Google BigQuery Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Google BigQuery pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $312.5 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Google BigQuery's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- 1 TB of query processing per month free
- 10 GB of active storage per month free
- No credit card required
- Standard SQL query support
- Up to 10 GB data loading per month
- Public dataset access
- Basic BigQuery ML support
- Shared slot pool for queries
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like advanced automation
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Google BigQuery branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Google BigQuery free?
Yes, Google BigQuery offers a forever free plan with 8 core features included. However, there are limits on users and features that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Google BigQuery's free plan?
Google BigQuery's free plan includes: 1 TB of query processing per month free, 10 GB of active storage per month free, No credit card required, Standard SQL query support, Up to 10 GB data loading per month, and 3 more features. Key limits include basic usage caps.
03 What's NOT included in Google BigQuery's free plan?
The free plan excludes: advanced features, premium support, and higher limits. You'll also have Google BigQuery branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Google BigQuery's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like advanced automation, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $0/month.
05 Is Google BigQuery's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Google BigQuery's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
Get Google BigQuery pricing updates
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