Google is informing customers currently that it is shutting down VPN by Google One “later this year”.
I reviewed VPN by Google One in March 2023 and concluded that it was “the most basic VPN that you can get”. Subscribers would get access to the VPN if they paid Google at least $1.99 per month.
While that sounded like a good deal on paper, the VPN itself was severely limiting and only available to customers in 22 countries. The real downside was that it lacked core functionality. You basically got the option to connect to the VPN, use its kill switch and configure bypass options for apps.
One of the main downsides was that you could not use it to connect to select servers, only to servers that Google picked. This meant that you could not use it to quickly connect to a server in another country to get an IP associated with that country.
Other features found in clients of popular VPN servers, such as NordVPN or SurfShark, were missing as well. No protocol selection, no advanced servers or security features, or to set a custom DNS server.
It still helped protected the connection, especially when connected to public wireless access points, but that was it.
Google informs subscribers and Pixel owners
All Pixel owners and Google One members are informed about the change. The news that VPN by Google One is shutting down at the end of the year may be overlooked easily.
Google writes:
Phasing out two benefits: With a focus on providing the most in-demand features and benefits, we’re discontinuing free shipping for select print orders from Google Photos (in Canada, the UK, US, and EU) starting on May 15 and VPN by Google One later this year. As a Pixel user, you’ll continue to enjoy being able to access VPN from Google through Pixel settings if you have Pixel 7 or newer models.
In other words, the VPN service is removed from Google One. Pixel owners may still connect to Google’s VPN.
The official Google One website does not list VPN by Google One anymore already.
Closing Words
Another one bites the dust. I know quite a few users who do not commit to Google products anymore, because there is a good chance that the company will tear them apart in the future.
While there are better VPN services out there, it is still disheartening to add it as another discontinued product to Google’s Graveyard of products.
“I know quite a few users who do not commit to Google products anymore, because there is a good chance that the company will tear them apart in the future.”
I don’t commit to Google products for another reason : I don’t trust the company and alternatives exist in all areas of Google’s planetary inquisition odyssey.
Concerning VPNs, none system-wide, one as a browser (Firefox) extension : Windscribe. Disabled by default here (strictly disabled that is, from the browser’s extensions settings) , enabled very occasionally when accessing sites that I otherwise block system-wide with DNSCrypt-proxy blacklists. For instance, Google servers are blocked by a personal DNSCrypt-proxy blacklist and bypassed if I ever wish to access a Google domain, i.e. Google Maps for its Street View. Helpful. But I’d never-ever use whatever VPN when transiting confidential information should it be plain login credentials.