Google stops free legacy version of G Suite, moves users to Workspace

Users of the old Google G Suite will have to switch to a paid Workspace package from July 1. New users have been unable to use the free legacy package of Google services since 2012, but users who were still on it did not yet pay.

Google has sent an email to administrators and has posted a blog post explaining the changes. Admins of a free G Suite legacy package will need to move to a Google Workspace package starting May 1. That can be used for free until July 1 of this year, after which they have to pay for it. Google will transfer administrators who do not choose a package themselves to the package that best suits their use.

The change only applies to administrators of an old subscription of what started as Google Apps in 2006. That was a bundle of Gmail and Calendar, among others, that could be used for free by schools and companies. In 2016, that package changed to G Suite, which then also included Docs and Meet. In 2020, that package was renamed to Google Workspace again. Since 2012, it was no longer possible for new users to take out a free subscription to the package, but users who already had their package then did not have to pay anything. That period is now over, although Workspace does have two free packages available. Workspace for Education Fundamentals is a slimmed-down version of the education package, and there is a free version for foundations.

Update: there are still two free packages of Workspace available. That has been added.