# Microsoft Word vs Google Cloud Search

The clearest difference is rating: Microsoft Word at 4.7 against Google Cloud Search's 3.7. Microsoft Word also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (3M vs 39). Google Cloud Search's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Microsoft Word sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Google Cloud Search asks for nothing beyond the download.

Microsoft Word holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Microsoft Word has 3M ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Microsoft Word's written reviews are positive against 27% of Google Cloud Search's.

Microsoft Word ships an update weekly, Google Cloud Search every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and July 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Microsoft Word | Google Cloud Search |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-word/id586447913/reviews)** | [3.7 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-cloud-search/id1210181597/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3M** | 39 |
| Positive reviews | **36.9% of reviews** | 27.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#13** | — |
| Size | 527 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) | [Google LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Microsoft Word

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-word/id586447913)

**Currently charting:** #13 Top Grossing · Productivity, #15 Top Free · Productivity, #172 Top Free, #195 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Create, edit, and share documents on your mobile device. This powerful word processor offers templates, formatting tools, and collaborative features to help you write impactful text documents, resumes, and more. Your office moves with you, allowing for seamless editing and sharing from anywhere.

**Highlights:** Create and edit documents, Modern templates, Rich formatting and layout options, Reading view, Collaborate with comments, Version history, Simplified sharing

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Office 365 Personal | $5.99 | per month |
| Office 365 Personal | $6.99 | per month |
| Office 365 Home | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal Student | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Premium Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Microsoft Copilot Pro | $20.00 | per month |
| Office 365 Personal | $69.99 | per year |
| Office 365 Home | $99.99 | per year |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $99.99 | per year |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $129.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Seamless sync between devices
- 📝 Great for writing and editing
- 🔒 Secure document storage
- 💡 Helpful for school and work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and data loss
- ⏱️ Laggy and slow performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription required
- 🤔 Limited functionality compared to desktop

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent saving and syncing between devices
- Cursor positioning issues when editing text
- Formatting problems when importing documents
- Unreliable text selection and highlighting

**Requested features**

- Improved mouse/trackpad support
- Built-in citation and bibliography tools
- More customization options for formatting
- Ability to edit documents offline


### Google Cloud Search

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-cloud-search/id1210181597)

Search across your organization's G Suite content, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Calendar. Get answers to your questions and proactive recommendations to stay organized throughout your workday. Quickly find colleagues and the information you need.

**Highlights:** Search across G Suite content, Find information in Gmail, Drive, Docs, Calendar, Proactive recommendations, Find colleagues, Answers work-related questions

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Microsoft Word free?

Microsoft Word is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Google Cloud Search free?

Google Cloud Search is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Microsoft Word or Google Cloud Search?

Microsoft Word is rated higher. Microsoft Word averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3M ratings, while Google Cloud Search averages 3.7 from 39 ratings.

### Do Microsoft Word or Google Cloud Search have ads?

Neither Microsoft Word nor Google Cloud Search shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Microsoft Word or Google Cloud Search?

Microsoft Word ships an update weekly, and Google Cloud Search every 6 weeks. Most recently, Microsoft Word was updated on September 26, 2026 and Google Cloud Search on July 17, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*