Question 1

What’s the difference between Google Workspace and Google’s free apps?

Accepted Answer

With Google Workspace, you'll receive a number of additional business-grade services not included with Google’s free consumer apps. These services include: custom business email @yourcompany, twice the amount of cloud storage across Gmail and Drive, 24/7 phone and email support, 99.9% guaranteed uptime on business email, interoperability with Microsoft Outlook, additional security options like two-step authentication and SSO, and administrative controls for user accounts.

Question 2

Can I purchase individual Google Workspace apps?

Accepted Answer

No. When you sign up for Google Workspace, you’ll gain access to a set of integrated apps that work together seamlessly. For instance, you can receive a message in Gmail and instantly convert it into a Calendar event. When you make a comment in Docs, Sheets, or Slides, collaborators automatically receive email alerts. With a single click, you can join a video meeting in Meet from your inbox or calendar. Using these tools together improves productivity and gives your business the most value. However, you are welcome to purchase the suite and only use the services of your choice.

Question 3

Can I replace my current software with Google Workspace?

Accepted Answer

We’ve found that many of our customers are able to eliminate their existing productivity suites and rely exclusively on Google Workspace to create different kinds of files, including text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. You can work on those files in real time with other people and store them in the cloud with Google Drive. Google Workspace ’s apps work across devices. Unlike traditional desktop applications, there is no software to install. Google Workspace is also compatible with files made in other programs, such as Microsoft Office.

Question 4

How does Gmail in Google Workspace differ from free Gmail?

Accepted Answer

Google Workspace now offers various plans tailored to help find the right fit for you. In addition to Gmail for personal use (at no cost), Google Workspace offers Gmail Workspace Individual and Workspace Business accounts at a low cost, and include upgrades such as increased storage, custom email addresses or professional email layouts to help individuals, teams and business stay on top of everything. Learn more here.

Question 5

Can a user have multiple email addresses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A user can have multiple email addresses by creating email aliases. You can add up to 30 email aliases for each user.

Question 6

Can I migrate my existing email to Google Workspace?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Google Workspace migration tools are available for importing your old emails from legacy environments such as Microsoft®, IBM® Notes®, and other email systems. For more information on the tools available for data migrations into Google Workspace, see Migrate your organization’s data to Google Workspace .

Question 7

Can I create a Google Calendar for a group?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can create a calendar that's accessible to everyone in your organization (or a subset of users). For example, you might want a group calendar for events like team holidays and regular meetings.

Question 8

Can I migrate and sync all my calendars?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Calendar migration options are available for many types of calendars, including both Microsoft® and IBM®. For more information on the tools available for data migrations into Google Workspace, see Migrate your organization’s data to Google Workspace . For information on allowing Microsoft Exchange and Google Calendar to work together, examine the Calendar Interop tool. For additional information about syncing Google Calendar and IBM Notes, see Options when migrating from IBM Notes.

Question 9

Does Calendar have event reminders?

Accepted Answer

Yes. By default, Calendar displays a pop-up reminder 10 minutes before an event. You can change reminder times within Calendar's settings.

Question 10

Does Google Calendar offer appointment scheduling?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Anyone with a personal Google account can create one booking page that allows others to book time with you. Workspace subscribers get access to premium features including the ability to create an unlimited number of booking pages, collect payment through Stripe, verify booker emails, send email reminders, and check multiple calendar for availability.

Question 11

Can external participants join a call?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. For the no-cost version of Google Meet, participants can either sign in with a Google Account or be approved by the meeting organizer to join.  For Google Workspace customers, once you’ve created a meeting, you can invite anyone to join even if they don’t have a Google Account. Just share the link or meeting ID with all meeting participants.

Question 12

Is the meeting content secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All video and audio streams in Meet are encrypted. Users can join securely even when they're off site.

Question 13

Is a third-party service required for dial-in access?

Accepted Answer

No. With Google Workspace ’s Enterprise edition, you have the ability to include a phone number and PIN on each of your meetings with no other configuration required. Check the dial-in documentation for further details.

Question 14

What types of files can I upload to Drive?

