The best alternatives to Microsoft 365
You’ve hit the point where Microsoft 365’s complexity starts to feel like a tax on your team’s time. Every update reshuffles the ribbon, every Copilot add-on bumps the bill, and the data still lives in a jurisdiction you can’t control. What actually changes if you switch? No more retraining for a moved button, a predictable price that doesn’t climb with every AI bolt-on, and logs that stay on servers you can point to on a map. European alternatives keep the familiar trio, mail, docs, collaboration, but strip out the sprawl and the US data residency that keeps compliance teams up at night.
European alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Why switch from Microsoft 365 to a European alternative?
The two triggers that push teams to switch are usually data residency and cost creep. Microsoft 365 processes data on US servers, which can conflict with strict GDPR requirements or internal policies that mandate EU-only hosting. On pricing, the base plan is only the start, add-ons like Copilot can double the monthly bill, and annual increases are common. European tools typically offer flat per-user pricing, EU data centres, and simpler feature sets that don’t require retraining.
Is migrating from Microsoft 365 difficult?
It depends on the data volume and the target tool. Most European alternatives provide import wizards for mail (PST/OST), contacts, and calendars. Document migration is trickier: while bulk exports to standard formats (ODF, PDF) work, live collaboration features like comments or version history may not transfer cleanly. Stackfield and Nextcloud offer guided migration paths and support teams that help with the heavy lifting.
Are European alternatives GDPR-compliant?
All tools in our directory either host data exclusively in the EU/EEA/EFTA or offer a dedicated EU-only instance. They provide GDPR-required documents (AV contracts, sub-processor lists, data processing agreements) out of the box. Some, like Stackfield, add end-to-end encryption for extra protection. Compliance still depends on how the tool is configured and used, no software can guarantee GDPR compliance on its own.
How much can I save by switching?
European tools typically charge a flat rate per user per month, without add-on fees. For a 20-person team, Microsoft 365 Business Premium plus Copilot totals a significant monthly cost. Stackfield starts with günstige Pro-Nutzer-Preise, Nextcloud with affordable paid plans, and savings are common. The catch: you may need to combine two tools (e.g., Nextcloud for files + a separate mail provider) to match Microsoft 365’s breadth.
Which European alternative is best for my team?
If you need a single tool that replaces Outlook, Word, and Teams, Stackfield is the closest all-in-one. Teams that prioritise open-source flexibility and self-hosting often choose Nextcloud. For document-heavy workflows with structured data, SeaTable adds database-like tables to the mix. Proton Drive and Infomaniak kDrive focus on secure file storage and sharing, best paired with a separate mail client.