Google Workspace is an alternative
to Element
$70/mo (Business Starter) vs Element at — — covering 29% of the 7 compared capabilities.
Cheaper. Not the same job.
Comparison scenario
Every cheaper-than claim is tied to a defined scenario — never a bare list price.
10 seats, monthly billing · USD · prices as observed on official pricing pages.
plan at —, the cheapest paid plan.
Business Starter: 7 USD/monthly; 9 extra seat(s) × 7 USD.
We list 1 assessed alternative; Element's own price is not verified yet, so no cheaper-than claim is made.
Capability comparison
Google Workspace covers 29% of the 7 capabilities compared against Element. ✓ native · ◐ via integration · ✗ not found.
| Capability | Google Workspace | Element |
|---|---|---|
| Channels & group messaging | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threaded conversations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Unlimited message history | ✗ | ✓ |
| Audio/video calls & screen sharing | ✓ | ✓ |
| App integrations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Compliance exports & audit logs | ↑ Business Plus | ✓ |
| Self-hosted deployment | ✗ | ✓ |
What you give up
Capabilities Element has that Google Workspace lacks.
- Threaded conversations — Reply within a thread instead of the main channel feed.Missing from Google Workspace.
- Unlimited message history — Search and access message history without a retention limit.Missing from Google Workspace.
- App integrations — Connect other apps and tools into the chat.Missing from Google Workspace.
- Compliance exports & audit logs — Export message history and audit logs for compliance.Missing from Google Workspace.
- Self-hosted deployment — Run the chat platform on your own infrastructure.Missing from Google Workspace.
Price at your volume
The same comparison recomputed at three sizes. Plan caps change who is cheapest.
| Usage | Element | Google Workspace |
|---|---|---|
| 3 seats | — | $21/moBusiness Starter |
| 10 seats | — | $70/moBusiness Starter |
| 25 seats | — | $175/moBusiness Starter |
Plans & pricing, side by side
Advertised prices in USD as observed on the official pricing pages — per-seat and transaction-fee plans are marked.
| Business Starter | $7/seat/mo |
| Business Standard | $14/seat/mo |
| Business Plus | $22/seat/mo |
| Enterprise | Contact sales |
| Community | Free |
| Enterprise | Contact sales |
| Sovereign | Contact sales |
Frequently asked
What does Google Workspace lack compared with Element?
Threaded conversations, Unlimited message history, App integrations, Compliance exports & audit logs, Self-hosted deployment — 5 of the 7 compared capabilities.
When were these prices checked?
Element: 2026-10-26; Google Workspace: 2026-10-26 — on the official pricing pages.
Who switched
Anonymous: no account, no email, no IP stored. Reports are shown once a switch has 3 or more and never change ranking or order — alternatives are computed from prices and capabilities only.
Sources & freshness
- https://element.io/pricing (official_pricing, checked 2026-10-26)
- Google Workspace data last verified 2026-10-26