Google Workspace Services

Choosing the right Google Workspace plan is essential to ensuring your team has the tools and resources it needs to collaborate, communicate, and stay productive. Google offers several plans, but two of the most popular for small and growing businesses are the Business Starter and Business Standard plans. This blog compares these two options to help you determine which one is right for your organization.

1. Gmail and Professional Email

Both plans offer Gmail with custom domain support, providing a professional email solution. You'll enjoy Google’s spam protection, smart compose, email scheduling, and powerful search regardless of the plan you choose.

2. Cloud Storage

Business Starter: 30 GB of cloud storage per user, shared across Gmail and Drive.

Business Standard: 2 TB of cloud storage per user, with shared drives and enhanced storage management.

For teams working with large files, or storing a lot of shared documents and media, the upgrade to Business Standard offers a significant boost in space and flexibility.

3. Google Meet Features

Business Starter: Host video meetings with up to 100 participants.

Business Standard: Host video meetings with up to 150 participants and gain access to meeting recordings, breakout rooms, hand-raising, and noise cancellation.

The Business Standard plan is ideal for organizations that rely heavily on virtual meetings and webinars.

4. Collaboration Tools

Both plans include access to Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Keep, and Jamboard. Real-time collaboration, commenting, and version history are standard across both tiers, making them equally effective for day-to-day collaboration.

5. Shared Drives

Shared Drives are only available with the Business Standard plan. They allow teams to store files in a space owned by the organization, ensuring continuity when users leave the company.

6. Security and Admin Controls

Both plans offer security features like 2-step verification and basic mobile device management. Business Standard includes more advanced options such as audit logs and the ability to manage shared drives.

7. Pricing

• Business Starter: ₹125/month per user
• Business Standard: ₹672/month per user

The price difference reflects the added features, particularly the expanded storage, meeting tools, and admin capabilities. For many businesses, the ROI from these additions can be substantial.

Which Plan Should You Choose?

Choose Business Starter if:

• You are a small team or startup on a tight budget
• You don’t require a lot of storage or meeting features
• You want core collaboration and email tools at a minimal cost

Choose Business Standard if:

• You need more storage and shared drives
• You conduct frequent video meetings
• You want more administrative control and enhanced security features

Conclusion

Both Google Workspace Business Starter and Business Standard provide excellent tools for modern teams. Your decision should depend on your specific needs in terms of storage, communication, and collaboration. Business Starter is perfect for lean teams just getting started, while Business Standard is a better fit for growing companies ready to scale. If you're unsure, try Business Starter first and upgrade as your needs evolve.