Here’s a detailed comparison of Free Google Calendar, Google Workspace Business Starter, and Business Standard, showing how each plan’s calendar features stack up and what you get for your money:
| Feature | Free Google Calendar | Business Starter (Workspace) | Business Standard (Workspace) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per user/month | $0 | $7 (annual) / $8.40 (flex) | $14 (annual) / $16.80 (flex) |
| Custom domain email | No | Yes | Yes |
| Share calendars (edit access) | View-only | Yes | Yes |
| Resource booking (rooms, etc.) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Appointment slots/booking pages | No | No | Yes |
| Working hours/location sharing | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Admin controls/security | No | Basic | Enhanced |
| Team collaboration | Basic | Advanced | Advanced |
| Analytics/time insights | No | No | Yes |
| Max storage | Personal Google storage | 30 GB pooled/user | 2 TB pooled/user |
| Support | Community | 24/7 business support | 24/7 business support |
| Integration with Gmail/Meet | Basic | Deep integration | Deep integration |
| Shared drives | No | No | Yes |
| Polls, Q&A in Meet | No | No | Yes |
| Meeting recording | No | No | Yes |
Feature Highlights & Explanations
- Share calendars (edit access):
Free users can share calendars for viewing, but only Workspace users can grant edit access to others, enabling true collaborative scheduling. - Resource booking:
Only Workspace plans let you reserve meeting rooms and other resources directly on the calendar. - Appointment slots/booking pages:
Business Standard introduces appointment scheduling and public booking pages, so clients or colleagues can book time with you without back-and-forth emails. - Working hours/location:
Workspace users can set and share working hours and locations, making it easier to schedule meetings that fit everyone’s availability. - Admin controls/security:
Workspace plans include admin tools for managing users, permissions, and security. Business Standard offers enhanced controls for larger or security-focused organizations. - Analytics/time insights:
Business Standard provides reporting on meeting patterns and time allocation, helping teams optimize productivity. - Shared drives:
Only available in Business Standard, shared drives are designed for team file storage and collaboration. - Polls, Q&A, and meeting recording:
These advanced Meet features are only included in Business Standard, not in Starter or the free version.
For more detail on these features, see:
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