“In an email to administrators this morning, Google said it “will now transition all remaining users to an upgraded Google Workspace paid subscription based on your usage.””
Early adopters got free Gmail on their own domain in exchange for trying Google Apps back when nobody else would. Ten years later Google sends a bill, with a few months’ notice. Families who set up a custom domain in 2008 now have to pay or move years of mail and purchases. Free from Google always meant free until Google decided otherwise.