Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) is Google’s productivity and collaboration suite — Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Meet, and Calendar, tied to your own domain. It is worth being clear that it is not a website host; rather, it is what many businesses use alongside their website for professional email and day-to-day teamwork. If you have a domain for your site, Google Workspace lets you run branded email on it.
This review covers what is included, the current plans and pricing, and who it suits.
At its core, Workspace bundles the familiar Google apps into a business package with admin controls, security, and support.
Gmail
Branded email at your own domain.
Docs, Sheets, Slides
Real-time collaborative documents.
Drive
Pooled cloud storage and file sharing.
Meet & Calendar
Video conferencing and scheduling.
Gemini AI
Bundled in (full access from Standard).
Admin & security
Controls, support, and data tools.
The appeal is a single, cloud-based suite everyone knows how to use, accessible from any device with a browser, plus dedicated mobile apps. Real-time collaboration in Docs, Sheets, and Slides is the standout — multiple people editing the same file at once, from anywhere.
Workspace comes in four main business tiers — Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, and Enterprise — increasing in storage, meeting size, security, and support.
Per user / month; cheaper billed annually. Gemini AI is bundled into every tier.
| Plan | Rough price (USD) | Pooled storage | Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Starter | ~$7–8 | 30 GB / user | Limited (Gmail) |
| Business Standard | ~$14–18 | 2 TB / user | Full, across apps |
| Business Plus | ~$22–28 | 5 TB / user | Full, across apps |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | As needed | Full + advanced |
Indicative USD figures that change with promotions — Google shows NZD pricing for NZ. Check Google’s site for current rates. No free business plan (14-day trial).
A few things to note. Prices are billed per user per month, cheaper on an annual commitment, and Google shows local NZD pricing for New Zealand customers, so treat the figures as an indicative guide and check the current rate. Storage is now pooled across your organisation rather than a flat allowance each. There is no free business plan, but every plan includes a 14-day trial.
An important recent change: since early 2025, Google’s Gemini AI is bundled into every paid Workspace plan rather than sold as a separate add-on, and base prices rose to absorb it. The old standalone Gemini add-ons no longer exist.
What you get depends on the tier. Business Starter includes only limited Gemini access (mainly in Gmail, with capped daily prompts), while full Gemini across Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet starts at Business Standard. So if AI assistance across the apps matters to you, Business Standard is the practical entry point, not Starter.
For most small businesses, the branded email is the main draw. Instead of a generic address, you get professional addresses at your own domain — [email protected] — running in the Gmail interface, with the storage, filtering, and admin tools of a business account.
You will need a domain for this, which you can register through a provider like 1st Domains or as part of buying your web address — our guide to buying domain extensions covers the options. Your website can be hosted anywhere; Workspace simply handles the email side.
Beyond the business plans, Google offers Workspace for Education, with tools like Google Classroom for schools, and Frontline editions for staff who work without a fixed desk, such as retail or field workers. These tailor the suite to those specific settings while keeping the same collaborative core.
Workspace suits businesses and teams that want reliable branded email and cloud collaboration in tools everyone already knows. For most New Zealand small businesses wanting professional email at their domain plus shared documents, it is a strong, low-friction choice.
If you only need a single email address and nothing more, a simpler email-hosting option may be cheaper. And remember it complements, rather than replaces, your website hosting — our main WordPress hosting NZ hub covers where your site itself lives.
This article is an independent overview, not a specific endorsement or purchasing advice. Google Workspace’s plans, features, and prices change often — confirm the current details, including NZD pricing, on Google’s own site before you buy.
It is Google’s business productivity suite — Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, Meet, and Calendar — tied to your own domain, with admin controls, security, and support. Formerly called G Suite, it is used for professional email and cloud collaboration. It is not a website host; it works alongside your website.
It is priced per user per month across four tiers — Business Starter, Standard, Plus, and Enterprise — cheaper on annual billing. Google shows NZD pricing for New Zealand, and the entry Starter plan is the most affordable. Check Google’s site for the current rate, as prices have risen since Gemini was bundled in.
Yes. Since early 2025, Gemini is bundled into every paid plan rather than sold separately. However, Business Starter includes only limited Gemini access, mainly in Gmail. Full Gemini across Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet starts at Business Standard, so that tier is the practical choice if AI matters to you.
Yes — that is one of the main reasons businesses use it. Workspace lets you create professional email addresses at your own domain, such as [email protected], running in Gmail. You will need a registered domain, which you can get from a domain provider or as part of setting up your website.
Storage is pooled across your organisation rather than a fixed amount each. Business Starter includes 30 GB per user in the pool, Business Standard 2 TB, and Business Plus 5 TB, with Enterprise higher still. The higher tiers suit teams that store and share a lot of files.
Yes. Google Workspace handles email and productivity, not your website. You host your website separately — on WordPress hosting, for example — and use Workspace for branded email and collaboration. The two work together: your domain points your site to your host and your email to Workspace.