Microsoft 365 Reviews

Pros

Allows the complete team to access the files and email everywhere as long as they have an internet connection. You can save money when compared to purchasing the licenses separately. Sets up the foundation so the company can take full advantage of cloud benefits.

Cons

Very hard to work with no internet connection. In some cases we have complains that a few features like accessing password protected files and macros limitations. Having documents in the cloud increases the security risk for having everything in one place.

Alternatives Considered

Google Drive

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft 365

We have better compatibility with all Microsoft suite and applications.

Switched From

Google Drive

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

We choose Microsoft 365 because of compatibility and efficiency features

Pros

Microsoft 365 is a complete productivity and collaboration package that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams.It lets users edit files from anywhere with an internet connection.Microsoft Teams' real-time chat, videoconferencing, and file sharing enable teamwork.Microsoft 365 allows real-time creation and sharing of documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, making project collaboration easier.

Cons

Some features are only available at particular membership levels, thus users may need to upgrade in order to gain access to certain tools.For using some of the more advanced features and functionalities, there is a learning curve.

Alternatives Considered

LibreOffice

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

Many people prefer Microsoft Office for its robust and flexible productivity and collaboration tools. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—popular word processing, data analysis, and presentation apps—included. These programs include several capabilities that make it easy to create and change professional-looking documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Pros

SharePoint is a good function for a medium to large sized business. We use it to post documents that our staff use consistently so they can find everything in one place. The documents can get kind of buried in the file structure but it's ideally the same as Windows Explorer once you get used to it. It's nice that you can personalize the sites with background photos and text. Another great feature is the downloadable apps that you get with an E3 account. You can download the apps on a number of computers so you can use it anywhere. Additionally you can download the apps on your phone or tablet.

Cons

OneDrive has given me some trouble when I've got the folder linked with my computer. If you upload things to the OneDrive via internet browser, it's great. Once I added it to my desktop and opened the file window to be used in addition to the web browser, it got questionable. I would open files from the file explorer window and edit them and they wouldn't upload to OneDrive when saved. It's something you really have to keep an eye on. Maybe it was my network card or internet connection. But when you have more than one person editing the same files at different times, you never know if you're getting the most up to date version of that file. I've lost a lot of data because of this. Also when you create Groups and try to use that group for an email, you have to be sure to expand the group or it won't be sent as an email. It will send as a group message and most of the people I work with don't know how to view that.

Pros

Microsoft 360 is an excellent professional program in the full sense of the word, suitable for teachers, business owners, and studentsIts advantages are many, I will mention a few of them* You can add any line you want* A Word file can be formatted, for example, into any language* You can create a page as you want with settings in Microsoft Word* Presentation reviews can be customized as you like with consistent color, speech, audio and video* In Excel, you can create an expense and profit accounting template for years, which reduces your time and effort, as well as sales and organizing tasksMany features can convert video with audio into written textAnd the beautiful thing is that there are packages for the family, individuals, and education at special pricesAnd students with a university email can get an excellent discountIt also helps if it's with a teamA program made by qualified expert engineers that really saves a lot of time and effort with experience

Cons

There is nothing negative to say* It is possible for all the features of the computer version to be put in an application on a phone. If there are not all features in a phone that are complete and comprehensive* There is a problem with a phone application. When I press a space, a point appears, not a space. This is a simple problem* We want it to be a private USB dedicated only to Microsoft 365. It is internal to the USB and cannot be modified or added. This is just an idea I want to add

Pros

OneDrive integration is great, so I am able to access files from the cloud on any computer. I also really like that I can use either the online or desktop versions of the software. I am old school and definitely prefer desktop apps.

Cons

Some things that should be super simple, are a bit more complicated. Because we are a very small organization, we do not have the knowledge or know-how for some of the more complicated offerings of MS 365 Business. See previous comments for specific instances of frustration caused by something we believe should be available and simple but is NOT.

Alternatives Considered

Google Workspace

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

Zoho was ridiculously complicated to figure out how to do simple things, such as phone notifications, shared files, etc....

Pros

Office 365 is safe, stable and predictable... you know exactly what to expect, with few surprises

Cons

I don't like outlook as an email client, it is certainly dated. I also don't think ,microsoft did a good job of real-time file collaboration (2 people using the same word document and contributing at once)

Alternatives Considered

Google Workspace, iCloud and WPS Office

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft 365

Some clients required office tools and file formats

Switched From

Google Workspace

Pros

We really love 365. It's an excellent and easy-to-use suite that provides all the tools that one needs to be an efficient and well-working storage, communication, and productivity solution.

