Google stated in January that Workspace will require traditional G Suite free edition accounts to begin paying this year, but that has now been somewhat delayed. Those who choose the free option will eventually need to sign up for a waiting list in order to avoid paying anything.
Initially, it was said that legacy Google Apps users had until May 1 to choose a new premium Workspace plan. If they didn’t, they would automatically be upgraded, although billing wouldn’t begin until July 1. Your Google Workspace subscription will thereafter be put on hold until billing is established.
These deadlines have now been somewhat postponed to June 1 (for selection/auto-upgrade) and August 1, according to an updated support document (h/t Ron Amadeo ) (first payment).
Google promised a free transfer option that would likely transfer users to a free Gmail account after the initial announcement. They will no longer be able to manage multiple users or their own custom domain, but they will receive:
other Google services including Google Search, Google Maps, and YouTube, as well as services like Google Drive and Google Meet. You will still have access to any paid materials you have already purchased, such as Google Play Store movies.
If someone chooses that route, they must sign up for a forthcoming waiting list in the Google Admin console by June 1 to prevent having their account converted to Google Workspace. In the upcoming weeks, that list will be published.
Until the free option becomes available, those on the waiting list will continue to use the G Suite legacy free edition. We’ll be in touch with you when the free option becomes available with more information about what will happen to your account. Before any changes are made to your account, you will have 60 days to evaluate the free alternative or select Google Workspace.
The waiting list can be joined by users who have already upgraded to Workspace by using the contact support code.
In the meantime, there is some confusion on how the process of suspending an account works. What access end users who do nothing after August 1 will have is unclear.
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