What Google Workspace does well
- Best-in-class collaboration and real-time editing
- Gemini AI woven through Gmail, Docs, and Meet
- Reliability and scale that's hard to match
- Familiar to almost everyone you hire
Google Workspace Alternative: Nextcloud vs Google
Google Workspace charges per user, every month, forever. Nextcloud on our hosting is flat: one price for the whole team, your files on your own server, with no AI scanning your data.
Free migration · No contract · 30-day refund
Side by side
Nextcloud on Last Hour vs Google Workspace
The headline difference is the pricing model: per-user vs flat. The second is who can read your data.
| Nextcloud on Last Hour | Google Workspace | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | $49/mo flat for up to 100 users | Per user, every month |
| Entry cost | $49/mo total | About $7/user/mo (Starter), $14 (Standard), $22 (Plus) |
| 10-user example | $49/mo | About $70–$220/mo depending on tier |
| ✓ Included via Mailu | Gmail, included | |
| Files and docs | Nextcloud Files and office suite | Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides |
| Who holds the data | You, on your US server | |
| AI on your data | ✕ None, nothing scans your files | Gemini AI is integrated across apps |
| Software license | Open source (Nextcloud, Mailu) | Proprietary |
| Free migration | ✓ Done for you | Google Workspace Migrate, self-serve |
| Support | US-based engineers | Tiered, higher tiers pay for faster support |
Straight talk
Where each one wins
Where Google Workspace may still be the better fit
- Your team lives in Google Docs and Sheets all day
- You depend on Gemini AI features
- You want zero infrastructure to think about
- You need Google Meet at very large scale
Our honest take: Google Workspace is still the more capable collaboration suite, and the AI features are genuinely useful. If you're cost-sensitive as a team grows, or you simply don't want a third party reading your files, Nextcloud is the honest alternative and the price stays flat.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Google Workspace cost per user?
Google Workspace Business Starter is about $7 per user per month, Business Standard about $14, and Business Plus about $22, billed annually. Costs scale with every user you add.
Is Nextcloud really a Google Workspace replacement?
For most small teams, yes. Nextcloud covers files, calendars, contacts, documents, chat, and video. The main gap is that Google's AI and some collaboration features are more polished. We're honest about that.
Can you migrate my Google Workspace data?
Yes. Email, calendar, contacts, and Drive files can be migrated from Google Workspace to Nextcloud. We handle the migration for you.