Google Vault review
A Workspace-native archive and eDiscovery service for administrators and legal teams.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Google Vault is a cloud-based information governance and eDiscovery service for Google Workspace organizations. It is designed for authorized administrators and legal personnel who need to retain data, place legal holds, search messages and files, organize investigations, and export results. Its coverage includes Gmail, Drive, Groups, Chat, Meet, Calendar, Voice, Sites, the Gemini app, and other supported Workspace data. The web-based service is most suitable for organizations already standardizing on Google Workspace and needing administrative and legal controls in that environment.
The published plans show Vault included with Business Plus at $22 per user per month, billed monthly. Business Plus also includes eDiscovery and 5 TB of pooled storage per user. The Enterprise plan includes Vault features and uses a contact-sales model. This is a Workspace edition benefit rather than a separate Vault-only subscription, so organizations should evaluate the required Workspace licensing for covered users and administrators. Retention rules need to be configured before data is retained, making policy design and administration central to deployment.
Vault’s main strength is its fit with the Google Workspace ecosystem. Administrators can search by account, organizational unit, date, keyword, and operators; create eDiscovery matters; apply legal holds to accounts, organizational units, and groups; review an audit log of Vault activity; and export supported data from Gmail, Drive, Chat, Groups, Calendar, Voice, and other services. Google also documents inbound acceptance of Microsoft Exchange journal messages, which requires Exchange-side configuration. Organizations seeking Workspace-centered retention and legal discovery should consider Vault; teams wanting a standalone archive or a broader platform-independent service should look elsewhere.
Google Vault pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Retention rules and legal holds cover core Workspace data.
- Search, matters, audit logs, and exports support eDiscovery workflows.
- Integrates with Gmail, Drive, Chat, Calendar, Meet, and more.
- Where it doesn't
- Vault is licensed through eligible Google Workspace editions, not standalone.
- Business Plus starts at $22 per user monthly with no free plan.
- Retention rules must be configured before data is retained.
Google Vault fact sheet, pricing and score →
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