Accepted Answer

You can upload any type of file to Drive and convert certain types of files to a web-based Google document format: Docs, Sheets, or Slides.

Question 15

How much storage do I get with Drive?

Accepted Answer

Free Google Drive users get 15 GB of storage. Storage for Google Workspace customers varies by edition. For details, please visit the Google Workspace pricing page for more information.

Question 16

How does Drive in Google Workspace differ from free Drive?

Accepted Answer

Google Workspace’s Drive provides twice the amount of storage, 24/7 phone and email support, sharing controls, and advanced reporting. You can upgrade to unlimited storage (accounts with fewer than 5 users get 1TB/user) for an additional fee. See Google Workspace’s pricing details for more information.

Question 17

Does Docs work offline?

Accepted Answer

Yes. This feature is available within a Chrome browser. If you haven't already, give Chrome a try—it's free and easy to install.

Question 18

Can I share Docs files externally?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can change each document's settings to grant anyone you choose editor, viewer or commenter access.

Question 19

Can I convert my existing documents into Docs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can convert many different file types into Docs format. The original file will remain intact.

Question 20

How do I start using Chat?

Accepted Answer

If you’re a current Google Workspace customer, Chat is free. Click here to get started right away.

Question 21

How is Google Chat different from previous messaging products from Google?

Accepted Answer

Chat is the newer and preferred platform to use for Google Workspace customers. Admins can easily migrate all classic Hangouts users to Google Chat.

Question 22

I’ve got an idea for a bot. How can I get started?

Accepted Answer

For resources on getting started, check out our comprehensive guides on the Developer page.

Question 23

How much does the Meet hardware kit cost? What are the specs?

Accepted Answer

There are many options for Meet room kits and devices that start around $2,000. Learn more about Google Meet hardware devices by Avocor, Logitech and Lenovo.

Question 24

Is it possible to use other peripherals?

Accepted Answer

The Meet hardware kits come with a set of components designed to deliver the best experience possible. If you would like to use third party hubs, cables, cameras, or speakermics, please check our Peripheral Qualification Program for more details.

Question 25

Does Meet hardware support whiteboarding?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Board 65 and Desk 27 support whiteboarding through integration with the Figjam, LucidSpark, and Miro apps.

Question 26

What formulas does Sheets support?

Accepted Answer

Sheets supports cell formulas typically found in most desktop spreadsheet packages. These formulas can be used to create functions that manipulate data and calculate strings and numbers.

Question 27

Can I convert other spreadsheets to Google Sheets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can convert Microsoft Excel spreadsheets into Google Sheets format, or you can directly edit Excel spreadsheets, without having to make a copy. The original file will remain intact.

Question 28

Can I use shortcuts in Sheets?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Multiple keyboard shortcuts are available for Sheets, and are always switched on. They are likely similar to many of the shortcuts you have used before.

Question 29

Do people need Google Workspace accounts to respond to forms?

Accepted Answer

No. Anyone can respond to Forms.

Question 30

Can I keep a form private to only my company?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The sharing settings for Forms make it easy to control who is able to view and edit your forms.

Question 31

Can Forms handle a large number of responses?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Forms can handle as much data as Sheets, and Sheets can currently handle 2 million cells of data. That's a lot of data.

Question 32

What kind of features does Slides offer?

Accepted Answer

You can draw charts and diagrams, insert objects and shapes, format text and images, enable animations, and much more. Learn more here.

Question 33

Can I convert other presentations to Google Slides?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can convert Microsoft PowerPoint presentations into Google Slides format, or you can directly edit PowerPoint presentations, without having to make a copy. The original file will remain intact.

Question 34

How does co-editing work?

Accepted Answer

Co-editing means that multiple people can work on the same slide at the same time, without having to send versions back and forth. Sharing settings allows you to control who can view and edit a slide, and revision history enables you to revert to earlier versions. Also available in Google Docs and Sheets.

Question 35

Can external visitors access a company site?

Accepted Answer

Yes. People outside your company can access your site, even without a Google Workspace account. You can also opt to restrict access through sharing settings.

Question 36

Can I still use the previous version of Sites?

