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OPENCLOUD VS GOOGLE WORKSPACE
You could save up to
$16,800/year on file
collaboration.
OPENCLOUD · SELF-HOSTED
$0
Unlimited storage
Single binary · no database · Apache 2.0
GOOGLE DRIVE • BUSINESS STANDARD
$14 /user/mo
2TB pooled storage per user
Starter $7 · Plus $22 · Enterprise custom
The cost of convenience
Every year, Google changes the deal. You have no
leverage.
Google Drive is convenient until you realize you have no leverage.
They control the pricing, the policies, and what they do
with your files. Here's what's changed since 2023.
2023
Prices raised across all tiers
Business Starter went from $6 to $7/user. No advance notice, no negotiation, no opt-out.
2024
Gemini AI bundled into every plan
16 to 22% price increase for AI features most teams never asked for. You cannot remove it.
2025
Terms updated for AI training
Google's updated TOS allows your stored files to be used for improving their AI models and services.
2026
Monthly billing now $8.40/user
A 40% increase in three years. Enterprise pricing is no longer published.
Your files belong on servers
you control.
Cost per seat
OpenCloud Community is open-source software without a per-user license fee; deployment and operations still cost money, and commercial support is available separately. Google Workspace lists per-user subscription prices by edition and billing term.
Source: OpenCloud source and license · OpenCloud subscriptions · Google Workspace pricing
100 30
Data sovereignty
Self-hosted OpenCloud lets an operator choose infrastructure and data location. Google Workspace is managed by Google and offers data-region controls only for eligible editions and data types; jurisdictional conclusions require legal review.
Source: OpenCloud deployment documentation · Google Workspace data regions · Google Cloud data processing terms
100 20
Self-hosting
OpenCloud documents self-hosted container deployment and uses external services according to the selected topology. Google Workspace is a hosted SaaS suite and does not provide a customer-operated Workspace server.
Source: OpenCloud: Docker Compose deployment · Google Workspace architecture and security
100 0
Deployment simplicity
OpenCloud distributes a single server binary and container images, but a production deployment still requires identity, TLS, storage, backups, and monitoring. Google Workspace requires tenant configuration rather than server deployment.
Source: OpenCloud: binary setup · OpenCloud: container setup · Google Workspace setup guide
90 30
Collaborative editing
OpenCloud integrates web-office suites such as Collabora through its app/provider architecture. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides provide native real-time co-editing.
Source: OpenCloud: Collabora integration example · Google Docs: collaborate
60 90
Mobile experience
OpenCloud provides mobile clients through its documented app ecosystem; Google provides dedicated Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides apps.
Source: OpenCloud clients · Google Drive for Android · Google Docs mobile help
55 95
Ecosystem & integrations
Google Workspace Marketplace lists third-party applications. OpenCloud documents standards and APIs including WebDAV, OpenID Connect, and Microsoft Graph-compatible endpoints; compatibility depends on the client and endpoint coverage.
Source: Google Workspace Marketplace · OpenCloud APIs · OpenCloud architecture
45 95
Zero-setup onboarding
Google Workspace is vendor-hosted but still requires domain, identity, security, and migration configuration for organizational use. Self-hosted OpenCloud requires infrastructure and operational setup.
Source: Google Workspace setup guide · OpenCloud deployment prerequisites
30 98
Why you might stay with Google Drive
Here's where it leads.
Managed cloud onboarding
Create your organization, configure users, and start working
without deploying file servers or maintaining the underlying
infrastructure.
Mature apps across devices
Google Drive provides established web, desktop, Android, and
iOS experiences, including synchronization, offline access, and
integration with other Workspace apps.
Broad integration ecosystem
Workspace connects closely with Gmail, Calendar, Meet, and
other Google services, with additional integrations available.
through its APIs and third-party marketplace.
Enterprise operations and support
Google manages platform availability, capacity, updates, and
security patches under a 99.9% uptime SLA. Standard support is
available to Workspace administrators, while faster responses
and dedicated technical advisers require higher support tiers.
Why switch to OpenCloud
Some things are priceless
Simplified, database-free core
OpenCloud does not require a relational database. Files and metadata are stored on the configured storage, simplifying backups and reducing the number of supporting systems to operate.
Control where data is stored
Deploy OpenCloud on infrastructure and storage you choose, helping your organization meet its own residency, jurisdiction, retention, and compliance requirements.
Open-source foundation
OpenCloud's core source code is available under the Apache 2.0 license. Self-host it directly or add a commercial subscription when you need supported deployment tooling and services.
Your storage, your rules
Choose compatible local, network, or object storage and determine your own capacity, backup, retention, and access policies.
Collabora Office built in
Integrate Collabora Online to edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations together in the browser, with support for common Microsoft Office formats.
Team-owned spaces
Keep project files, folders, and permissions attached to the team rather than an individual account, so important content remains when personnel change.
Your 100th employee should cost
$0 more
in file sharing.
Google Workspace Business Standard charges
$14/user/month. Every hire extends the invoice,
$1,400/month at 100 users. And Google has raised prices
three times since 2023 with no opt-out. OpenCloud
stays at $0.
Google $1,400/mo at 100 users
$1,500
$1,125
$750
$375
$0
10 seats
Workspace — $120/mo
OpenCloud — $0/mo
25 seats
Workspace — $300/mo
OpenCloud — $0/mo
50 seats
Workspace — $600/mo
OpenCloud — $0/mo
100 seats
Workspace — $1,200/mo
OpenCloud — $0/mo
150 seats
Workspace — $1,800/mo
OpenCloud — $0/mo
200 seats
Workspace — $2,400/mo
OpenCloud — $0/mo
10
25
50
100
150
200
users
Ready to own your cloud storage?
Open source. Zero per-seat fees.
Option 1
Use OpenCloud Cloud
Free hosted OpenCloud instance. No
sign-up. Start sharing files
in seconds.
Option 2
Self-host with Docker
Full control. Deploy on your own
server with Docker.
RECOMMENDED
Option 3
Lower your SaaS spend
Tell us what your business needs.
Our team will recommend the right solution and help you get
started.