Cons

The Sharepoint sites are a big part of our work. We Really love it, however, we don't like how cumbersome they are to set up and customize.

Pros

Email management is the most important factor when we choose 365. But the window apps are equally important factors and we use them everyday.

Cons

Nothing much to dislike except the UI can be further improved.

Alternatives Considered

Gmail

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

Price and features especially the windows apps

Pros

Gratitude and appreciation are all i have to say about Microsoft 365 and it's makers!

Cons

That it costs money! But that is to be expected!

Alternatives Considered

WPS Office

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

Functions are far better with Microsoft 365.

Pros

We alwasy look best way to done our work and this software dose same thing. It has multiple option. you can book a calendar, you can store your files. you can use google sheet for maintaining the reports, File sharing.

Cons

This is cloud software so when comes internet issue, then we can not use the software properly. and in emergency then it get worst. so keep you back up option ready.

Pros

Office 365 is the most beneficial package for our small business IT company. Including top-rated desktop applications Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, Access, OneNote, One drive ..etc all are tools increasing daily projects productivity and efficiency. One of the fantastic features is that it's also available with a web cloud app and mobile app, making team collaboration available anywhere. Some Educational organizations can get free of cost features for staff and students to boost learning using technology.

Cons

Minor bugs occur rarely. Pricing is but high for initial and beginning level business and office. But in the long run, it's is useful if all of the apps and features are utilized to full capacity. The PowerPoint interface can be made easier and more user-friendly. Word has some difficulty handling a hundred pages large project docs and often messed up formating. One Drive synchronization and naming could be better. For Startups, I think the libre office provides a budget-level choice.

Alternatives Considered

LibreOffice

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

As it was best compatible with our Windows system and cross-platform support for many other devices. Our clients also mostly had Office so we could give accurate services. Various productive features, shortcuts, macros and quick settings helped us in working on projects, collaborate with teams and complete assignments on time. Learning is easy from previous to the latest versions user interface. Security features are also considered for selecting this package. Support is better for any problem. For using advanced features we just read online official documentation, course, faqs, and tutorial to implement the latest functionalities. These compelled us to use it.

Pros

This is a viable contender to Google's G-Suite. It offers a smoother transition from the old Microsoft desktop world of programs.

Cons

In offering a transition from the old world, Microsoft adds a compatibility layer that accommodates desktop apps while at the same time providing cloud/SAAS versions of the tools.

Herein lies the hazard.

The cloud/SAAS shift offers great opportunity to simplify the Byzantine features and controls that grew like tumors on desktop applications. They are the very things that users obsess over and spend a lot of their time adjusting, managing, customizing... wasting time on. Those "features" drown employees, who in turn are rescued by IT staff. It is a cost multiplier.

I spent entirely too much time recreating the desktop environments, Outlook being the worst, because employees wanted to click on a familiar icon and experience exactly what they experienced prior to their move to Office 365. With that completed, everyone is happy and they have no interest in exploring the cloud, not even to share files. They still use thumb drives.

I'm sure other work environs are different, but I'm just as sure that what I just experienced is not unique.

I see this as Microsoft's missed opportunity to do the job right. Instead, they chose to milk the legacy cow at the cost of impeded future progress.

Alternatives Considered

Google Workspace

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft 365

Moved client from all in one domain/web hosting/email/marketing/SEO service to in-house managed components.

Switched From

Microsoft Outlook

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

Employee familiarity with Microsoft. In retrospect, I regret it.

Pros

- ability to work from anywhere as long as I have internet
-cloud based so I have access to all my files even when on a different computer
- Access my email, files and all Microsoft programs from any location and device
-great customer support
-can work on device vs cloud and then save on device or cloud
-share documents- collaborate
- security
- no licensing issues- everyone in office has same service and upgrades at the same time

Cons

-since everything is cloud based if issues with internet equal issues access files
-updates can take a lot of time
-you have to purchase a subscription
- changing features
-- sometimes get "hung up" and doesn't do anything and will self shut down

Alternatives Considered

Google Workspace

Reasons for Choosing Microsoft 365

Younger group of staff members prefer G Suite so we have both.

Reasons for Switching to Microsoft 365

I prefer it over the alternative. We are going to switch entire company back over to 365 from G Suite in the next 3-6 months.

Pros

Microsoft 365 is an incredibly powerful suite of tools that make it easy to collaborate with others, manage documents, and stay connected. The cloud-based platform is easy to use and provides access to a wide range of features. The cost-effectiveness of the subscription makes it a great value.

