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Google Chat
What Google Chat is
Google Chat is a messaging and collaboration service included with Google Workspace at no additional cost. It runs in a web browser and on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Teams can use channels and guest access, while persistent collaboration spaces can hold up to 500,000 members. Administrators can set message history to be on or off by default.
Chat connects with Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Meet, and Google Groups, as well as services including Asana, Jira, PagerDuty, GitHub, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Trello, and Zapier. Organizations can build custom apps with Chat APIs and Apps Script. Data can be migrated from Slack or Teams, with interoperability solutions also available. Gemini in Chat can summarize conversations, identify action items, translate, and help brainstorm.
Google Workspace offers a 14-day free trial. Business Starter costs $7 a month on an annual commitment, billed monthly for a year, and supports up to 300 users. Business Standard costs $14 a month and Business Plus costs $22 a month on the same billing basis. Workspace subscriptions also include apps such as Gmail, Meet, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Sites.
Who it suits
Google Chat suits people and organizations that want messaging alongside Google Workspace apps, with access across desktop, mobile, and web. Its large collaboration spaces and guest access may also suit teams that need to work with many members or outside participants.
What it does well
- Included with Google Workspace at no additional cost.
- Available on web, desktop, and mobile platforms.
- Persistent spaces support up to 500,000 members.
- Connects with Workspace apps and listed third-party services.
- Administrators can set the default message history behavior.
- Gemini can summarize, translate, and share action items.
What to know first
- Business Starter's annual commitment costs $7 a month.
- The Base plan supports a maximum of 20 users.
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales.
Limits
The Base plan supports up to 20 users. Business Starter and Standard support up to 300 users; persistent collaboration spaces can hold up to 500,000 members.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Business Starter | Annual/Fixed-Term Plan; billed monthly for a yearly commitment · 30 GB pooled storage per user · Maximum 300 users | $7 a month |
| Business Standard | Annual/Fixed-Term Plan; billed monthly for a yearly commitment · 2 TB pooled storage per user · Maximum 300 users | $14 a month |
| Business Plus | Annual/Fixed-Term Plan; billed monthly for a yearly commitment · 5 TB pooled storage per user · Maximum 300 users | $22 a month |
| Enterprise | Enterprise security and management controls · DLP and context-aware access · Enhanced support options | On request |
| Base | billed monthly | On request |
| Starter | billed monthly | On request |
As workspace.google.com lists them, read 20 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Google Chat product website.
- Choose the web version or use Chat on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android.
- Use Google Chat through Google Workspace, which includes it at no additional cost.
- Start a 14-day Google Workspace trial if you want to try a paid Workspace plan.
- Choose a Workspace plan based on its listed user limit and annual billing terms.
Verdict
Choose Google Chat if you want messaging integrated with Google Workspace, broad platform support, and collaboration spaces that can accommodate up to 500,000 members. Look elsewhere if you need a paid plan with a published Enterprise price or need the Base plan to support more than 20 users.
Questions
Is Google Chat free?
Google Chat is included with Google Workspace at no additional cost. Google Workspace also offers a 14-day free trial.
What platforms does Google Chat support?
It is available on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
How much does a paid plan cost?
Business Starter is $7 a month, Business Standard is $14 a month, and Business Plus is $22 a month, each on an annual commitment billed monthly for a year.
How many people can use a plan or space?
The Base plan supports up to 20 users. Business Starter and Standard support up to 300 users, and persistent collaboration spaces can hold up to 500,000 members.
Which services does Google Chat integrate with?
It integrates with Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Meet, and Google Groups, as well as services including Asana, Jira, GitHub, Salesforce, and Trello.
Can organizations build custom apps for Chat?
Yes. Organizations can use Chat APIs and Apps Script to build custom apps.
Facts from Google Chat's own pages
- Admin support
- Google Workspace provides support resources for administrators and users. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Annual commitment
- Annual/Fixed-Term plans can charge the full commitment term at the end of the first month. · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Attack protection
- Google Workspace email protection blocks more than 99.9% of attacks. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Base user limit
- The Base plan supports a maximum of 20 users. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Monthly billing
- Paid subscriptions are automatically charged at the beginning of each month. · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Channels
- Yes · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Included with Workspace
- Google Chat is included with Google Workspace at no additional cost. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Popular integrations
- Integrations include Asana, Datadog, GitHub, HubSpot, Jira, Salesforce, Trello, Workday, and more. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Custom apps
- Organizations can build custom apps with Chat APIs and Apps Script. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Enterprise controls
- Enterprise includes DLP, context-aware access, data regions, and endpoint management. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Free trial
- Google Workspace provides a 14-day free trial. · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Gemini in Chat
- Gemini can summarize conversations, share action items, translate, and brainstorm. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Guest access
- Yes · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- Gmail,Calendar,Drive,Meet,Google Groups,Asana,Jira,PagerDuty,GitHub,Workday,Salesforce,ServiceNow,Trello,Zapier · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Maximum members
- 500000 · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 20 Sept 2026
- History control
- Administrators can turn Chat history on or off by default. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Migration support
- Existing data can be migrated from Slack or Teams, with interoperability solutions available. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Space member limit
- Persistent collaboration spaces support up to 500,000 members. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Supported platforms
- Web,Windows,macOS,Linux,iOS,Android · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Security and privacy
- Some Workspace plans include enterprise-grade security and privacy. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Business user limit
- Starter and Standard plans support up to 300 users. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026
- Paid from
- 7 · knowledge.workspace.google.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Included apps
- Workspace plans include Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Chat, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, and Sites. · workspace.google.com, 28 Sept 2026