Google Workspace pricing and plan tiers

Google Workspace charges per user per month and offers four main plans: Business Starter at $6, Business Standard at $12, Business Plus at $18, and Enterprise (custom pricing). Each tier adds storage, user management tools, and security features. You pay monthly or annually, and can change plans or cancel anytime — unused days in the final month are refunded on a prorated basis.

The plans stack features rather than replace them. Business Starter includes Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Calendar for one user. Business Standard adds more storage and advanced Meet features like recording and larger participant limits. Business Plus includes even more storage, advanced security controls, and vault for legal holds. Enterprise is for organizations that need custom contracts, dedicated support, and security features built to order.

Pricing varies slightly by region and currency. A team of five people on Business Starter costs $30 per month; the same team on Business Plus costs $90 per month. You are billed monthly for the number of active users, so adding or removing a person changes your bill in the next billing cycle.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Workspace charges per user per month, starting at $6 for Business Starter and scaling to $18 for Business Plus, with Enterprise available at custom pricing.
  • Each plan includes the same core apps — Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Calendar — but higher tiers unlock more storage, recording, and administrative controls.
  • You can switch plans or cancel anytime, and unused days in your final month are refunded proportionally.
  • Billing is monthly based on the number of active users, so your cost changes when you add or remove team members.

Storage and file limits across plans

Business Starter gives each user 30 GB of shared storage in Google Drive. Business Standard raises that to 2 TB per user. Business Plus and Enterprise both include 5 TB per user. Storage is shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos, so a full inbox counts against your limit.

File size limits are the same across all plans: a single file in Google Drive can be up to 5 TB. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides have no file size limit because they store as native Google formats, not as traditional files. If you convert a Google Doc to Microsoft Word format for read, the resulting file is limited by Word's own constraints, not by Workspace.

If you run out of storage, you cannot upload new files or receive new email until you delete something or move to a higher plan. Workspace does not automatically delete old files or emails.

Meet video conferencing features by plan

All Workspace plans include Google Meet. Business Starter allows up to 100 participants and recordings are not included — meetings end after 24 hours of continuous use, though that limit rarely affects real-world use. Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise all allow up to 150 participants and include the ability to record meetings to Google Drive.

Recording storage counts against your Drive quota. A one-hour HD video typically uses 1 to 2 GB. Recordings are saved as MP4 files and can be downloaded, shared, or kept private within your organization.

Advanced Meet features like live streaming to YouTube, custom backgrounds, and noise cancellation are available on all paid plans. Breakout rooms, which let you split a large meeting into smaller groups, are included on Business Standard and above.

Admin controls and security features

Business Starter has basic admin controls: you can manage users, reset passwords, and set up two-factor authentication. You cannot control which apps users can access or set device policies.

Business Standard adds the ability to control app access and set basic security policies. You can require password strength standards and force password resets on a schedule.

Business Plus includes advanced security: you can enforce device compliance (requiring encryption or a lock screen before a user can access Workspace), set up data loss prevention rules to block certain file types from being shared outside your organization, and use the Security Center to review suspicious activity.

Enterprise includes all of the above plus custom security agreements, dedicated support, and the ability to work with Google's security team on organization-specific threats.

Email and calendar features

All Workspace plans include a custom email address at your domain (yourname@yourcompany.com), unlimited email forwarding, and the ability to set up group email addresses that route to multiple people. Gmail's search, labels, and filters work the same across all plans.

Calendar is included on all plans and supports unlimited calendars per user, shared calendars, and the ability to see others' availability when scheduling. You can set working hours and have Calendar automatically decline meetings outside those hours.

Business Plus and Enterprise include Gmail vault, which lets administrators hold emails and chats for legal cases or compliance audits. Vault can search across all user accounts and export messages in bulk.

Collaboration tools: Docs, Sheets, and Slides

Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are included on all plans at the same feature level. All users can create, edit, and share documents in real time. Comments, suggestions, and version history work identically across Business Starter through Enterprise.

The main difference is administrative: on Business Plus and Enterprise, admins can use Data Loss Prevention to block certain types of files from being shared outside the organization, and can audit who has access to sensitive documents.

All plans support integrations with third-party apps through the Google Workspace Marketplace. Some integrations are free; others charge separately.

When to move from one plan to another

Move to Business Standard if you need more than 30 GB of storage, want to record Meet sessions, or need basic app access controls. Most small teams stay on Starter or Standard.

Move to Business Plus if you need advanced security (device compliance, data loss prevention), Gmail vault for legal holds, or more than 2 TB of storage per user. This plan is common for regulated industries like healthcare or finance.

Enterprise is for organizations with more than a few hundred users, custom security needs, or a dedicated IT team. Pricing is negotiated per contract.

You can change plans at any time. If you downgrade, you keep your data but lose access to higher-tier features. For example, if you downgrade from Business Plus to Business Starter, your vault data remains but you cannot access it until you upgrade again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I try Google Workspace before paying?

Google offers a 14-day free trial on all paid plans. You need a credit card to start the trial, but you will not be charged if you cancel before the trial ends. After 14 days, your account converts to a paid subscription unless you cancel.

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Your data remains in your account for 20 days after cancellation. You can read files, export emails, or reactivate your subscription within that window. After 20 days, Google deletes everything permanently.

Can I use Google Workspace for a nonprofit?

Yes. Google offers a 50% discount on Workspace plans for registered nonprofits. You must register your organization with Google for Nonprofits and provide proof of nonprofit status. The discount applies to up to 10 users per organization.

Do I need a custom domain to use Workspace?

Yes. You must own or control a domain name (like yourcompany.com) and be able to verify ownership by adding DNS records. If you do not have a domain, you can purchase one through Google Domains or another registrar, then point it to Workspace.

Can I use Workspace on my phone?

Yes. Google provides mobile apps for Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Calendar on iOS and Android. All plans have the same mobile app features. Mobile apps sync with your desktop version in real time.