Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite that includes Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Google Meet, and Chat. It provides email, file storage, document collaboration, and video conferencing in one subscription.

Accounting firms use Google Workspace for internal communication (Gmail, Chat), document collaboration (real-time co-editing in Sheets and Docs), file storage (Drive with sharing controls and version history), and client meetings (Meet). Google Sheets is commonly used for budgeting, data analysis, and financial modelling. Drive provides centralised file storage with search and granular permission controls.

Google Workspace is an alternative to Microsoft 365 and tends to be adopted by smaller, cloud-native firms. It is best suited for practices that prefer browser-based tools and do not have a strong dependency on desktop Excel features or Microsoft-specific integrations. Firms using accounting software that integrates more tightly with Microsoft (like some practice management tools) may find Microsoft 365 a more natural fit.