Google Workspace for Education pricing and licensing

Google Workspace for Education's licensing model ensures the product is deployed in a manner that aligns with our Google Workspace for Education terms of service . Key requirements are outlined in detail in this article, providing clarity on current and future policies governing the purchase of Google Workspace for Education subscriptions. By adhering to these requirements, you can maximize the benefits of Google Workspace for Education while ensuring compliance with established guidelines.

Google Workspace for Education licensing

Review Google Workspace for Education licensing model

Beginning in 2024, Google Workspace for Education transitioned to a per-user licensing model in which all active users, including all students and staff in a domain, be assigned an Education Fundamentals license. This allows active users in your organization full access to the tools and capabilities included in Education Fundamentals.

For users who do not require full access to Education Fundamentals we introduced new, free of charge license types - Gmail Only and Archive User - to help administrators ensure their users have access to the right level of functionality. When assigned, these new license types free up Education Fundamentals licenses to be assigned to future users within your domain - because every active user requires an Education Fundamentals license.

When purchasing a paid Google Workspace for Education edition, the same model of per-user licensing for all active users applies. This reflects our policy that Education Standard and Education Plus subscriptions are designed to cover all active users within an organization, not just a subset. To ensure your users have access to full product functionality, you must do the following:

• License every active user–Purchase enough paid licenses (Education Standard or Education Plus) to cover every user who has an Education Fundamentals license.
• Assign licenses– For each user, administrators must ensure users have both the Education Fundamentals and a paid license (Education Standard or Education Plus) assigned.

Google Workspace for Education pricing and licensing updates

Beginning in 2025, we are changing our pricing and licensing model.

Streamlining the Education Standard and Education Plus licensing model:

We are moving to a single license type for both Education Standard and Education Plus subscriptions. Previously, Education Plus had different licenses for staff and students because they had different features. Moving forward, all licenses have access to the same features, so we're moving to one single license type for all users. This single license type will simplify licensing assignment and ordering processes, unify support start and end dates for clearer subscription management, and will help speed up the ordering and renewals process. 

Current model

Future model

Customers purchasing Education Plus or Education Standard receive 1 staff license at no cost for every 4 paid student licenses.

There will no longer be separate staff and student licenses.This means you will no longer receive a staff license at no cost for every four student licenses purchased. Instead, customers should cover each of their active Education Fundamentals licenses with either an Education Plus or an Education Standard license. Renewing Education Plus customers increasing their paid licenses by 10% will qualify for a 10% discount on the first year of their renewal as they make this transition to a single license type.

Minimum purchase requirements

We are updating the minimum purchase requirements to reflect the transition to a single license type for Education Standard and Education Plus subscriptions. Customers can also assign Gmail only or Archive user licenses as needed to manage licenses in their domain. The Gmail only license is an option for admins who want to provide alumni, staff and other users continued access to Gmail, Calendar, Meet (participant-only) and some other services, without using an Education Fundamentals license..

Pricing adjustments

We are adjusting our global list prices to align with the investments we are making to bring premium value through features and functionality to our paid editions .

When pricing & licensing changes take effect

The specific date new pricing and minimum purchase requirements take effect depend on your plan type and other factors. We will provide customers with existing subscriptions at least 30 days notice before any updates to pricing take effect. Any attempts to end existing commitments early to rebook before new pricing takes effect will be blocked.

• Flexible Plan—Customers on a Flexible Plan will have new pricing take effect no sooner than October 1, 2025.
• Annual Plan—This table below provides an overview of the earliest date new pricing and minimum purchase requirements will go in effect for annual plans, based on customer transaction type.

Transaction type	New pricing and licensing in effect no sooner than	Example scenario
New purchase	October 1, 2025	Education Fundamentals to Education Plus
Renewal*	February 1, 2026	Education Plus renewing on Education Plus
Downgrade	October 1, 2025	Education Plus to Teaching and Learning add-on
Repurchase (long-term lapse)	October 1, 2025	30+ day lapse between Education Plus renewal date and Education Plus repurchase
Upgrade (at renewal & mid-term)	February 1, 2026	Education Standard to Education Plus
Repurchase (short-term lapse)	February 1, 2026	Less than 30 days between Education Plus renewal date and Education Plus repurchase

^* Customers renewing between Oct 1, 2025and Feb 1, 2026can purchase annual commitments on the existing pricing and licensing structure. Customers interested in purchasing a multi-year commitment during this period can move to the new pricing and licensing structure. Contact your Google Workspace for Education reseller to learn more about these options.

