There are several digital platforms for businesses, like Microsoft 365. Google also has a platform for businesses that's had several names, such as G Suite, which is now called Google Workspace. Google Workspace was coined in 2020 when it unified all its services and added new offerings to help businesses go remote during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since all Google apps are web-based, they work on all devices, from Android and iOS devices to Windows, Mac, and the top Chromebook devices. This article discusses what Google Workspace is, what it includes, and its cost.

What is Google Workspace?

Google Workspace brings the digital office to users. It delivers effective communication, brings teams together, and enhances the Google products you frequently use in your workflow. Google Workspace offers collaboration tools such as communication and productivity apps for startups, businesses, enterprises, individuals, nonprofits, and education. Google Spaces is gaining traction among small teams and startups for smooth communication and project management. Check our dedicated post to learn more about Google Spaces.

With a repackaged Google Workspace, Google promises better integration and user experience, a new identity, and more.

Which apps are part of Google Workspace?

Most editions of Google Workspace offer the following apps:

  • Gmail: The world's most popular email service also has business emails with your business' domain name.
  • Google Calendar: A robust calendar application with scheduling options.
  • Google Meet: A group video conferencing software.
  • Google Chat/Spaces: Team collaboration tools to manage projects like a pro.
  • Google Drive: A cloud storage solution to share files with team members.
  • Google Docs: A collaborative word processing software.
  • Google Sheets: A software solution to create spreadsheets.
  • Google Slides: A way to create and work on presentations with coworkers.
  • Google Forms: An application to create and get results from forms, surveys, and quizzes.
  • Google Sites: A website creation solution.
  • Google Keep: Somewhere to store and share your quick thoughts and notes with others.
  • Google Jamboard: A virtual whiteboard to create and manage ideas.

Many of these applications have apps for your mobile devices, so you can use them on the go. Some apps and services like AppSheet, Apps Script, Voice hardware, Google Cloud Search, Groups for Business, Domains, Classroom, and Vault may require additional purchases.

Google Workspace features at a glance

There were a few other changes when Google updated its offering from G Suite to Google Workspace. This rebranding brought new icons for a unified identity, a streamlined user interface, and new add-ons to overcome the limitations of free personal Google accounts.

For instance, the recent Gmail redesign brings Chat, Meet, and Spaces under the same umbrella. You don't need to switch between dozens of tabs to check file previews, read your email, compose video calls, or chat with teammates. You can use the Chat tab to have private conversations with team members, while Spaces manages group discussions and tasks.

Improved @mentions and the ability to preview files in Sheets, Slides, and Docs is another time-saving feature. Compared to a free Google account, you get an ad-free Gmail experience, higher participant limit, meeting length, meeting recording, and noise cancellation in Google Meet.

The security features include group-based policy controls, data loss prevention (DLP), a vault to retain, archive, and search data, endpoint management, and more. In short, Google Workspace is essential to running your business and startup with smooth communication and collaboration.

Google Workspace pricing

Google divided Workspace plans into three categories: Individual, Business, and Enterprise. Let's check each plan in detail to find a suitable option for you.

Google Workspace Individual

Not everyone needs a Google Workspace Business plan. The Individual Google Workplace plan might suit you if you are a solo entrepreneur, a small business owner, or have a side hustle with a few projects and clients.

Google Workspace individual plan details
Source: Google

This plan includes premium customer support, the full Google Meet suite of features for engaging video calls, easy appointment scheduling, and customizable layouts in Gmail. Google recently included a generous 1TB Google Drive storage with the Workspace Individual tier. It now goes toe-to-toe with Microsoft 365 for Home plans in terms of storage. The Individual plan misses out on a custom email address (for example, @gmail.com vs. @androidpolice.com). Upgrade to a Google Workspace Business plan if you want a custom email address.

Google Workspace Individual comes with a 14-day free trial, and the pricing starts at $10 per month. You can pay for the yearly plan and bring down the monthly cost to $8.33.

