Microsoft 365 - What are the differences between a Microsoft 365 Group, a Microsoft 365 Security Group, a Contact List, and a Google Group?

This document compares the features of Microsoft 365 Groups, Microsoft 365 Security Groups, Outlook Contact List, and UW-Madison Google Groups to help identify which service would work best for your needs.
group features
Feature Microsoft 365 Groups UW-Madison Google Groups Outlook Contact Lists/Groups Manifest email group (MEG)
Allows E-mail to Members ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Group File Sharing ✓ ✓
Group Calendaring ✓ ✓ ✓
Group Collaboration Tools ✓ ✓
Moderation ✓
Posting Security ✓ ✓ ✓
Suppress Office 365 "out of office" message ✓
E-mail Open Tracking
Click-Through Tracking
Allows external members (ex. @gmail.com) ✓ ✓ ✓
List Administration via E-mail ✓
Data-Driven Lists Possible ✓ ✓
Members List Hidden ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Better for server-generated messages ✓ ✓
Managing Office 365 account permissions ✓
Service account be a member of ✓ ✓ ✓
Service account be owner/creator of ✓ ✓ ✓
Footers ✓
Listname in subject ✓
Email address format somename@office365.wisc.edu somename@g-groups.wisc.edu no address exists 0000abc1223def@wisc.edu

See Also


Keywords:
microsoft office365 o365 m365 microsoft comparison collaboration tracking members hidden external manifest uuid mailing lists permissions calendaring email scheduling permissions What are the differences between an Office 365 Group, an Office 365 Security Group, a Contact list, a Google Groups, and distribution list megs 
Doc ID:
65991
Owned by:
O365 S. in Microsoft 365
Created:
2016-08-11
Updated:
2026-03-31
Sites:
DoIT Help Desk, Microsoft 365