Gemini Education add-on updates

Note: Starting August 28, 2025, the Gemini Education add-on has been renamed to Google AI Pro for Education and Gemini Education Premium is no longer available for sale.

We are simplifying our offerings and providing full access to our powerful generative AI capabilities across Gemini in Workspace, the Gemini app, and NotebookLM at a lower price point.

Pricing & licensing guidelines

Compare Google Workspace for Education subscription options .

Verification letters

Verification letters are required for all Education Standard and Education Plus orders. Your reseller will ask you to complete a letter at time of first purchase, and might also require a letter at renewal if your edition or license count changes. All customers renewing on or after October 1, 2025 will be required to purchase licenses equal to or greater than the sum of their total student enrollment(representing all students, including full and part time) and all staff requiring an active Education Fundamentals license.

Compare payment plans

You can choose between 2 payment plans for your Google Workspace for Education subscription.

• Annual/Fixed-Term Plan

  You commit to purchasing the edition for a full year or multiple years. Your price depends on the number of user licenses you purchase. If your institution grows, you can purchase more licenses for the remainder of your subscription period and your price would be adjusted on a prorated basis. You can reduce licenses only when renewing your plan at the end of the contract period. If you cancel your subscription before the subscription renewal date, you’ll be charged for the remaining balance (commitment cancellation fee) of your contract. No refunds are issued if you cancel during your commitment term.

• Flexible Plan

  You’re billed monthly for each user account, with no commitment, providing you with more flexibility. You can add and remove user accounts at any time. You pay only for the accounts that you have during a month. You can cancel your subscription at any time without penalty. Flexible plans are only available for Google AI Pro for Education add-on and Teaching and Learning add-on, and are offered at a higher monthly price than annual plans.

Discounts

Multi-year contracts and discounts

Google offers automatic discounts for customers who contractually commit to a multi-year purchase (two years or more) of Education Plus. Multi-year contracts are not offered for the Teaching and Learning add-on or Education Standard.

Country specific discounts

Google offers discounted Google Workspace for Education subscriptions in some countries. This discounted price is based on the country selected during the purchase of Google Workspace for Education services, which should reflect where your institution is geographically located and where a majority of your users access Google Workspace for Education services.

For customers transacting in USD, your local list price is determined by applying your country discount to the global list price. For customers transacting in supported currencies other than USD, your local list price is determined by converting from USD to your local currency and then further reducing the price based on the discount in your country.

To learn more about discounted pricing contact your Google Workspace for Education reseller . If you do not have a Google Workspace for Education reseller, contact a Google Education representative .

Google AI Pro for Educationdiscounts

Note: Starting August 28, 2025, the Gemini Education add-on will be renamed to Google AI Pro for Education and Gemini Education Premium will no longer be available for sale.

Google offers volume-based discounts on Google AI Pro for Education add-ons to help institutions deploy premium AI solutions at scale. To learn more about discounted pricing, contact your Google Workspace for Education reseller . If you do not have a Google Workspace for Education reseller, contact a Google for Education representative .

Renewals and canceling your subscription

Subscription Auto Renewal

At the end of each subscription term, your Google Workspace for Education paid subscription will automatically renew for an additional 12 months. If you want to cancel your subscription or if you choose not to renew, you must notify Google or your reseller at least 15 days before the end of the then-current term, and any changes will take effect at the end of the then-current term.

Additional Storage renewals

To avoid disruption, customers and partners should submit renewal orders 90 days to 7 business days before the renewal date. Orders submitted after this window might result in a lapse of the Workspace Additional Storage add-on and a service disruption. In the event of a reseller transfer at renewal, partners and customers should ensure that all Education Plus licenses are assigned to users in the domain. Failure to assign Education Plus licenses may result in storage overages and a service disruption.

Canceling your subscription

If you cancel your subscription before the contract ends, you’re still responsible for the full value of your original commitment. Termination or non renewal under any section of our Terms of Service will not oblige Google to refund any fees.

Related topic

• Education editions FAQ
• Google Workspace for Education licensing
• Compare Google Workspace for Education editions