Accepted Answer

If your company is using any previous version of Sites, there will be no disruption. Keep editing and sharing your Sites as you have previously.

Question 37

Can I purchase a domain through Google?

Accepted Answer

Google can help you purchase a domain through one of our domain host partners. During sign up, just select the option to 'Buy a new domain'. We'll then guide you through the process to help you set up Google Workspace for your new domain.

Question 38

What are the types of things I can do with Apps Script?

Accepted Answer

Apps Script makes it easy to automate, integrate, and extend Google Workspace. Check out some examples at the Solutions Gallery.

Question 39

Can I use Apps Script even if I don’t have a Google Workspace license?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Apps Script is available to anyone with a Gmail account.

Question 40

How do I get started with Apps Script?

Accepted Answer

Explore templates for inspiration on how you can solve both common and complex business challenges in the Solutions Gallery, or browse documentation for specifics, and take codelabs to learn more in the Google Workspace Developer Hub.

Question 41

Where can I get support?

Accepted Answer

Apps Script has a large online community on Stack Overflow and Google’s Apps Script Community to help answer any questions you have along the way.

Question 42

How do I sign in to my Admin console?

Accepted Answer

You can access your Admin console at admin.google.com. Enter your email address and password to sign in, and the console appears.

Question 43

What are user accounts?

Accepted Answer

User accounts give people a name and password for signing into Google Workspace , as well as an email address. You can also create accounts to use as mailing lists and give people alternate email addresses.

Question 44

Can I change data regions by organizational unit (OU)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can split the location of your covered data by OU. There are no restrictions on the number of splits or on the number of times you request a data move. Learn more

Question 45

What is eDiscovery?

Accepted Answer

Electronic discovery, or eDiscovery, is the process of searching and retrieving information in electronic format. It is useful for legal matters and prevents data loss from employee turnover.

Question 46

What happens to data in deleted accounts?

Accepted Answer

If you delete a user, all data associated with the user's account will be removed from Google. As a best practice, Google recommends suspending user accounts instead of deleting them.

Question 47

How do I purchase Google Workspace with Vault?

Accepted Answer

Vault is included with Google Workspace's Business and Enterprise editions. Once you start your free trial of Google Workspace, you can select and purchase one of these editions from within your Admin console. Alternatively, you can purchase by contacting sales.

Question 48

Is there additional cost for Mobile Management?

Accepted Answer

No. Mobile Management is included with Google Workspace because security is important and want to make sure you have the protection you need.

Question 49

Does Mobile Management work on Android and iOS?

Accepted Answer

Yes and yes. Admins can enforce policies across both Android and iOS so your employees can choose the device they’re comfortable with to get work done.

Question 50

How do I get started using Mobile Management?

Accepted Answer

Sign up for a free trial of Google Workspace. If you’re already using Google Workspace, you can learn how to enable Mobile Management from your Admin console.

Question 51

What are the differences between Google Workspace’s editions?

Accepted Answer

Google Workspace has three editions for companies with up to 300 users: Business Starter, Business Standard, and Business Plus. Companies with more than 300 users should consider our Enterprise offers. Please visit our pricing page to learn more.

Question 52

Does Google Workspace have a free trial?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer 14 days of Google Workspace service to new customers. Sign up for the free trial in minutes and create accounts for up to 10 people on your team. We’ll need to get your billing details to get your account set up, but you will only be charged after the free trial is over. You can cancel anytime. To get the most from your trial, we recommend trying at least 3 tasks you want to explore, such as collaborating on Docs, launching a video meeting in Meet, or checking Gmail from your mobile device.

Question 53

How do I purchase Google Workspace?

Accepted Answer

You can sign up for Google Workspace online or contact our sales team to get started. When you sign up online, you’ll automatically start with a free 14-day trial. We’ll need to get your billing details to get your account set up, but you will only be charged after the free trial is over. You can cancel anytime. Please note the trial is limited to 10 users. If you add more than 10 users during your trial period, the trial will end and you will begin payment.

