Google Workspace vs Forward Email
Forward Email wins on privacy, Forward Email wins on price and Google Workspace wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Google Workspace if you want more space for your mail: 30 GB and more years of history: it started in 2006.
- Choose Forward Email if you want email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts; the lower price ($3 a month); and a free plan to start on.
| Feature | Google Workspace | Forward Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Price | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Business Starter £5.90 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | No | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 30 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Choice of region only on Business Plus and above | United States |
| Founded | 2006 | 2017 |
| Free trial | 14 days free | Free plan |
| 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 | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| 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 Forward Email differ
- Cheapest plans: Google Workspace Business Starter, £5.90 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT. Forward Email Enhanced Protection, $3 a month.
- For free, Google Workspace gives you no free plan, and Forward Email a free plan (forwarding only).
- Google Workspace comes with 30 GB of storage and Forward Email with 10 GB of storage.
- Data location: Choice of region only on Business Plus and above for Google Workspace, United States for Forward Email.
- Google Workspace doesn't encrypt mail end to end; Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- Only Google Workspace is part of an advertising business.
Google Workspace and Forward Email: your questions
Which is more private, Google Workspace or Forward Email?
Forward Email scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and Google Workspace 0. Forward Email gives you email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts and apps whose code is public.
Which is cheaper, Google Workspace or Forward Email?
Forward Email is cheaper. Its Enhanced Protection plan is $3 a month, against £5.90 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT for Google Workspace's Business Starter. Forward Email also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do Google Workspace and Forward Email work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Google Workspace: Yes. Forward Email: Unlimited.
Where do Google Workspace and Forward Email keep my email?
Google Workspace keeps it in Choice of region only on Business Plus and above. Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
Prices and the latest news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Google Workspace news · Forward Email news.
Also worth a look
Google Workspace vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs mailbox.org · Google Workspace vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Posteo · Google Workspace vs Proton Mail · Forward Email vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to Google Workspace · Moving from Google Workspace. Or see all my switching guides.