Most people who quit M365 for Google do it out of spite, but there’s no ROI in that
- ID
- 24574
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 15 Sep 2026, 3:23 PM
- Fetched
- 15 Sep 2026, 4:14 PM
- Provider
- The Register
- Category
- technology
- Original URL
- https://www.theregister.com/saas/2026/09/15/most-people-who-quit-m365-for-google-do-it-out-of-spite-but-theres-no-roi-in-that/5296460
- Source URL
- https://www.theregister.com/headlines.atom
Summary
- Score
- 5.5
- Created
- 15 Sep 2026, 4:15 PM
- Tags
- Audience
- saas_foundersdevelopers
What happened
Gartner analyst Domenico Scriva told the firm's IT Symposium in Australia that spite-driven M365-to-Google Workspace migrations yield no ROI, and Google's lower per-license cost evaporates once you add telephony, security, BI, and OS licensing—landing ~$2/month more than M365 E5. He warned that migration takes at least two years, Microsoft knows you can't move quickly so last-minute negotiation threats fail, and productivity suites have barely changed in 30 years so there's rarely a worthwhile outcome from swapping.
Why it matters
If your startup or SME is on M365 and considering Google Workspace to cut costs, run the full TCO including telephony, security, BI, and OS before assuming savings. If you want to use migration as a renewal negotiation lever with Microsoft, start preparing at least two years before your contract expires—or the threat won't be credible.
Discussion angle
For Malaysian startups choosing between M365 and Google Workspace at incorporation or renewal: is the ~$2/month difference meaningful at small headcount, and does Gemini-included vs Copilot-extra tip the decision?