For managing your workplace email, you now have more alternatives than ever and they also include Gmail and Outlook. Gmail sets the workflow speed quite high, but Microsoft’s Outlook’s update from 2016 is ready to compete with it.
Cost & Storage
You can download Gmail or Outlook with the rest of their related cloud office suite G-Suite or Microsoft Office 365.
G-Suite features some business apps such as Google Docs, Calendar and Google Sheets. You’ll get 30GB between Gmail and office apps, for $5 per user per month. For another $5, you’ll get unlimited storage.
Outlook also has several plans but its cheapest (Office 365 Enterprise E1) offers you 50GB for your inbox and 1TB is designated to the cloud office suite.
Inbox search
With Gmail, you can search old emails, while you’re writing new ones, but you’ll lose message previews, dates and more. Your view is obstructed and you can’t adjust it in order to see them all at the same time. On the other hand, Outlook’s message process is clearer, and when you search for old items, you’ll still be able to see a picture of your new message.
Calendar integration
Both Gmail and Outlook lack a solution that lets you view your email and calendar at the same time in only one tab, but at least with Gmail, you can see them in different windows.
UX
Unread emails: Gmail features larger text that Outlook, and it’s softer on the eyes, winning the customization battle involving unread emails. Outlook features smaller and flatter text, so it’s harder to see new emails.
Flagging: when you flag an email in Outlook, the line around it becomes yellow, making the search for an important read email much easier than with Gmail which also offers a variety of flagging symbols but not as efficient as its opponent.
Security
To log in when you use Gmail, you have security questions, a touch ID, a retina scan or a security code. Outlook uses a 2-step authentication process, and when you log in from a new device, it will send you a security code for identity verification.
Gmail and Outlook are both great platforms, but Outlook offers an elevated level of aesthetics.
Leave a Reply