Google Chat review

Google Chat makes sense when the company already lives in Gmail and Drive, because it comes with every Google Workspace plan rather than as a separate bill. The Workspace pricing page lists Chat team messaging across Business Starter, Standard and Plus, alongside a custom business email address, Google Meet video meetings for 100 participants on Starter and the Gemini AI assistant in Gmail. Business Starter includes 30 GB of pooled storage per user, Business Standard 2 TB and Business Plus 5 TB. The comparison table also lists Gemini in Chat, which finds, summarizes and translates chats, but marks it as not supported on some plans. Business plans are sold for up to 300 users, Enterprise has no user limit, and new customers can try Workspace for 14 days. From our location the page showed prices in zloty only, so the US dollar price is pending. Teams that do not want Gmail or a full office suite will find a dedicated chat app cheaper.

Who it is for

companies that already run Gmail and Google Drive

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Team messaging included in Google Workspace Business Starter, Standard and Plus
• Business Starter includes 30 GB of pooled storage per person
• Business Starter video meetings in Google Meet hold 100 participants
• Custom business email and the Gemini AI assistant in Gmail on Business Starter
• Gemini in Chat finds, summarizes and translates chats on supported plans

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Chat sits next to Gmail, Calendar, Meet and Drive in one subscription
• Strength: 14 day Google Workspace trial
• Strength: Business Standard raises pooled storage to 2 TB per user
• Weakness: No standalone Chat plan; you buy a Google Workspace subscription
• Weakness: Business plans are sold for a maximum of 300 users
• Weakness: Gemini in Chat is not supported on every plan

Key facts

• Included in: Google Workspace Business and Enterprise plans
• Business Starter storage: 30 GB pooled per user
• Business plan cap: 300 users
• Free trial: 14 days

Where it ranks

Google Chat is No. 3 in our Best Slack Alternatives verdict.