A group of users with legacy Google Workspace accounts dating back to the G Suite era are in for a pleasant surprise. Despite Google's earlier plans to migrate all users to new subscription plans, some long-standing users will continue to enjoy their free accounts, with a recent development granting them additional storage at no extra cost.
Victory for legacy account holders
Google's rebranding of G Suite as Workspace in 2020 came with an announcement that users would need to transition to new subscription plans featuring pooled storage. However, users who had maintained legacy-free accounts for approximately a decade voiced their objections. In response, Google allowed them to retain their accounts free of charge, but exclusively for personal use.
Recent developments
Recently, some users with legacy accounts received emails notifying them that their separate subscriptions for additional individual storage had been cancelled. While they received refunds for their last payment, the key message in the email was, “While the subscription was cancelled, your storage limit has not changed, and you don't need to take any action.”
Google's spokesperson, Jenny Thomson, confirmed that these users will retain the extra storage space and maintain their legacy accounts, stating, “Customers who received this notification will maintain their storage allotment and can continue using their existing account.” This change also affects users who have transitioned to Workspace accounts but still manage user storage through Google Play, as individual storage will not be added to pooled storage totals.
Uncertain future
While the current situation is favourable for users with long-held free accounts, there is no guarantee that Google will not alter its stance in the future. Nevertheless, for now, users with free G Suite accounts dating back over a decade can continue to enjoy their accounts, along with the added bonus of free storage.
