Changes to Google Workspace pricing, including a price rise, were announced last month and will take effect tomorrow. Google has historically provided two payment options for the Workspace Business entry tiers. The Flexible Plan charges you “monthly for each user account,” whereas the Annual/Fixed-Term Plan requires you to commit to “buying the service for a full year or multiple years.”
The per-user, per-month pricing for both programs was the same regardless of how you paid: $6 for Business Starter, $12 for Business Standard, and $18 for Business Plus. This is now changing, with Flexible Plans increasing in price to $7.20, $14.40, and $21.60, respectively.
The Annual Plan pricing remains unchanged, but you will be able to purchase it directly online rather than through a “Google Sales Agent” beginning March 14. Existing Flexible Plan clients can also move to the Annual Plan using the Admin Portal.
- Flexible Plan: “You can add and remove accounts at any time and pay only for the accounts you have during that month. You can cancel service at any time without penalty.”
- Annual Plan: “If your team grows, you can purchase more licenses and your monthly rate goes up. You can reduce licenses or monthly payments only when renewing your plan at the end of the contract. If you cancel your subscription before the contract is up, you still pay for the full commitment.”
Google is also raising the price of Google Workspace Enterprise Standard, however as always, you must contact sales for pricing. “No list price adjustments to the other Enterprise editions, including education upgrades,” according to the company.
Finally, Google is “changing certain local currency pricing, which we monitor on a regular basis to ensure alignment with exchange rates to the US dollar.”
Pricing modifications for existing users will begin next month and will last through 2024, “depending on parameters such as the number of user licenses, current contract terms, and payment plan.” Google will give at least 30 days’ notice before making any changes.