Google is finally ditching the legacy version of G Suite, forcing anyone using the free version to upgrade to a premium Google Workspace plan. The only users unaffected by this change would be nonprofit organizations and educational institutions, which can continue to use Google Workspace’s free plans.
From May 1, 2022, Google’s collaboration, communication, and productivity tools will require a subscription fee. Those without the budget will have to look elsewhere to get these services. So, to help those in need, these are the four best G Suite alternatives you can use instead.
This suite of apps offers similar functionality to Google Workspace. You get an email service with a custom domain, file management, productivity apps, communications, and even online meeting space. Although they offer a 15-day free trial for the Professional Plan, you can opt to use their Forever Free Plan if you don’t want to spend yet.
The free option lets you have up to five users in your workspace. Each user gets up to 5GB of storage space and a 25MB email attachment limit. You also don’t have access to Zoho apps on your devices, so you’ll have to be content using your web browser.
Despite those limitations, this is an excellent choice for new users and businesses who don’t have extra budget to spare. And when the time comes that you need to expand your operations, Zoho’s plans are affordable, at only $1, $3, or $6 per user, per month only.
This is another free collaboration and communication tool you can use to replace G Suite. Although it doesn’t have its own productivity apps, you can integrate it with Google Docs or Microsoft 365, allowing you to choose the suite you’re more comfortable working with.
One significant advantage you get with Bitrix24 is that its Free plan has unlimited users. This is perfect for those who work with several people or want to share their workspace with their clients temporarily. It also includes a website builder, allowing you to create your own company page for free.
The free plan is limited to 5GB of space shared among all users. If you need more storage, you can upgrade to the Basic Plan, which has 24GB for up to five users, or the Standard Plan, which offers 100GB for up to 50 users. The top-tier Professional Plan allows you to have unlimited users again, and it bumps up your storage to 1TB.
Although Microsoft’s workspace collaboration tool only offers a one-month free trial, its apps, familiarity, and affordability make it a viable option over Google Workspace. The Business Basic plan comes with the complete web and app version of the Office Suite, plus 1TB of OneDrive storage per user.
You also get 24/7 phone and online support, ensuring you can troubleshoot any issue that might arise anytime, anywhere. You also get access to a 50GB email inbox with a custom domain name, plus the complete power of Microsoft Teams.
The Business Basic plan only costs $5/user/month, saving you $12/user annually over Google’s offering. You do have to note, though, that Microsoft will increase this to $6/user/month by March 1, 2022, making it cost the same as Google Workspace.
But if you want to install Microsoft’s desktop apps on your computer, you can upgrade to the Business Standard plan, which will set you back $12.50/user/month. This option is $6/user/year more expensive than Google’s same offering. However, Google doesn’t offer desktop apps of their Google Docs suite.
If you’re already familiar with Google and don’t want to switch providers, then you should consider subscribing to Google Workspace. While the Business Starter plan is a bit more expensive than Microsoft’s offering, it offers a 30% discount to new users, saving you quite a bit of money.
For those after massive file storage like digital creative teams, the Business Standard plan offers 2TB cloud storage per user, double what Microsoft offers. Plus, your custom email domain is handled by Gmail, one of the most reliable and popular email services today.
It’s Time to Pay Up
After years of free use, Google Workspace now requires its users to invest in their services. So, unless you’re a nonprofit or educational institution, you’ll have to pay a reasonable monthly amount to access it come May 2022.
While this is an additional burden on your business operation, consider it an investment. After all, the value it delivers is worth far more than what Google is asking. And if in case you really can’t spare extra, you can migrate to the other services listed above to keep your operation running smoothly.
