Is Google Workspace free?

No. Google Workspace is a paid subscription starting at $7.20/user/month (Business Starter, annual plan). However, Google does offer a 14-day free trial with no credit card required for up to 10 users. There is also a free consumer version (personal Gmail + Drive) with 15 GB storage, but it lacks custom domain email, admin controls, shared drives, and AI features.

What's the difference between Google Workspace and free Gmail?

Google Workspace gives you custom email addresses (you@yourcompany.com instead of you@gmail.com), ad-free Gmail, 30 GB-5 TB pooled storage per user (vs 15 GB free), admin controls for managing users and devices, Shared Drives for team-owned files, advanced security features (DLP, Vault, context-aware access), and Gemini AI integration across all apps. Free Gmail is designed for individual consumers; Workspace is designed for businesses.

Does Google Workspace work offline?

Yes, with limitations. You can enable offline access for Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides through Chrome. You need to enable it before going offline (it won't retroactively cache everything). Offline editing works for Docs, Sheets, and Slides — changes sync automatically when you reconnect. However, the experience is not seamless: you must open files while online first to cache them, and some features (like real-time collaboration, Gemini AI, and AppSheet) require an active internet connection.

Is Gemini AI included in Google Workspace?

Gemini is included at no extra cost in Business Standard ($14.40/user/month) and above. Business Starter ($7.20/user/month) gets basic Gemini with limited functionality. The full Gemini experience — AI writing in Docs, formula generation in Sheets, slide creation in Slides, meeting summaries in Meet, and email drafting in Gmail — requires Business Standard or higher. Compare this to Microsoft 365 Copilot, which costs $30/user/month extra regardless of your plan.

How much does Google Workspace cost for a 10-person team?

On the annual plan: Business Starter is $72/month total ($864/year), Business Standard is $144/month total ($1,728/year), Business Plus is $216/month total ($2,592/year). The sweet spot for most teams is Business Standard at $14.40/user/month — you get 2 TB storage, full Gemini AI, meeting recordings, eSignature, and appointment scheduling. New customers also get 30% off the first 3 months.

Can I migrate from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace?

Yes. Google provides the Google Workspace Migrate tool (included in Business Standard+) for migrating email, calendar, and contacts from Exchange and Microsoft 365. For Drive migration, Google Drive for desktop can sync files. However, complex migrations — SharePoint sites, Access databases, Excel files with macros, and intricate folder permission structures — require additional effort or third-party migration services. Budget 1-3 weeks for a complete migration of a 50-person company.

Does Google Workspace integrate with Microsoft Office files?

Yes. Google Drive lets you open, edit, and save Office files (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) without converting them. The Office editing mode preserves formatting reasonably well, though complex features (macros, ActiveX controls, some chart types) may not transfer. You can also download any Google Doc as a .docx, any Sheet as .xlsx, and any Slide as .pptx. For teams that need to collaborate with external partners using Office, this is essential functionality.

How secure is Google Workspace?

Google Workspace encrypts data in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256). It's SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, ISO 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018, and FedRAMP authorized. Business Plus and Enterprise plans add Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Google Vault for eDiscovery and retention, and context-aware access. All plans include 2-step verification and security keys support. Google has not had a major Workspace data breach, though its privacy practices (data collection for AI training) raise concerns for some organizations.

What apps are included in Google Workspace?

Every plan includes: Gmail (custom domain), Google Drive (cloud storage), Google Docs (word processing), Google Sheets (spreadsheets), Google Slides (presentations), Google Meet (video conferencing), Google Calendar, Google Chat and Spaces (messaging), Google Forms (surveys), Google Sites (internal websites), Google Keep (notes), Google Apps Script (automation), AppSheet Core (no-code apps), Google Vids (AI video creation), and Google NotebookLM (AI research assistant). Higher tiers unlock advanced Gemini AI across these apps.

Can I use Google Workspace with my existing domain?

Yes. During setup, you verify domain ownership (usually via DNS TXT record or HTML file upload) and configure MX records to route email to Google's servers. The process takes 5-15 minutes depending on your domain registrar. Google provides step-by-step instructions for every major registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.). Once set up, you continue using your existing domain — the change is invisible to your customers.

What happens if I cancel Google Workspace?

If you cancel, you have 30 days to export your data using Google Takeout (a built-in export tool that downloads email, Drive files, contacts, and calendars in standard formats). After 30 days, your data is permanently deleted. You lose access to all Workspace services including custom email — any emails sent to your custom domain addresses will bounce if you haven't set up alternative email hosting. Google does not hold your data hostage: the Takeout export is straightforward and gives you standard-format files (MBOX for email, Office formats for documents).

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