What 3 Employees Tech Stack Actually Costs: Google vs Apple vs Microsoft
Your Team’s Tech Setup Could Be Bleeding Money—Here’s the 5-Year Math
Here’s a five-year cost comparison for equipping a 3-person team with:
- A computer
- A phone
- Basic business software (email, word processing, spreadsheet, storage)
I’ve broken it down by ecosystem: Google (Chromebook + Pixel), Apple (MacBook + iPhone), and Microsoft (Windows PC + Android/iPhone).
Google Ecosystem (Chromebook + Pixel + Google Workspace)
| Item | Cost per User | 5-Year Total (3 Users) |
|---|---|---|
| Chromebook (mid-range) | $350 | $1,050 |
| Pixel phone (mid-range) | $500 | $1,500 |
| Google Workspace (Business Std) | $12/user/mo → $720 | $2,160 |
| Total per user (5 yrs) | $1,570 | |
| Total for 3 users | $4,710 |
✅ Best value — simple, affordable, and fast for browser-based businesses.
Apple Ecosystem (MacBook + iPhone + iCloud/MS Office)
| Item | Cost per User | 5-Year Total (3 Users) |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air (M2) | $1,100 | $3,300 |
| iPhone (base model) | $800 | $2,400 |
| iCloud Storage + MS 365 (combo) | $10/mo → $600 | $1,800 |
| Total per user (5 yrs) | $2,500 | |
| Total for 3 users | $7,500 |
✅ Premium experience, but costs nearly 60% more than Google.
Microsoft Ecosystem (Windows Laptop + Android/iPhone + Microsoft 365)
| Item | Cost per User | 5-Year Total (3 Users) |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Laptop (mid-range business-class) | $800 | $2,400 |
| Android or iPhone | $600 | $1,800 |
| Microsoft 365 (Business Std) | $12.50/mo → $750 | $2,250 |
| Total per user (5 yrs) | $2,150 | |
| Total for 3 users | $6,450 |
✅ Full-featured, flexible, but higher support/maintenance costs than Google.
Summary: Total 5-Year Cost for 3 Users
| Ecosystem | Total Cost (3 Users, 5 Years) |
|---|---|
| $4,710 ✅ Cheapest | |
| Microsoft | $6,450 |
| Apple | $7,500 🚨 Most Expensive |
Recommendation:
If your business thrives on simplicity, speed, and lean operations (like most service contractors and small agencies), the Google ecosystem wins hands-down on cost and ease of use.