Cons

Microsoft 365 can be a bit cumbersome to use at times, as some of the features require a bit of a learning curve. Additionally, the fact that the software is cloud-based means that you have to be connected to the internet in order to access it.

Pros

Microsoft continues to do its UI friendly function very well. It is a masterpiece that it combines many software and office tools under one roof and organizes it in the cloud environment. Easy access, simple installation and distribution organization, multi-device support, support for all languages, the abundance of tools (Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint, Outlook etc.) everything you need is with you online or offline. Especially for companies that cannot cope with the backup problem and costs, the storage tools and features it provides completely change your perspective. Immediate adaption to system and software updates and excellent seamless transition superiority. The perfect licensing experience for corporate or individual uses will definitely change your ideas.

Cons

You may not find a result that is bad or that you do not like. It is the theme of an entire structure that is completely complete and complementary to each other.

Pros

The powerful email management in Outlook, secure document storage and collaboration in OneDrive and SharePoint, and calendar management in Outlook are, in my opinion, Microsoft 365's most important features. The package also features potent file sharing, scheduling, and document management tools that can significantly increase an individual's and an organization's productivity and efficiency.Microsoft 365 is reasonably simple to use, especially for individuals who are unfamiliar with office suites, thanks to its user-friendly layout and intuitive tools. The suite's extensive customizability enables users to tailor their workflow and experience to their own requirements. Additionally, the suite is made to function flawlessly on a variety of devices, encouraging accessibility and teamwork. Overall, Microsoft 365 provides a full range of tools that are strong and simple to use, making it an excellent choice for increasing productivity.

Cons

Since Microsoft 365 has so many features and customization choices, some users might find it confusing or overwhelming. I can't speak from personal experience or perspective. It will take some time to completely comprehend and take advantage of the suite's features, and some users may find it challenging to navigate its various programs and tools. Additionally, the suite might need a membership, which not all users may be able to afford.To help users get the most of the suite, Microsoft does provide a wealth of documentation and support materials, including online tutorials and forums. Additionally, the suite is constantly improving and adding new capabilities, so it is possible that these difficulties will be solved.

Pros

I use Office 365 daily. I've used it to research, edit and publish two technical books and numerous articles on technical and popular topics. I appreciate the interoperability of the Office software features, particularly the ease with which I can change my work interface from writing to illustration to layout to spreadsheets and back again! I use the Cloud and find it extremely helpful. I find the Notes feature less useful that OneNotes is less useful than Notes (probably because I haven't really explored it much). Notes is nice because it is a simple way to strip hidden codes from copied text and prepare it for a new format. PowerPoint it great and lets me move multiple images into a single album easily, as well as to develop images, alter artwork, and integrate images and original artwork into publishable illustrations. I find the Excel spreadsheet an effective tool for illustrating via charts and graphs. I have been using the speech function of Word to review writing and also for recreational reading! Nice. It even lets me alter the voice.

Cons

OneNote is less useful than Note. I find SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Yammer, and Outlook software programs that I don't need. I particularly dislike Outlook and prefer to work via free email services, instead. I would appreciate the option to strip away features that I don't like or use.

Pros

As an all-in-one package it is impossible to beat Microsoft 365. I does everything very well and some things brilliantly. For the price it is, in my opinion, unbeatable. I was sceptical when they brought out the subscription model but now it has proved to be good value for money. As at November 2022 I pay £79.99 for the Family package and I can share my licence with 5 other members of my family. Bargain! The bundle contains Word, Excel and PowerPoint along with Outlook. Additionally you also get 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage - per user. There are other programs to that I don't use including Skype, OneNote, Publisher and some other stuff too.

Cons

There are two cons for me with Microsoft 365. The first is Microsoft's approach to the interface which has been updated over the years and has become to flat and minimalist. Biggest issue is identifying 'Today' in the outlook calendar in Month View. The second issue is the support - or lack of it. Having millions of users worldwide makes it impossible for them to run a phone-line help desk and it is frustrating when you want to give feedback or ask for help. Having said that, most issues can be investigated with Google and YouTube.

Pros

The Office 365 Professional has all the programs that a professional will need (and more) to do their work; email, calendar scheduling, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. it's all there. And because Microsoft Office has been around for decades, its a known quantity that most people have used and are familiar with. The familiarity and ease of use are two major pluses. Because it is the number one program for word processing, spreadsheets and with Microsoft Outlook, calendaring and email, most outside programs that interface with those programs make sure they are compatible with Office 365.