Google Workspace Business

There are three Google Workspace Business plans to choose from. You can pick one based on your number of participants, storage requirements, and security features.

Google Workspace business tiers and pricing
Source: Google
  • Google Workspace Business Starter: This plan is ideal for startups and small businesses. For $6 per user per month, you get a custom email address, up to 100 participants in a video meeting, 30GB of Google Drive storage per user, and basic security and management controls.
  • Google Workspace Business Standard: This tier doubles the price to $12 per user per month. Google increases the participant limit to 150 and Google Drive storage to 2TB per user. You also get a recording function in Google Meet to share discussions with others.
  • Google Workspace Business Plus: The top business tier unlocks 500 participants in Google Meet, attendance tracking, 5TB Drive storage per user, enhanced security protocols, including Vault, and advanced endpoint management. The pricing is set at $18 per user per month.

Google Workspace Business plans come with a 14-day free trial to try it out before committing for the long term.

Google Workspace Enterprise

If 500 participants aren't enough, contact the sales team for the Enterprise plan. It carries all the bells and whistles Google offers to businesses. You get noise cancellation, in-domain livestreaming, unlimited Google Drive storage, enterprise endpoint management, and enhanced support.

Google also offers separate Workspace plans for qualified educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

How do I access Google Workspace apps?

After you subscribe to a Google Workspace plan, you can access the company's apps via desktop browsers or mobile apps.

A desktop browser

Windows, macOS, or Chromebook users can access Workspace on their preferred browser. However, we suggest the Google Chrome browser, which lets you work offline. With Microsoft Edge, Safari, or Firefox, you must stay connected to an active network to complete your work. There are also helpful shortcuts like doc.new, sheet.new, form.new, site.new, and jam.new to start a project quickly.

Google Drive for desktop

Google Drive is available on the web, and you can install the Drive apps on Mac and Windows. This application integrates the default File Explorer and the Finder app with Google Drive. Google Drive supports files on-demand, allowing you to mirror your entire Drive account on the computer without consuming space. You can read our dedicated post to set up and use Google Drive on Mac.​​​​​​​

Mobile and tablet apps

Most Google Workspace apps like Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Gmail, Meet, Chat, Keep, and Calendar have mobile apps on Android and iOS. Google doesn't offer mobile apps for Forms and Sites.

Google Workspace alternatives

The Microsoft 365 logo surrounded by the logo for some of the included applications
Source: Microsoft

Microsoft 365 is the market leader and Google Workspace's biggest rival. Microsoft 365 comes in Home, Family, Business, and Enterprise plans. The company has different products that rival every Workspace plan. For instance, Microsoft 365 for Home is a solid alternative to Google Workspace Individual.

The software giant recently announced a complete makeover to drop the Office branding from its apps and products. The Office.com, Office mobile app, and Office app for Windows now carry the Microsoft 365 branding with a new icon, look, and more features. Unlike Google's web-based solutions, you get the Office apps and communication (Teams) apps for Windows and Mac.

Other less popular Google Workspace alternatives are Zoho Workspace and Kolab Now.

Is Google Workspace worth the asking price?

If you work with a remote team, you can't go wrong with a Google Workspace Business plan. You can always use Slack for team communication, Dropbox for cloud storage, or Zoom for group video calls, but you'll pay individually for each service. You also lose out on a seamless Google ecosystem.

Google includes 1TB Drive storage in the Workspace Individual plan, but a lack of a custom email address might be a deal-breaker for some. The company's Business plans hit the bull's eye with ample storage, security, and video calling functions. You can always upgrade to the Enterprise plan with your team expansion. The two-week free trial should be enough to make up your mind. Don't forget to check the Microsoft 365 plans if you prefer the Office apps, Teams, and OneDrive to Google's offerings.​​​​​​​

Improve your team's productivity

Even though there are several virtual solutions, Google Workspace could be the one for your business. Google Workspace includes solutions for virtual communication, digital collaboration, and file sharing. If you're interested in a solution for your small business, check out our Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 for Home comparison.