Google Workspace Pricing and Plans Explained (2023)

This article explains everything you’d ever wanted to know about Google Workspace pricing plans.

In this guide, you’ll discover:

• The various Google Workspace plans

• Google Workspace features

• Which is the best Google Workspace plan for your needs

• How to sign up for Google Workspace

So, if you’re ready to go “all in” with what Google Workspace offers, this is the guide for you.

Let’s dive right in.

What is Google Workspace?

For starters, Google Workspace was once called G Suite, and before that, Gmail for Your Domain.

Google Workspace is a Google-owned service that offers productivity applications, cloud storage, and collaboration tools in one package for large and small business owners.

What’s Included in Google Workspace?

Google Workspace includes applications to help you and your team work together seamlessly. Currently, Workspace offers the following applications: Cloud Search, Apps Script, Jamboard, Keep, Forms, Sites, Slides, Sheets, Docs, Chat, Meet, Drive, Calendar, and Gmail.

And then, there are the security and management controls, including Work Insights, Endpoint, and the Admin dashboard.

How’s Google Workspace Different Than Google’s Free Apps

Google Workspace comes with additional features not available in Google’s free apps.

(More on that later)

In addition, you can set up a custom, secure business email with your own domain. Google Workspace promises a 99.9% guaranteed uptime for your business email.

Further, you get access to business-level applications, round-the-clock email and phone support, Microsoft Outlook integration, extra storage, single sign-on (SSO), and two-step authentication.

Google Workspace Features

As stated, Google Workspace includes many applications and features.

In this piece, we’ll go over 11 crucial features that can handle most of your needs, whether you’re a large or small business owner.

Gmail

Apart from the standard features like message scheduling, spam blocking, and snoozing, Gmail’s Workspace version offers an ad-free experience. It also allows you to customize your email to match your company’s domain.

Further, Gmail integrates seamlessly with other Workspace tools, allowing you to send meeting invitations via Google Calendar to discuss projects through Google Meet or Google Chat.

You also get Smart Compose and Smart Reply, two functions to help keep your emails typo-free.

Google Drive

Drive offers cloud storage for your Workspace-based files.

The Business Starter package offers 30GB of storage per user. The Business Standard plan, on the other hand, offers 2TB, while the Business Plus package offers 5TB storage per user.

You can opt for the Business Plus package if you need more space. The plan offers unlimited storage or 1TB for four or fewer users.

Google Drive is great for online collaborative work. Shared drives are excellent for organizing projects and files, with several permissions and access options.

Google Docs

At the heart of Google Workspace Docs is real-time online collaboration. Up to 10 people can work on documents simultaneously, with 200 users allowed to view them at once.

The history functionality allows you to track changes by users. Meanwhile, the blue Share button at the top right corner of your screen will enable you to set permissions on who can view and edit the document.

Better yet, the suite’s several apps allow you to open and edit file formats from equivalent Microsoft services.

Calendar

Calendar integrates seamlessly with other Workspace Google apps like Meet, Drive, and Gmail. It allows users to manage their to-do list and know their colleague’s availability.

Calendar offers yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily views. It also displays your schedule and lists your upcoming events on a single scrollable page.

You can even add guests and locations with the option to include video conferencing.

Work Insights

Your business requires in-depth reporting, and that’s what Work Insights provides.

Work Insights can come in handy when you want to know how your team is performing and engaging with Workspace.

It offers charts and data to display essential productivity, collaboration, and adoption information.

The reports also include service-specific data, enabling you to determine your team’s preferences. For instance, it can show you that even though 98% of your team is happy using Gmail, only 60% use Sheets regularly.

Currents

Currents is a remnant of Google +, the now non-operational social media platform. It is Google Workspace’s community hub.

Currents can help improve communication among your team and employees. The platform can be helpful for organizations with many people working remotely.

Team members can publish posts that people can view on the home stream or search through tags. The functionality allows members to share ideas or success stories regardless of location.

Currents also allow administrators to moderate content and comments.

Vault

Google Vault is Workspace’s archiving service.

It allows large and small businesses to navigate the ever-dynamic data policy realm.

One of Vault’s requirements is that users must outline policies that determine who can access data and the storage period depending on their business needs.

You can also use Vault to compile audit reports and export content in various formats. In addition, Vault allows you to search information by file type, keyword, date, and user.

Chat

Google Chat replaced Hangout as the platform’s primary business messaging tool.

This feature allows you to send direct messages to your team. You can send private messages to an individual or multiple users through the room function.

Google Chat supports up to 8,000 members in a single chat room. You can access Chat through a standalone app or directly via Gmail.

Meet

Meet is Google Workspace’s video conferencing service.

With the renewed popularity of conferencing, Meet is vital for businesses with remote workers.

Google Meet is easy to use and can integrate with other Workspace tools like Calendar and Gmail. That way, you can join Meet straight from your Calendar or Gmail.

All Meet videos are encrypted for enhanced security. Further, Meet allows you to share screens and adjust the layout for every presentation.

In addition, the Google Workspace Enterprise version can handle up to 250 participants. It even offers dial-in phone numbers for people who can join via the invite link.

Endpoint

Endpoint allows you to manage your team’s devices.

