Google Cloud Workstations
Google Cloud Workstations provides managed development environments for security-sensitive enterprises.
What Google Cloud Workstations is
Google Cloud Workstations provides managed development environments for security-sensitive enterprises. Developers can connect through a browser-based IDE, local IDEs or SSH, while teams define reproducible setups using preconfigured or custom container images. Those images can include tools, libraries, extensions, files and startup scripts. Supported editor options include Code OSS, JetBrains IDEs through JetBrains Gateway, Posit Workbench and other editors that run in containers. Gemini Code Assist can offer code guidance, generate code and provide inline suggestions in the base editor. Workstations can run inside a VPC with private ingress and egress, VPC Service Controls, Cloud Audit Logs and granular IAM controls. BeyondCorp Enterprise can apply context-based access policies and prevent code exfiltration through actions such as download, copy, paste and print. Google-managed keys encrypt resources at rest by default; customer-managed keys are also available through Cloud KMS. Charges include compute and persistent disk resources, a $0.05-per-virtual-CPU active-hour management fee and a $0.20-per-cluster-hour control plane fee. An inactivity limit can stop idle workstations.
Good
- Supports browser IDE, local IDE and SSH access
- Teams can use custom container images
- Offers VPC and granular IAM controls
- Idle workstations can stop automatically
Watch out
- No free plan
- Compute and Persistent Disk incur additional charges
- Control plane fee applies even when workstations are idle
Who it suits
Cloud Workstations is suited to enterprise development teams that need managed, reproducible environments with network and code-access controls. It supports browser, local IDE and SSH access.
Verdict
Cloud Workstations combines configurable development environments with enterprise access and network controls. Review the separate compute, storage, management and control plane charges when assessing its cost.
Plans and prices
From Google Cloud Workstations's own pricing page, checked 22 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Workstation management fee | $0.05 a month | Charged for each active workstation · Metered while the workstation is running |
| Control plane | $0.20 a month | Applies regardless of whether workstations are in use · Pricing applies in the us-central1 example region; regional pricing may vary |
| Usage-based pricing — e2-standard-2 (us-central1) | $0.17 a month | 2 vCPUs · 8 GiB · us-central1 price; regional prices may vary · $0.16701142 / 1 hour; compute and workstation management, with control plane and Persistent Disk billed separately |
The facts
Each one read from Google Cloud Workstations's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Access
- Developers can access workstations through a browser-based IDE, local IDEs, or SSH.checked 30 Sep 2026
- AI integration
- Gemini Code Assist can provide code guidance, generate code, and offer inline suggestions in the Cloud Workstations base editor.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Code protection
- BeyondCorp Enterprise integration provides context-based access policies and can prevent code exfiltration through actions such as download, copy, paste, and print.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Compliance
- Google announced that Cloud Workstations is covered under the Google Cloud HIPAA BAA on September 24, 2026.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Custom environments
- Teams define reproducible environments using preconfigured or custom container images, including tools, libraries, extensions, files, and startup scripts.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Developer tools
- The product supports third-party tools such as GitLab and TeamCity, including tools hosted externally, on premises, or in other clouds.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Encryption
- Google-managed keys encrypt workstation resources at rest by default, and customers can use customer-managed keys with Cloud KMS.checked 30 Sep 2026
- IDE support
- Supported options include Code OSS, JetBrains IDEs through JetBrains Gateway, Posit Workbench, and other container-runnable editors.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Network security
- Workstations can run inside a VPC and use VPC Service Controls, private ingress and egress, Cloud Audit Logs, and granular IAM controls.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Cloud Workstations provides fully managed development environments aimed at security-sensitive enterprises.checked 30 Sep 2026
The company
- Company headquarters
- Google lists its headquarters at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, California 94043.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Founded
- 1998checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Mountain View, California, USAchecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Cost components
- Charges include Compute Engine and Persistent Disk resources, a management fee of $0.05 per virtual CPU per active hour, and a control plane fee of $0.20 per cluster per hour.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Free plan
- Nochecked 22 Sep 2026
- Idle cost control
- An inactivity time limit can automatically stop workstations after the specified inactive period.checked 30 Sep 2026
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