- What does it mean? Running the work apps you get in Google Workspace — files, email, calendar, CRM, analytics — on your own server with open-source software, not in Google's cloud.
- Is it as good as Google Workspace? Core parity: file sync, shared calendars, contacts, email, real-time collaboration. You trade Google's in-docs AI for ownership, privacy and no per-seat scaling.
- How much vs. Google Workspace? Google: $7 / $14 / $22 per user per month, billed annually. With us: a flat per-app price, so the whole team is covered without multiplying by seats.
- Do I keep my domain and email? Yes — the domain stays where it is; we point DNS/MX at your self-hosted mail, so addresses keep flowing through the switch.
- Is it private? Open-source apps (Nextcloud, Mailu, Twenty, Umami) are ad-free and don't mine your data. It sits on your own server, not a consumer cloud.
- How long to move off Google Workspace? About one business day. Mail moves first (slowest), files next, DNS/MX after that. Migration is free on our managed plans.
Self-Hosted Google Workspace: The 2026 Buyer's Guide
Files, email, CRM and analytics on your own server with open source — what it actually covers, what it really costs against Google Workspace, and how the switch happens in about a business day.
Free Google Workspace migration · No per-seat fees · Your data, your server
Straight answers first
The six questions everyone asks
By the numbers
Self-hosted vs Google Workspace in one table
Google pricing is from Google's published business plans; sources are linked at the bottom. Check the source before quoting to a customer.
| Self-hosted (Last Hour) | Google Workspace | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat per-app, not per user | Per user per month, billed annually |
| Business Starter | Flat — whole team covered | $7 / user / month, 30 GB / user |
| Business Standard | Flat — whole team covered | $14 / user / month, 2 TB / user |
| Business Plus | Flat — whole team covered | $22 / user / month, 5 TB / user |
| Data location | Your own server / dedicated resources | Google's cloud |
| Data use | ✓ Open source, no data mining | Consumer cloud terms apply to content |
| Migration | Free, about 1 business day | Self-managed |
The open-source stack
What actually replaces the suite
You don't need "a Google Workspace alternative." You need a few well-run tools, each doing its one job, on your server.
What each one does
The parts, one by one
Your files, docs & calendar
Sync, share and edit them with built-in calendars and contacts, on managed team workspace hosting (built on open-source Nextcloud) instead of Google Drive.
Ad-free email on your own domain
No ads, no scanning — mailboxes on private email hosting (built on open-source Mailu), your domain, your mail.
Your CRM, your data
Contacts and pipeline you own on hosted CRM (built on open-source Twenty), instead of a per-seat SaaS you rent.
Privacy-first analytics that are yours
Cookie-less, GDPR-friendly web analytics on managed analytics (built on open-source Umami), instead of shipping visitor data to an ad network.
Know before your customers do
Uptime, HTTP and port checks with status pages you control, on managed uptime monitoring (built on open-source Uptime Kuma).
What it actually looks like
Real screens, on your server
Every image below is a real capture of the open-source app you'd log into — your files, your analytics, your monitoring, your vault.
The switch
Off Google Workspace in about a day
- Mail first. We move mailboxes and set MX/DNS so no message drops; email is the slowest part, so it starts first.
- Files next. Drive / shared drives move into your Nextcloud; calendars and contacts sync through.
- Apps after. CRM, analytics and monitoring get stood up on the new host, then DNS settles within hours.
- Free on managed plans. Google Workspace migration is included — one business day is the usual pace.
Leaving GoDaddy instead? See the step-by-step migration guide. Comparing directly? Our Google Workspace alternative page goes side-by-side.
Frequently asked questions
What does self-hosted Google Workspace mean?
Running the work apps you get in Google Workspace — files, email, calendar, contacts, CRM, analytics — on your own server with open-source software, instead of keeping that data in Google's cloud.
How much does it cost compared to Google Workspace?
Google Workspace business plans are $7 (Starter), $14 (Standard) and $22 (Plus) per user per month, billed annually. Self-hosted hosting from Last Hour is a flat per-app price, so the whole team is covered without per-seat math.
Do I keep my domain and my email address?
Yes. Your domain stays where it's registered; we point DNS/MX at your self-hosted mail so addresses keep working through the switch.
Is self-hosted as good as Google Workspace?
For core work — file sync/share, calendars, contacts, email, real-time collaboration — leading open-source apps match it. You trade Google's in-docs AI for ownership, privacy and no per-seat scaling.
Is self-hosting private?
Yes. Open-source apps like Nextcloud, Mailu, Twenty and Umami are ad-free and don't mine your data; your files and mail sit on your own server.
How long does it take to move off Google Workspace?
About one business day. Mail moves first, files next, then DNS/MX; free on our managed plans.
Sources
Prices and figures above come from the primary sources below. Verify current figures on the original page before quoting them.