Google Online Partial Domain Licensing

Google Online Partial Domain Licensing (PDL) allows resellers of Google Workspace to provision multiple Workspace subscriptions for customers through the Reseller API. This functionality enables customers to assign different SKUs to different users within the same domain, providing flexibility in managing subscriptions.

☝ Disclaimer:
This program is subject to availability by Google. Partners must reach out to their Google account manager to confirm if it is available for them. If available, they are required to conduct User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to ensure it meets their use case before adoption.

List of Eligible SKUs

The following Google Workspace editions are eligible for Online PDL, arranged in ascending order of the Google tier (with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest):

1. Google Workspace Frontline Starter
2. Google Workspace Business Starter
3. Google Workspace Frontline Standard
4. Google Workspace Business Standard
5. Google Workspace Business Plus
6. Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials
7. Google Workspace Enterprise Starter
8. Google Workspace Enterprise Standard
9. Google Workspace Enterprise Essentials Plus
10. Google Workspace Enterprise Plus

Online PDL Rules (Restrictions)

• All eligible SKU subscriptions must be on committed plans (that is, annual or monthly plans). Flex plans are not supported.

• The total license count for all Workspace Business SKUs must be ≤ 300 for a given customer.

• The highest-tier SKU in the domain must have at least 15% of the total licenses across all eligible SKUs in a customer domain.

  📝 Note: PDL is not available for email-verified customers. Google will return this as an API parameter.

Use case: Subscription behavior

Purchase

Customers can purchase multiple Google Workspace editions, provided they comply with the PDL rules.

📝 Note: A user can only purchase one edition in one order. Additional editions can be purchased one at a time after the first product has been provisioned.

Update

• Quantity increase is allowed as long as it does not violate PDL rules.
• Edition upgrade is allowed provided it complies with PDL rules.
• Quantity and edition downgrades are not allowed in all cases.

Cancellation

• Subscription Cancellation is allowed in all cases.
• On Subscription cancellation, the renewal setting will be turned off automatically.

Renewal

Subscriptions will auto-renew by default.

Additional notes and limitations

• Auto license assignment will be done only for the first SKU purchase. Users must unassign existing licenses before assigning them to a new SKU.
• Subsequent edition purchases can be made one edition at a time and only after the first product has been provisioned.
• This capability is available only for net new PDL customers. Migration from offline PDL (which is not managed through APIs) to online PDL is not officially supported by Google. Partners are advised to contact Google’s order management team for case-specific migration.

Enable Partners to Adopt Online PDL

Assumptions

• This program is subject to availability by Google.
• Google will communicate any rule changes to AppDirect. Any changes specific to a partner will be handled through a CFR.
• If partner marketplace customizations interfere with the generic functionality, partners must use a CFR with the DTS team.
• Custom editions with contract terms (example - 24 months, 36 months) may not be supported by Google.

Requirements

• Enable restriction service on the marketplace.

• Ensure no discrepancies between the marketplace platform and Google Console. Partners can work with their AppDirect technical consultant for resolution.

• Onboard a new stackable Google Workspace product profile with all Google Workspace editions.

  ℹ️ Information:
  If a partner sells custom editions with contract terms such as 24 months, 36 months, or longer, they must add these editions to their new PDL product profile. This is because these custom editions are unique to each partner and cannot be included in the network catalog profile.

• Migrate all subscriptions to the new product profile and remove the old Google Workspace product profile.

• Contact your AppDirect Technical Representative to enable AppSettings for PDL setting key = enableGooglePdlPurchase.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have more questions about online PDL? This section provides answers to some of the commonly asked questions related to online PDL.

What corrective actions can I take when I get a restriction message during checkout?

• Flex SKUs are not eligible for Partial Domain Licensing:
  • Move your Flex subscription plan to a committed plan (monthly or annual) and try again.
• The requested SKU is not eligible for Partial Domain Licensing:
  • Refer to the list of eligible SKUs and try again.
• 15% Rule Violation:

  • The highest-tier SKU in the domain should have at least 15% of the total licenses. Adjust the licenses to match this requirement and try again.

  📝 Note: On cancellation, the subscription is cancelled on the marketplace and suspended at Google’s end. Suspended plan seats are considered for the PDL 15% rule.

I want to see different edition names on the MyApps page. How can I do that?

This should happen automatically. If it does not, you can manually rename the title in MyApps for all Google editions purchased on the Marketplace by following these steps:

1. Go to Manage Apps.
2. Under Settings, add a label.
3. Enter the desired edition name.
4. Save the changes.

I am trying to purchase multiple Google Workspace editions as my first purchase but I am being stopped in the checkout flow. What should I do?

You can purchase only one edition in the first order. After the initial product is provisioned, subsequent editions can be purchased one at a time.