In 2016, Google abbreviated “Google Apps for Your Domain” to “Google Apps” and changed the name to “G Suite.” The productivity suite underwent another name change to “Google Workspace” on October 6, 2020, as a result of Google streamlining its offering in response to the rising demand for online workspace and collaboration in 2019 and 2020.
Although Google Workspace initially appears to be exactly like G Suite, recent updates and additions have made it even better. Web-based apps from Google Workspace are accessible on Windows, Mac, and the best Chromebooks.
Google Workspace: What is it?
Users can access a virtual workplace with Google Workspace. It promotes teamwork, facilitates effective communication, and improves Google products that are used frequently in your workflow.
For individuals, companies, nonprofits, organisations, small businesses, and educational institutions, Google Workspace provides a selection of communication and productivity apps. Calendar, Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Sites, Keep, Meet, Drive, Chat, Google Spaces, and more tools are included in the productivity toolset. Small teams and companies are using Google Spaces to coordinate projects and facilitate communication. For more information about Google Spaces, visit our dedicated post.
Google promises improved integration, a better user experience, a new identity, and more with a redesigned Google Workspace.
Features of Google Workspace at a glance
Google didn’t simply change the name of G Suite to Google Workspace and move on. New icons for an uniform identity, a simplified user experience, and new add-ons to get beyond the restrictions of free personal Google accounts are all part of the makeover.
One such example is the latest makeover of Gmail, which unifies Chat, Meet, and Spaces. Checking file previews, reading emails, making video conversations, and chatting with coworkers don’t require you to switch between dozens of tabs. While Spaces controls group discussions and tasks, the Chat tab lets you have private interactions with team members.
Another time-saving feature is the enhanced @mentions and the capability to preview files in Sheets, Slides, and Docs. You receive ad-free Gmail, a longer meeting duration, meeting recording, and noise cancellation in Google Meet when compared to a free Google account.
The security features include group-based policy controls; data loss prevention (DLP); 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.
Cost of Google Workspace
Workspace plans are categorised by Google into three groups: Individual, Business, and Enterprise. Let’s examine each plan carefully to determine which is the best choice for you.
Individual Workspace Google
The Google Workspace Business plan is not required for everyone. The Individual Google Workplace plan can be appropriate for you if you are a sole proprietor, the owner of a small firm, or you have a side business with a few projects and clients.
You receive first-rate customer service, easy appointment scheduling, configurable Gmail layouts, and all of the Google Meet features for captivating video calls. Google just increased the Workspace Individual tier’s generous 1TB Google Drive storage allowance. In terms of storage, it may now compete with Microsoft 365 for Home options. An individual email address (@gmail.com as opposed to @androidpolice.com) is not available with the Individual plan. You must upgrade to one of the Google Workspace Business plans if you want a personalised email address.
Workspace Business by Google
Three Google Workspace Business options are available. Depending on the number of participants, the amount of storage needed, and the security features, you can choose one.
- Ideal for startups and small businesses is Google Workspace Business Starter. You can get a personalised email account, up to 100 people in a video meeting, 30GB of Google Drive storage per user, and fundamental security and administration features for $6 per user each month.
- Google justifies the price increase for Google Workspace Business Standard by raising the participant cap to 150 users and the user-specific Google Drive storage to 2TB. In Google Meet, you can record conversations that you can later share with others.
- Google Workspace Business Plus: Unlocks additional features such as 500 attendees in Google Meet, attendance tracking, 5TB of Drive storage per user, improved security standards including Vault, and comprehensive endpoint management.
Workspace Enterprise by Google
Get in touch with the sales team for the Enterprise plan if 500 members is insufficient. It includes every feature and bell that Google has to offer to businesses. You get increased support, enterprise endpoint management, in-domain livestreaming, unlimited Google Drive storage, and noise cancellation.
For accredited nonprofits and educational institutions, Google also provides different Workspace options.
Alternatives to Google Workspace
The major competitor to Google Workspace is Microsoft 365, the market leader. There are Home, Family, Business, and Enterprise options available for Microsoft 365. Every Workspace plan is rivalled by a variety of items offered by the company. For instance, Google Workspace Individual can be effectively replaced with Microsoft 365 for Home.
The multinational software corporation recently said that all of its apps and products would no longer have the Office logo. Office.com, the Office mobile app, and the Office software for Windows will all start to sport the Microsoft 365 branding in the upcoming months, along with a new symbol, a fresh new style, and even more features. You get native Office and communication (Teams) apps for Windows and Mac, in contrast to Google’s web-based alternatives.
Zoho Workspace and Kolab Now are additional, less well-liked Google Workspace substitutes.
Is Google Workspace pricey for what it offers?
You can’t go wrong with a Google Workspace Business package if you collaborate remotely. Use of Slack for team communication, Dropbox for cloud storage, or Zoom for group video conferencing is always an option, but you will have to pay separately for each service. A cohesive Google ecosystem is also lost.
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 in the future. The two-week free trial should be enough to make up your mind. Don’t forget to check Microsoft 365 plans if you prefer native Office apps, Teams, and OneDrive compared to Google’s off
Improve the output of your team.
Google Workspace can be a perfect solution for seamless video meetings, fluid communication, task collaboration, and file sharing whether you manage a tiny startup, medium-sized company, or large corporation. If you’re interested in the Google Workspace Individual plan, compare it to Microsoft 365 for Home in our comparison to find the productivity package that best suits your preferences and needs.