in Meet included from Business Standard
Persistent chat and channels Built in Separate app (Google Chat)
Install required Desktop, mobile or web No; browser or mobile app

Pricing

Teams is cheaper for basic meetings, while Google Workspace includes more AI at the mid tier. Both vendors raised prices recently: Microsoft increased most Microsoft 365 business and enterprise plans on July 1, 2026 (Business Basic from $6 to $7, Business Standard from $12.50 to $14), and Google raised Workspace prices in 2025 when it added Gemini to every plan.

Teams reaches 300 people per meeting at $4; Google Meet needs $22 to pass 150

  • Teams Essentials · $4 · 300 people
  • Business Starter · $7 · 100 people
  • Business Standard · $14 · 150 people
  • Business Plus · $22 · 500 people

Every Microsoft business plan, from $4 Teams Essentials to $22 Business Premium, allows 300 people per meeting. On Google Workspace, meeting size grows with the plan, and only Business Plus ($22) goes past 150.

A few pricing details to watch:

  • Google’s monthly (flexible) plans cost 20% more: $8.40 for Starter, $16.80 for Standard and $26.40 for Plus.
  • Microsoft add-ons are extra: Teams Premium is $10 per user per month, and Microsoft 365 Copilot Business is $21 (on a promotional $18 for eligible customers through December 31, 2026).
  • Storage differs widely: Microsoft 365 business plans include 1 TB per user. Workspace ranges from 30 GB per user on Starter to 5 TB on Plus.

Meetings and User Experience

Both tools handle everyday video meetings well: screen sharing, live captions, breakout rooms, background effects and noise suppression are standard. The difference is what surrounds the meeting.

Teams is built around persistent workspaces. Meetings live inside channels and chats, so files, notes and follow-up conversations stay attached to the team that held the meeting. Teams meetings can run up to 30 hours, and its events features cover webinars and town halls for larger audiences.

Google Meet is lighter. Guests join from a browser link with nothing to install, which makes it easy for meetings with clients and partners. Meet calls can run up to 24 hours on paid plans, and Enterprise adds in-domain live streaming. Persistent team chat happens in Google Chat, a separate app.

If your team spends most of the day in meetings with outside parties, Meet’s simplicity is an advantage. If your team collaborates internally all day, Teams keeps more of that work in one place.

AI Features: Copilot vs. Gemini

AI is now the biggest feature gap between the two, and it changes the real cost of each platform.

Google includes Gemini in Meet on Workspace Business Standard and above. It can take meeting notes, summarize calls, list action items and translate conversations. Business Starter gets only limited Gemini features and no Gemini in Meet.

Microsoft includes Copilot Chat with Microsoft 365 business plans. Copilot inside Teams meetings (recaps, notes, answering questions about what was said) requires Microsoft 365 Copilot Business, listed at $21 per user per month on top of the base plan. Teams Premium, which adds advanced meeting and webinar features, is a separate $10 add-on.

For a team that wants AI meeting notes, compare the full stack: Workspace Business Standard at $14, versus a Microsoft 365 plan plus a Copilot license, or Microsoft’s bundled Business Standard with Copilot at $23.50.

Collaboration and Integrations

Teams connects directly to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint and OneDrive. Files shared in a channel are stored in SharePoint, and documents can be co-edited without leaving Teams. Its app store adds hundreds of third-party tools, from project management to CRM.

Google Meet connects to Gmail, Google Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides and Drive. Meetings can be started from a calendar invite, an email or a shared doc. Anyone with a free Google account can join or host a Meet call, so external guests rarely hit a barrier.

Both work across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android and the web. Google says Meet hardware can also join Zoom and Cisco Webex meetings, which helps companies that meet across platforms.

One recent change: after a European Commission antitrust case, Microsoft agreed in September 2025 to sell Microsoft 365 and Office 365 without Teams at an “appreciably lower” price, and to improve interoperability with rival tools. Microsoft’s US price list now shows “no Teams” versions of its business plans, such as Business Basic without Teams at $5.40. That makes it easier for a Microsoft 365 shop to standardize on another meeting tool, including Meet.

Security and Compliance

Neither platform has a clear security edge for most businesses. Both encrypt audio and video by default, support GDPR obligations, offer admin controls and audit logs, and hold the major industry certifications.

The practical difference is in how far each plan goes. Higher tiers on both sides add data-region controls, advanced eDiscovery and retention, and stronger encryption options. Microsoft’s controls extend through Microsoft Purview and Entra ID across the rest of Microsoft 365. Google’s are managed in the Workspace admin console.

If you work in a regulated industry, compare the specific plan tiers against your requirements rather than the product names. A basic plan on either platform will not include the compliance features of its enterprise tier.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Microsoft Teams if:

  • Your company already runs on Microsoft 365, Outlook and SharePoint.
  • Teams work together all day in chat and channels, not only in meetings.
  • You regularly need meetings of 150 to 300 people on a small-business budget.

Choose Google Meet if:

  • Your company runs on Gmail, Google Calendar and Drive.
  • Many meetings include clients or partners who should join from a browser with no install.
  • You want AI meeting notes included without buying a separate AI license.

Keep Collaboration Costs Under Control

The bigger risk is rarely picking the wrong tool. It is paying for both. Many companies carry Microsoft 365 licenses with Teams for every employee, Google Workspace seats for a team that prefers it, plus add-ons like Teams Premium or Copilot that only a few people use. With both vendors raising prices in 2025 and 2026, unused and duplicate seats add up quickly.

Asignet’s SaaS management tracks licenses, usage and renewals across Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and other subscriptions in one place. That shows which seats are inactive, where tools overlap, and which add-ons to cut before the next renewal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Google Meet free?

Yes. Anyone with a Google account can host meetings of up to 100 people. Group calls end at 60 minutes; 1:1 calls have no time limit. Recording and longer meetings need a paid Workspace plan.

Is Microsoft Teams free?

Yes. The free version allows group meetings of up to 60 minutes with 100 people, plus 5 GB of storage per user. Teams Essentials removes the limits for $4 per user per month.

Which is cheaper, Teams or Google Meet?

Teams Essentials ($4) is the cheapest paid option. Compared suite to suite, Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Workspace Business Starter both list at $7 per user per month on annual plans.

Can Google Meet users join a Teams meeting?

Yes. External guests can join a Teams meeting from a web browser without a Microsoft account, and Teams users can join Meet calls from a link the same way.

Can I buy Microsoft 365 without Teams?

Yes. Microsoft now lists “no Teams” versions of its business plans at lower prices, such as Business Basic without Teams at $5.40 per user per month.