Google Workspace vs CounterMail
In short: CounterMail wins on privacy, CounterMail wins on price, and Google Workspace wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Google Workspace or CounterMail: which should you choose?
- Go for Google Workspace if you'd like more room (30 GB, against 4 GB).
- Choose CounterMail if you want encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail; your mailbox stored in Sweden; and a provider with no advertising business behind it.
| Feature | Google Workspace | CounterMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Price | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Business Starter £5.90 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT | Premium, 12 months $4 a month, paid yearly ($49) |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Storage | 30 GB | 4 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | ✓ Built in |
| Company based in | United States | Sweden |
| Your data is kept in | Choice of region only on Business Plus and above | Sweden |
| Founded | 2006 | Unknown |
| Free trial | 14 days free | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | Offer 10% off your first year | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How Google Workspace and CounterMail differ
- Google Workspace's cheapest plan is Business Starter (£5.90 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT); CounterMail's is Premium, 12 months ($4 a month, paid yearly ($49)).
- Google Workspace comes with 30 GB of storage and CounterMail with 4 GB of storage.
- Data location: Choice of region only on Business Plus and above for Google Workspace, Sweden for CounterMail.
- Google Workspace is based in the United States and CounterMail in Sweden, so different privacy laws apply.
- Google Workspace doesn't encrypt mail end to end; CounterMail encrypts mail end to end.
- Only Google Workspace is part of an advertising business.
Google Workspace and CounterMail: your questions
Which is more private, Google Workspace or CounterMail?
CounterMail scores 4 out of 5 for privacy and Google Workspace 0. CounterMail gives you encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail, your mailbox stored in Sweden and a provider with no advertising business behind it.
Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or CounterMail?
CounterMail is cheaper. Its Premium, 12 months plan is $4 a month, paid yearly ($49), against £5.90 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT for Google Workspace's Business Starter. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do Google Workspace and CounterMail work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Google Workspace: Yes. CounterMail: Yes.
Where do Google Workspace and CounterMail keep my email?
Google Workspace keeps it in Choice of region only on Business Plus and above. CounterMail keeps it in Sweden.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Google Workspace news · CounterMail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Google Workspace vs mailbox.org · CounterMail vs mailbox.org · Google Workspace vs Posteo · CounterMail vs Posteo · Google Workspace vs Proton Mail · CounterMail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Google Workspace · Moving from Google Workspace. Or see all my switching guides.