Google Apps Pricing – standard version no longer available for new users

A success by any measure, Google Apps for Business has garnered more than 5 million businesses as customers. Despite being a great and valuable product, Google had managed to keep the Standard version of Google Apps free for users with 10 mailboxes or less. Prior to that, Google was even more generous offering the Standard version for any company with 50 or less mailboxes.

Alas, all that is over. As of December 6, 2012 Google will no longer allow sign-ups for the Google Apps Standard Edition package. Companies that have not yet signed up for Google Apps will now have to buy the regular version which costs $50/mailbox/year. In a blog announcement, Clay Bavor, Director of Director of Product Management for Google Apps, reasoned that the change was necessary in order to differentiate the consumer-oriented free products from the  business versions. Business users expect markedly different features such as extra storage, 24/7 phone support, and business-class security.

Here is a detailed summary of Google Apps pricing plans as of today:

• Individuals – free
• Google Apps for Business – $50/mailbox/year
• Google Apps for Government – $50/mailbox/year
• Google Apps for Education – free

This is still an excellent deal considering the features of Google Apps and their competition. If you wish to inquire about Google Apps for Business, please feel free to give us a call: (855)55-4APPS.

One can’t help but wonder whether Google will continue down this path and introduce further features and thus make Google Apps for Business even more unique. In the meantime, if you are already on the standard version fret not. You can continue to enjoy Google Apps Standard Edition for free (for now).

Hovanes (15 Posts)

Hovanes "Hovik" Manucharyan is CEO of Linkgard. Seasoned executive and consultant with more than a decade of experience in product development, information systems management, and security in various settings, including: Fortune 500 companies, state government, large multinational corporations, and small private firms.