Cons

Call me old fashioned, but the thing I was least thrilled about with Office 365 was the fact that instead of a program that you buy once and then can use forever (or until it's no longer supported by the manufacturer and becomes obsolete - see WordPerfect(tm)), now I have to pay a yearly fee to use the software suite. Granted, the price is not awful, and there are low cost options for people who truly will only use the basic programs like Word and Excel, and special pricing for students, but the idea that I now have to pay for the same program every year galls me. Even knowing that the online nature comes with several additional bonuses including cloud storage of documents, I still am vexed that my favorite "in the box" program is now a subscription service, like NetFlix or HBO. Their cloud storage security is not secure enough for my business (I am a partner in a law office), and the other extras I get I likely will never use, simply because I operate a small business and don't need Microsoft Teams to contact my law partner; I just walk into her office.

Finally, the pricing for parts of what I would want from Office 365 was beyond what I wanted to pay; for example, to set up custom emails that contained the name of our law firm's website, Microsoft wanted more than double what I could obtain through Gmail, which worked with our website design program in a way that Office 365 didn't. And syncing Gmail with Outlook has its own problems based on internet security.

Pros

One of the things I like most about Microsoft 365 is the range of productivity tools it offers. The suite includes Microsoft Office apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and others, which are widely used and very powerful tools for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Additionally, Microsoft 365 provides a wide range of collaboration tools, such as OneDrive, OneNote, and SharePoint, that allow me to easily share and work on files with others in real-time. This helps me to stay productive and efficient. Furthermore, Microsoft 365 offers advanced security features, such as multi-factor authentication, which improves the security of my business data. Another thing I like about Microsoft 365 is its ability to integrate with other apps and services, making it easy for me to use it within my usual workflow.

Cons

One of the things I like least about Microsoft 365 is the cost. Depending on the plan and the number of users, the platform can be relatively expensive. Additionally, the platform can have some limitations when it comes to customization options, especially on the design aspect of the documents. Another thing I like least about Microsoft 365 is that it can be complex to navigate, especially for new users or for those who are not familiar with the Microsoft suite of products. Furthermore, Microsoft 365 may not have the same level of integration with other tools and software that I use, which can make it difficult to use the platform within my usual workflow. Additionally, some features of the platform can be a bit slow to load or take time to learn, which can be frustrating and slow down my workflow. Overall, while Microsoft 365 offers a wide range of powerful productivity and collaboration tools, it can be costly and have some limitations.

Pros

Being a small IT team, we don't have a huge team to tackle email. Email issues can be problematic and stressful. OWA can be a headache.
But, with office365, Microsoft takes care of everything for you!
Multiple plans to fit your need.
Decent support (though it's been getting a little worse with support lately).
No headache when setting up outlook/mobile devices
Has 2 step authentication!
Office app bundle online, and apps online are great. One, you get to stay up to date with the newest office. But two, the apps online itself are really close to the real program, for 75% of users, it would probably be more than enough.
Skype is a decent communication tool, has everything you need.
Comes with onedrive storage (cloud storage)
Backups are handled by them, so that takes more stress off.

All in all, for us (a smaller business), this move was the smartest, as email is extremely important today. You want some provider that guarantees uptime, security, and easability.

Cons

Support. So they recently took off email support. They also don't allow you to close tickets anymore. The people that call you can be too basic, they make you run through basic scripts they read on their screen (they dont know the problem, they just read what they are given). Eventually you get someone who knows what they are doing, but that can take some time.

Everything else is decent though, havent have major issues, no major down times, while support can be difficult, they eventually do get the problem solved. I'd definitely recommend if you are thinking about it.

Pros

Office 365 brings so many excellent features to "boring" productivity programs.

First, the syncing of files across machines, accounts, and cloud storage is brilliant. I can't believe we used to email files.

Second, the stability of programs is greatly improved. Office 365, as a subscription service, gives us constant updates, which is great for bug-fixes, feature improvements, and new capabilities.

Third, the integration into the Microsoft ecosystem is great. We already use Outlook and OneDrive, so now that we only have to pay a single price for all these services spiraled into one is great.

Fourth, look and feel. Office 365 looks so much better than it used to. Not only does our work look better, but on a daily basis we gripe much less than we used to about the ugly windows we stare at for hours.

Fifth and final, Office 365 is just so easy to manage. No more worries about compatibility issues after an upgrade. No more worries about onboarding new accounts, or even waiting for installation from the admin. It's just so easy now.

