UW-Madison Google Workspace - Compare consumer and education AI services
Google provides several AI-powered tools, each designed to support different tasks such as content creation, data analysis, and productivity enhancement. While these services share some similarities, they vary in features, integration options, and ideal use cases. The comparison table below outlines the key differences between these tools to help you choose the best option for your specific needs.
Please note: Google service offerings are dynamic and the feature set listed below is subject to change.
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Consumer (Personal Use) |
Education (Academic Use) |
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|
Feature |
Google AI Standard (Free Gemini) |
Google AI Pro (via Google One) |
Google Workspace for Education (Base) |
Google Workspace for Education with AI Pro (Add-on) |
|
Availability |
Available for personal use. |
Available for personal use. |
Available for current UW-Madison faculty, staff, and students. |
Unavailable at this time. |
|
Primary Audience |
General Public, Casual Users |
Individual Professionals, Power Users |
Students, Faculty & Staff |
Faculty & Staff needing advanced tools |
|
Cost & Access |
Free for anyone with a personal Google account. |
Paid monthly subscription by the individual (e.g., Google One AI Premium). |
Included at no cost with the institution's Google Workspace for Education plan. |
Paid institutional license as an add-on to the Workspace for Education plan. |
|
Core AI Model |
Standard Gemini model. |
Advanced Gemini model (e.g., 2.5 Pro). Access to Google's most capable AI. |
Standard Gemini model. |
Advanced Gemini model (e.g., 2.5 Pro). Identical to the consumer Pro version. |
|
Key Features |
• Basic Gemini chatbot interaction. • Standard NotebookLM limits. |
All Standard features, plus: • Gemini integration in Workspace apps (Docs, Gmail, Sheets). • Higher usage limits & premium features in NotebookLM. |
• Basic Gemini chatbot interaction. • Standard NotebookLM limits. • A secure, managed environment. |
All Base features, plus: • Gemini integration in Workspace apps (Docs, Sheets). • Higher usage limits & premium features in NotebookLM. |
|
Security & Governance |
Standard Google Consumer Terms of Service. |
Standard Google Consumer Terms of Service. |
Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service. Enterprise-grade data protection. |
Google Workspace for Education Terms of Service. Enterprise-grade data protection. |
|
Compliance |
Not designed for educational compliance. |
Not designed for educational compliance. |
FERPA & COPPA compliant. Contractually guaranteed protection for student data. |
FERPA & COPPA compliant. The same enterprise-grade protection as the Base version. |
|
Available Integrations |
Can access Google Drive and other Google content from Gemini/NotebookLM, but AI features are not available within Gmail, Docs, or other apps. |
• Access Gemini from within Gmail, Docs, and other apps. • Use with Google Home. |
Can access Google Drive and other Google content from Gemini/NotebookLM, but AI features are not available within Docs, or other apps. |
• Access Gemini from within Docs, Sheets, and other apps. • Google Photos and Google Home are not available in UW Madison Google Workspace. |
|
Recommended Use |
Personal use, non-sensitive tasks, and casual learning. |
Advanced personal projects, professional work not involving institutional data. |
Everyday academic use for coursework and light research within a secure environment. |
Advanced academic work, in-depth research, and faculty/staff productivity with institutional protection. |