Google Docs vs Word: Collaboration and PDF Export
Collaboration features affect PDF workflows more than people expect. The point at which you export to PDF, and what state the document is in when you do, depends on how collaboration works in each platform.
Real-time collaboration in Google Docs
Google Docs is built around real-time collaboration. Multiple users can edit simultaneously and changes sync instantly. When you export to PDF, you get the current state of the document including all edits. Comments are not included in the PDF by default. For collaborative documents, Google's approach means you always have an up-to-date source to export from.
Collaboration in Microsoft Word
Word's collaboration depends on whether you are using the desktop app (which historically required syncing through OneDrive or SharePoint), Word Online (which works like Google Docs in a browser), or emailing DOCX files. For teams using OneDrive and the desktop app, the collaborative experience is good but slightly more complex to set up than Google Docs.
PDF export in collaborative workflows
For Google Docs teams, exporting a shared document to PDF using Docs to PDF captures the current state without any sync issues because everything is cloud-native. For Word teams using the desktop app, you need to ensure your local copy is synced before exporting to PDF to capture the latest collaborator edits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export a shared Google Doc to PDF without the owner's permission?
If you have at least Viewer access, you can export a Google Doc to PDF. If download is disabled by the owner, the export will fail. The owner controls whether viewers can download and print.
Related article
Google Docs to PDF with Google Drive →Ready to Try It?
Install the free Chrome extension and start converting your Google Docs to PDF in one click.
Install Free Extension