Cons

Office 365 has some glaring bugs that have just never been fixed. For example, if a file is synced to an off-site location (whether that be in the cloud, a network drive, etc), and the web connection gets interrupted or is not stable, there can be sync issues which lead to conflicting versions of the same file. This is an easy issue to avoid, but it has bitten us a few times.

Over all, the biggest con is just some ugly bugs that seem to endure.

Pros

I have been a subscriber to Office 365 since 2019. I am using Excel and MS Word heavily since they came out. I am an accountant by profession and these two apps (Excel & MS Word) including Powerpoint helped me get the job done in my work and in my business.

By the way, Office 365 Family allows you to install your devices up to 5 devices. Your apps get sync between your devices. So the history of the files you are working on with the 3 software I mentioned above gets synced and stored in the history of your devices. If you are using OndeDrive to store your files, then you will be able to access them anywhere as long as there is Internet. And with the history stored in your software, you know where to pick up where you left off.

Another key feature if you are using Office 365 is the ability to get automatic upgrades and updates. As long as you stay subscribed, your software are always up-to-date.

Office 365 also provides access to other apps such as Outlook, Access, Publisher, One Note, OneDrive (cloud storage), and Skype usage (60 minutes / month if you are using Family.)

Lastly, another feature is file sharing. You can share your files to anyone you want and give them the access to edit it. You can share a file or a folder.

Cons

Subscription cost is the price for using Office 365. Not everyone likes to pay subscription. But if you are a heavy user of Excel, MS Word, Outlook and OneDrive and works with different devices like me then it's worth it. But if you're just a casual user, you may not utilize its full potential. Although the Family subscription can lower down your cost greatly by sharing it with your household.

This might not be bad thing, but I must point out, you may not be able to use all its apps and features. Because of free communication online, I don't use Skype. I also don't use Access and One Note.

Pros

When it comes to administering and configuring the system, it's fairly straight forward. The GUI is nice and easy to read. The vast amount of documentation makes this platform very easy to use for anyone bot new and experienced to the world of IT. If you're running into a problem, there's a very high chance Microsoft has the issue documented and the solution posted with a simple google search. Not to mention a lot of companies use this product so the cross training opportunity and "best practice" configuration is wonderful.

Cons

First of, Microsoft loves to change the verbiage and buttons almost on a monthly basis. What was labeled as "User settings" is now under "users" > "settings" but without providing much reason or positive use case behind it. It's more annoying than anything when you're trying to find something you need configured and you're going off of documentation that's a month old with screen shots and step by step instructions on how to do it and you can't figure it out because the verbiage has changed or some settings location have been "moved"

As nice as the GUI is, I'm old school and enjoy being able to use powershell more often then not. Sometimes it's less efficient having to navigate through screens and fields versus typing up a command and you're done.
Also, if you're thinking about running a hybrid environment, think twice. It gets confusing and WILL cause problems when setting up security settings or trying to setup shared mailboxes. Choose one or the other, not both. You'll save yourself a headache in the long run.

Pros

The benefits of Office 365 are many, I will try to list only some.

By subscribing to Office 365 (O365), you get access to the latest versions of Office software (WORD, Excel, PoverPoint, Outlook, OneNote, etc.). Allows you to use the most advanced features in these applications that have become better at a given moment (e.g., Direct Translation of Text in a Second Language in Vord, Using Geo Cards in Excel, or Inserting 3D Visual Elements in a PoverPoint).

The full package works best with the cloud (cloud) where Microsoft gives each user a free terabyte space on their file storage servers. One terabyte is more than enough to store all the files you use on documents (photos, photos, videos, e-mails, etc.). Transferring your files to the cloud gives you several benefits:

:: Your files are available to you from any computer, tablet, and on your phones: You can share files with colleagues, even more so, work on the same file at the same time from different locations (for example, colleagues in the office and you at home, do together on the same PowerPoint presentation, and then see who made the change). These services significantly reduce the number of sent emails, then problems that arise when the organization circles several versions of the same document within the organization.

:: When all of your files are in the cloud, it means you always have a copy of your disc without the need for external disks.

Cons

There are also shortcomings in the use of O365 that some organizations can be decisive when deciding whether to switch to this service:

:: If you are not connected to the Internet, synchronization between devices will not work. This means that you may not be able to update the latest version of the file your colleague worked with using the 'cloud'.

:: Microsoft almost daily adds new features, and for some users who do not like changes, it may be a problem.