Microsoft Word vs. Google Docs (Which Is Better to Use?) Microsoft Word is probably the most popular word processing software in the world. It's got a proven track record, and it’s backed by a solid company. There are many reasons to use Microsoft Word. Here are four: Availability: Word is available for various operating systems and mobile devices. Because Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing application, many people are familiar with it. This means Microsoft Word is familiar to many users. This is an important consideration if you’ll be collaborating on a document with other people. Robust Word Processing Features: Microsoft Word has been around since 1989. It’s the most reliable word processor for long documents or manuscripts that have several chapters, a dynamic table of contents, and indexing. Word is also your best bet if you’re creating something in an unusual size. And if you want more granular control of text formatting, image positioning, and so on, then you’re better off using Word. Microsoft Office Integration: Another clear strength of Word is its seamless integration with Microsoft Office. This matters if you want to, say, embed charts from Excel into your Word document. Once embedded, update the charts in Excel and the charts within your Word document will automatically update as well. Microsoft Word Templates: Finally, to create impressive documents, do so by using Word templates. Even if you don’t know the first thing about design, templates for Word will make you look like an artistic pro. Choose a template, replace the placeholder text and images with your own, and choose your branding colors. That’s all you need to do. Word templates are completely customizable. Google Docs may be a much younger player in the world of word processors. But it also has plenty to offer. Consider the following four benefits: Accessibility: Google Docs is a completely web-based application. That means you don’t need to install it on your computer. What you do need to install is the Google Chrome browser. Next, create a Google or Gmail account, and you’ll see Google Docs in the Google apps popup window. If you've got Gmail, then you've got access to Google Docs through Google apps. This makes Google Docs extremely accessible. Access your files on any computer with an internet connection. Simply log into your Google account. You can also install the app on your mobile devices, so you can continue working on your document on your cellphone or tablet. What about those times when you don’t have internet? Google Docs works offline, too. Ease of Collaboration: Another area where Google Docs shines is collaboration. Sharing a Google Doc with others is simple, and you can control what kind of access they have: read-only, comment, or edit. If you grant editing rights to others, they can co-author the document in real time. And you’ll be able to see who currently has the document open and where they are in the doc. Adequate Features: Google Docs has all the features you need to create most types of documents. Unless you’re making something complicated, you’ll find Google Docs features to be more than adequate. Format your text, use paragraph styles and formatting, insert images, tables, and page numbers, and export to other file formats. Free: Finally, Google Docs is free. This makes it affordable even to cash-strapped users. So, if you’re a student, new graduate, or unemployed, you’ll be glad to know that you can make an impressive cover letter and resume without expensive software. Since it's free, you may wonder: Is Google Docs good? As you'll find in this article, it's got many strengths that make it an excellent choice for many users. That said, if you've got a ton of large files, you may have to pay to get extra storage in your Google Drive. “Source: https://business.tutsplus.com/articles/google-docs-vs-microsoft-word (Alexis Rodrigo)” 2. Identify TWO (2) advantages using Microsoft Word and TWO (2) advantages using Google Docs.