Difference between Gmail and Google Workspace
Google’s free web-based email service is Gmail that is one of the most popular products of Google Mail. Gmail provides an email solution that is perfect for personal or business use. You may also use a variety of productivity applications from Google, such as Slides, Sheets, and Docs. Why bother upgrading to the paid version of Google Workspace when you can already use the free version with Gmail and the other apps that you want? You get a host of benefits and additional features with the paid versions. Google Workspace is made for collaboration and offers additional customization, integration, security, and storage, all suited to business users.
The second area of productivity solution that Google Workspace offers is the office suite of applications every office needs. So what is the difference between Gmail and Google Workspace, and why do you need them? In this case, we need to first understand what all of these services do before, after that we can see what is the difference between Gmail and Google Workspace.
What is Gmail?
Gmail is Google’s free web-based email hosting service. It was introduced in 2004 by invitation-only and became available to the public in 2009. Currently, Gmail has an impressive user base of around 1.5 billion users with some estimates reaching 1.8 billion. When you sign up for a Gmail account, you receive 15GB of free cloud storage across your Gmail, Google Photos, and Google Drive. One of the most used and demanded online services at the moment is considered Gmail or Google Mail, which is a free smart webmail service which belong to the largest search engine internationally. The Gmail client lets you create, send, retrieve, and delete your email messages. Some of its features are very strong and it becomes one of the most used free email clients because some of what they offer costs money to other clients.
It has some useful add-ons from other Google services such as the ability to have conversations through email and the integration with Google Drive. In addition to this, it also comes with other quality of life features such as being able to unsend emails making it ideal for use as a personal email account.
What Is Google Workspace?
Google Workspace is the newest and most powerful enterprise productivity software developed by Google. This Corporate version of Gmail offers even more features than personal Gmail is effective for collaboration as well as security than the free Gmail version.
Similar to Gmail, Google Workspace enables you to use your mail and documents as well as to share them with other people. Yet, Google Workspace provides more tools and functionalities than Gmail, making it a superior suite.
First of all, it is more business focused offering messaging, scheduling and file sharing all in one package. It enables you to interact with the other team members, clients and customers.
Another productivity tool that Google Workspace offers is Google Hangouts, as well as Docs, which among many things, enable one to record audio and video and edit documents.
The Benefits of Using Google Workspace for Businesses
Google Workspace is used specifically for businesses, allowing access to productivity tools to improve the way of your business work and collaborate. This includes calendar, document, file storage, and collaboration tools to help you work alongside anyone. You can collaborate with anyone using Google Workspace by sharing documents or files related to your business. Your colleagues or clients who have access can make changes to files, even those that do not use Google Workspace.
Another part of Google Workspace that is beneficial is using Google Hangouts for better communication. You can use Google Hangouts to communicate better. Google Workspace is used by almost all businesses, especially larger companies that have it all in one place instead of using multiple programs. Another important administrative feature is mailbox and resource management for your business. You can audit and check user emails as an administrator. You may also take control to minimize the risk for your company.
However, the most important feature is its website integration, which enables you to utilize Google cloud solutions, such as Gmail, in connection with your business email (yourname@company.com). This feature is exclusively available to Google Workspace users and is not available to free users.
What are the Major Differences Between Gmail and Google Workspace?
| Category | Gmail | Google Workspace |
| Price | It is Free of cost. | It cost $12/user/month for the basic business plan. |
| Email Address | Gmail: You must use the Gmail domain in your email address (e.g., you-decide@gmail.com) | Custom address with your own domain for all employees (e.g., employee-name@mydomain.com) |
| Storage | Only 15GB space is free | It is having 30GB (basic plan) to Unlimited (enterprise) |
| Security | Basic security, spam filters, and phishing protection | It has advanced email security measures such as MIME email encryption, eDiscovery, and retention |
| Integrations | Gmail add-ons features available. | Advanced integrations, such as Okta, Outlook sync, email signature management, and more |
| Video Meetings | Connect meet with up to 100 participants for up to 60 minutes per meeting | Meet with 150-500 participants (depending on the plan) with no time limit, record meetings and store on Google Cloud, background noise cancellation |
| Chats | Integrated Google Chats in Gmail | Access to Google Hangouts (a more limited version of Google Chats) |
| Support | Troubleshooting through Gmail Help Centre | 24/7 support |
| Supported Devices | Desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets, accessible through any web browser or various apps available for Android and iOS devices | Same device support with additional business-focused apps and features |
Below is the Google Workspace Pricing list:
Interactive Tools you get with G Suite but not with Gmail
Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) offers several collaboration tools that are not available with a standard Gmail account. Here are some of the key collaboration tools you get with Google Workspace but not with Gmail
Google Drive for Business:
Shared drives for centralized file storage and team collaboration.
Google Chat and Spaces:
Integrated team communication with group chats, file sharing, and task management.
Google Sites:
Tool for creating and collaborating on internal websites for projects and communications.
Cloud Search:
Enterprise search tool for finding content across all Google Workspace apps.
Admin Console:
Centralized management of user accounts, apps, and security within the organization.
Google Vault:
Archiving and eDiscovery tool for data retention, search, and export, ensuring compliance.
Jamboard:
A digital whiteboard for real-time brainstorming and idea sharing.
AppSheet:
A no-code platform for building custom apps that integrate with Google Workspace for improved productivity.
Choosing the Right Google Workspace Plan: Key Factors to Consider
Team Size: Determine the number of users who need email access.
Administrative Controls: Assess the level of control and management you require over user accounts and data.
Storage Requirements: Evaluate how much cloud storage space your organization needs.
Customer Support: Consider the level of customer service and support necessary for your operations.
In conclusion :
The most suitable productivity option for you will vary based on your specific business requirements. If you are in need of a free email client for personal use, Gmail is the superior choice. However, if you require a more extensive productivity suite, Google Workspace would be the superior choice. It provides a greater range of productivity tools compared to Gmail, resulting in enhanced effectiveness. It also provides you with increased authority over your resources, enabling you to efficiently manage them.
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