It used to be free for more than 5 users, I believe the limit was decreased gradually. I have one account with 20 free users and I vaguely recollect hearing about it being free for 50 users, possibly even 100's.

As recently as 3 years ago you could still sign up for 1 user. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4885538

> If you create a new Apps account going through the App Engine Admin Console you'll still be able to create a Standard Apps account for free but you'll only be able to get 1 user per account rather than the 10 you get today.

But per the referenced Google Groups discussion that has been shutdown sometime before January 2015.

> You'll now have to pay for a Google Apps account, there's no more freebie "1 user per account" provision.

I have one of those too, and I switched to Fastmail, which is much better. At the $4/mo I pay for it, it's a much better value than the free Gmail.

Same here. I signed up for Google Apps for Domains, and it keeps on chugging, even though that program is no longer.