Designed to provide advanced security, Endpoint manages and monitors every brand registered with your company.

You can tweak the security controls as per your company’s policy, such as requiring a strong password with a specific length and characters.

Advanced endpoint management supports bring-your-own-device (BYOD). That way, team members can continue to use their devices without risking security breaches.

You can also lock or wipe devices out of your system if they’re lost or damaged.

Admin

The Google Workspace Admin console offers a responsive and intuitive dashboard that allows you to add or delete users and groups, configure security features and create roles. 

For example, you can set up two-step verifications or block suspicious applications from accessing your company data. 

How Much Does Google Workspace Cost?

Google Workspace pricing is structured in four plans as follows:

• Business Starter Plan: $6 per month

• Business Standard Plan: $12 per month

• Business Plus Plan: $18 per month

• Enterprise Plan: Contact Google for pricing

These pricing plans offer different features. I’ll break it down further to help you choose a plan that works for your needs and business. 

Which Google Workspace Plan Should You Choose?

In this section, I’ll highlight what each Google Workspace plan offers so you can decide which is the best offer for you.

Business Starter Plan

Google Workspace Business starter plan is an excellent option if you:

• Operate a small business with five or fewer employees

• Own an online store

• Are a solopreneur

• Are a freelancer

The Google Workspace Business starter plan will serve you well if:

• You want to create a custom email address with your business domain.

• You don’t need a lot of storage space.

• You don’t need to archive your chat messages or emails.

• You don’t want to anchor your office tools with a competitor like Microsoft Office 365.

• You’re not looking for advanced security and management controls.

Business Standard Plan

Google Workspace Business Standard plan is a great fit for medium to large businesses.

You’ll want to use this plan if:

• You’re looking for more storage. Google Workspace Business Standard option offers up to 2TB of storage space.

• You want to leverage the benefits of Google Vault features like email and chat archiving.

• You want to record video meetings for review later on.

• Your business involves a lot of file sharing across teams.

• You’re not after advanced security and management controls like data loss prevention and security key management.

Business Plus Plan

The Google Workspace Business Plan Plus comes with a host of features and is ideal for large businesses.

This is the best plan if:

• You’re looking for more storage space. The Business Plus Plan offers up to 5TB of space.

• You want more admin controls and enhanced security features.

• You need to host 150+ users for your video conference calls. The Business Plus plan allows you to host over 250 participants per session.

Enterprise Plan

This is a good plan for organizations that require the functionalities of Google Workspace Business Plan and some advanced enterprise controls.

The Enterprise package works best if your organization needs:

• Additional security key management protocols. This plan has more functions to streamline data loss prevention, device management rules, advanced enterprise endpoint management, and other security-related functionalities.

• You want to integrate 3rd party solutions such as Mailstore into your Google Workspace systems.

• You’re managing a large team and are looking for advanced admin controls and improved security.

Further, the Enterprise Plan offers useful customization functions for Google Workspace customers based on particular needs.

For instance, you don’t have to onboard every team member into the Enterprise Plan. You can set up specific Enterprise users and include remote and external participants on lower-priced packages like Business Standard or Business Plus.

You can get a discount for the Enterprise Plan if you sign up through a Google rep.

Google offers special Enterprise plans for non-profitable organizations. In fact, Google offers Workspace for Nonprofits Plan free of charge.

Schools can consider signing up for Google Workspace Enterprise for Education or Google Workspace for Education plans.  

How to Sign up for Google Workspace 

Signing up for Google Workspace is easy.

Head to Google Workspace’s official website and hit the “Get Started” button at the right corner of your screen.

Or, you can press the “Get Started” button below the Business Plan you want to pick. Then, you’ll give your details and the business you want to start.

For the Enterprise plan, choose the “Contact Sales” button at the right corner of your screen or below the Enterprise plan pricing.

Sign up for Google Workspace

Sign up for Google Workspace Enterprise

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does Google Workspace Cost Money?

Yes, Google Workspace will cost you money.

For the Business Starter Plan, Google Workspace Plans start at $6 per user per month. The Business Standard Plan will cost you $12 per user per month, with the Business Plus package going for $18 per user per month.

Of course, choosing one plan over the other depends on your needs.

Still, you can test drive Google Workspace space for free by levering the 14-day trial.

What happens if I don’t pay for Google Workspace?

You must pay for your Google Workspace to keep enjoying the features.

Put differently, failing to pay means you’ll lose access to core Workspace functionalities like Google Meet, Calendar, Gmail, etc.

However, you can continue using services such as Google Ads, YouTube, and Photos.

If your budget allows, I’d recommend signing up for an annual subscription. That way, you can ensure you’re sorted for the next 12 months.

How can I earn from Google Workspace?

You can generate a one-time payment for every new user that signs up for Google Workspace through your referral for up to 100 users per referred account and 200 users per year.

The payout amount depends on the Google Workspace package a user chooses.

Google Workspace Pricing – The Bottom Line

Google Workspace is one of the best collaboration and productivity tools you can get.

And the beauty of this is that Google Workspace planning is structured in a way that allows you to pick a package that matches your needs and budget.

What next?

Choose your plan and sign up for a Google Workspace a 14-day trial.