Question 54

How do I cancel my trial if I decide not to purchase Google Workspace?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel your subscription at anytime in the Admin Console dashboard, under the Billing section. If you cancel within your 14 day trial period, you will not be charged. Please refer to this help center article for more information.

Question 55

What is the cost to setup and migrate to Google Workspace?

Accepted Answer

Following our setup guide, you can set up Google Workspace and migrate your information at no additional cost. Our Support team is available to help if needed. If you would like someone to do the setup and migration for your company, please contact a Google Partner to learn more about these services and the costs associated.

Question 56

What forms of payment does Google accept?

Accepted Answer

You can pay for your Google Workspace subscription using an international credit card. Google accepts payments from Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. In some locations, you can also pay by making withdrawals from a bank account (also called direct debit).

Question 57

Can I pay for a full year of Google Workspace up front rather than monthly?

Accepted Answer

Annual plans are offered only in some countries. Visit our pricing page to see if an annual plan is offered in your country.

Question 58

What constitutes a user in terms of pricing?

Accepted Answer

A user is defined as one personalized email address (name@yourcompany). A user can have multiple email addresses by creating email aliases. Group email aliases (such as support@yourcompany) don't count as users. You can add up to 30 email aliases for each user.

Question 59

If I plan to create email aliases for groups, does that alias count as a user I have to pay for? How many aliases can each user manage?

Accepted Answer

No. Each user can have multiple email addresses by creating email aliases. You can add up to 30 email aliases per user.

Question 60

Is a domain included as a part of Google Workspace?

Accepted Answer

No, the cost of a domain is separate from Google Workspace. During signup, you will specify the domain you want for your business email. If you don’t yet own the domain, you can purchase it from Google for an additional fee.

Question 61

Does Google accept multiple currencies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you first set up your billing, you will choose a country where you do business and which currency you would like to use to pay. Your country determines what payment methods you can use. Choose your country and currency carefully, as you can't change these selections later.

Question 62

How does Google keep my information secure and prevent unauthorized access to my data?

Accepted Answer

Google Workspace has been built from the ground up to mitigate the unique threats for cloud systems. Google’s standards for performance and reliability apply to businesses, schools and government institutions around the world. The technology, scale, and agility of our infrastructure bring unique security benefits to our customers. Our vast network of data centers are built with custom-designed servers, that run our own operating system for security and performance. Because Google controls its entire hardware stack, we are able to quickly respond to threats that may emerge. Google employs dedicated security professionals to work on protecting your data, including some of the world’s foremost experts in computer security. Just like all teams at Google, this team is constantly innovating and making the future more secure, not just for Google’s billion users, but for business organizations as well. Google has an outstanding track record of protecting user data. We protect this data from outside intrusions as well as insider threats. In addition, we tightly restrict and monitor any internal access to user data. The small set of employees with access is subject to rigorous authentication measures, detailed logging, and activity scanning to detect inappropriate access via log analysis. It is this unique combination of people, technology and agility that ensure your data is secure at Google. For more information, check out the Google Workspace Security Whitepaper.

Question 63

Does Google Workspace meet my compliance requirements?

Accepted Answer

Google designed Google Workspace with very stringent privacy and security standards based on industry best practices. This helps our customers address their compliance and regulatory requirements. Google offers strong contractual commitments regarding data ownership, data use, security, transparency, and accountability. Google undergoes several independent third-party audits on a regular basis. These independent auditors examine the controls present in our data centers, infrastructure, and operations. Examples of these audits and standards include: SOC1™, (SSAE-16/ISAE-3402), SOC2™, SOC3™, ISO27001, ISO 27018:2014 and FedRAMP. Learn more about our certifications at Security and Trust. Many Google Workspace services are also compliant with HIPAA (U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Google Workspace for Education can be used in compliance with laws and regulations important to schools.

Question 64

Is Google Workspace HIPAA compliant?

Accepted Answer

Google Workspace supports customers’ compliance with the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which governs the safeguarding, use, and disclosure of protected health information (PHI). Customers who are subject to HIPAA and wish to use Google Workspace for PHI processing or storage can sign a business associate addendum with Google. View more details about HIPAA compliance with Google Workspace.