Google One VPN: Everything You Need To Know - Updated August 2022

Google announced a new VPN service on October 29, 2020. Information technology'due south chosen Google One VPN and is included in the Google Ane subscription service. It's even so another feature that Google has added to Google 1, giving it even more value.

Everyone should accept a VPN, for many dissimilar reasons. And it's good to run across Google offering one for free. The easiest way for someone to start using a VPN, is to requite it to them for free. As this is another perk that is being added to Google One. A lot like what Amazon has been doing with Prime, Google is adding more perks to One, to make it a more interesting service. So users can really get their money's worth with Google One.

What is a VPN?

What exactly is a VPN? Well, it stands for Virtual Private Network.

With a VPN, you will exist able to browse the spider web using a secure connectedness, that hackers won't be able to encounter what you're doing (or steal your information), and you can also get around restricted websites. For case, if you are in Mainland china for a few days and need to use Google, you lot'll need to apply a VPN to do then. Which can get around the region-restriction, by connecting to another server in another state and it tells the internet that yous are located elsewhere, like France, rather than China.

The biggest reason why people demand a VPN is public WiFi. If you've always used WiFi at Starbucks, McDonalds or even the airport, chances are you've continued to an unsecure WiFi network. Which makes it easier for hackers to steal your data. Then when y'all use a public WiFi network, make sure to flip on your VPN, and you lot'll be secured.

What is Google I VPN?

Google I VPN, is basically Google's own VPN that it is offering to Google One subscribers. Though, only if you subscribe to the 2TB or college program, which ways you are paying $nine.99/month for it. Technically, Google One VPN is free, since it is beingness included with Google One'southward 2TB plan, which was already $9.99 before Google One VPN was announced.

Information technology's basically a VPN for those that are non tech literate. As it is essentially just a toggle in the Google One app. Only flip the switch and boom, you're connected. In that location's no settings for things similar which server you are connecting to, or when to disconnect and so forth.

The simply downside here is that you volition have a persistent notification saying that you are connected. You tin can also move the VPN quick setting into your quick settings, so you tin can chop-chop enable it whenever yous need it.

Google isn't new to the world of VPNs. It really has used one for its customers on Google Fi for many years now. Substantially with Google Fi, whenever y'all continued to a public WiFi network, you would automatically be connected through Google Fi'due south VPN. Equally mentioned before, this is because Public WiFi networks are not secure. And so while keeping you from using a lot of data, since Fi charges per gigabyte, it as well kept you protected.

Now, Google is but moving its VPN to where everyone tin can utilise information technology. Whether they are a Fi client or not.

Should I trust Google with more of my data?

This is the 1000000 dollar question. Should you use this VPN. And trust Google with even more of your data? Considering in one case you enable the VPN, everything you do online, routes through Google's servers. While Google, arguably already has a lot of data on you, this VPN is going to give it fifty-fifty more.

However, and this is important, Google has said numerous times that it volition not use the VPN connexion to track, log or sell your browsing action. Merely then over again, how will we know that Google is not doing that? We won't. And that goes for any other visitor too.

It's upward to you, whether y'all trust Google not to collect this data when you're using its VPN. But don't forget, that if Google really wanted that data, it could hands become information technology from your Android smartphone also. And so the real question is, what new data would Google be getting with this VPN? However, if yous've been using Google services for this long, what kind of data do that not have of yours correct now? Probably not much.

Google vs a third-party VPN

If you exercise have reservations about Google having more data on yous, thanks to this VPN, you can always apply a third-political party. Similar Express VPN, Opera VPN or even NordVPN, to name a few. Yet, they can also store and collect your data. Even though they promise that they don't – similar to Google.

With Google, they are betting that considering yous already utilise Google services, and the ease of using this VPN, that yous're more likely to utilize this than a competitor. Seeing as these competitors charge at to the lowest degree $iii/month just for a VPN. Meanwhile with Google, you're paying at least $9.99 per calendar month, but y'all are besides getting a whole lot more than simply a VPN.

If you need the ability to exist able to change what server y'all are on, switching to Paris from Los Angeles for case, then a third-party VPN is going to be a must-accept for you lot. But don't forget that some of these other VPN services out there, also have a cap on data. Meanwhile Google VPN has no cap on how much data goes through its VPN. And so that'southward one more thing to go along in heed, and something that helps out Google, of course.

How do I get Google One VPN?

The VPN is but bachelor through Google I. To be able to get access to it, y'all'll need to subscribe to its 2TB plan, or college. Which costs $9.99 per calendar month. Google Ane does have smaller plans that are for 100GB and 200GB, and unfortunately the VPN won't exist bachelor on those.

google one pricing vpn — Google 1 Pricing

With that 2TB Google One plan, you lot're getting quite a scrap of features. Not merely exercise you get 2TB of storage for Gmail, Drive and Photos, merely you are besides getting 10% dorsum when you lot store on the Google Shop. As well equally the power to add family members, and some other benefits. The ability to add your family members is a big bargain really. As you could opt for the 10TB program for $50/month and split it iv means, making information technology much cheaper, and anybody gets admission to that storage.

Google has not announced any plans notwithstanding, to roll out the VPN separately. So that customers tin can subscribe to just the VPN, without getting the extra storage. Though, because Google is removing the unlimited costless storage options on Google Photos and with Google Docs, you're going to need that storage.

How to employ Google 1 VPN

Setting up the Google One VPN is super uncomplicated. Open upward the Google One app, which should be pre-installed on your Android device. If non, you can grab it from the Google Play Store here.

In one case you open up up the Google One app, y'all should come across a card at the very tiptop, that says "Online Protection with a VPN" and there'southward a push button that says "Enable VPN" Tap on that. If that is not bachelor, tap on the "Benefits" tab, and you should see the carte there.

google one vpn screenshot — Google I VPN

This will accept y'all to a new page, which has a toggle to enable the VPN. It also gives you a bit more information about the VPN. Telling you that you can stream, download and browse on an encrypted, individual connection. And such.

From here y'all can tap on the toggle to turn on your VPN.

Now there is an easier way to do this, every bit the Google One app notes at the bottom of this page. Yous can add your VPN to the quick settings. So you tin easily turn information technology on and off when needed.

One time the VPN is connected, it will show upwards in your notification shade, which you can come across the condition of the VPN and also disconnect at any time.

There are no settings here for changing the server that information technology is connected too. Or seeing how much data goes through the VPN and so along. It'south basically merely on or off. Which makes it super uncomplicated for those that are not tech literate, and don't need all of those extra settings. That's where Google is really trying to target with this VPN.

What devices does it piece of work on?

Currently, availability of the Google One VPN is somewhat limited. It's only available on Android and Chrome Bone devices that support Android apps. Essentially that ways that it just works on Android smartphones and tablets, Android Goggle box, and Chromebooks (and Chromeboxes). Non Windows and MacOS computers, which would be a prissy addition. That could alter in the time to come, merely it may not be equally elementary as toggling it on and off, as it currently is.

Basically, any device that can run the Google One app, has support for the VPN. Since the Google I app is not available on iOS either, that means that in that location's no support for the VPN there.

When will it piece of work on desktop?

Google One VPN will exist coming to desktop. It'll be available on Windows, MacOS and iOS in "the coming months" according to the company. Information technology's likely going to take a scrap longer since it's not as uncomplicated every bit including it in the Google 1 app. But it shouldn't take too long to become bachelor.

And this is going to brand information technology a whole lot easier to keep your browsing condom on all of the devices that you use. From your smartphone, to your tablet, to your Tv and fifty-fifty your desktop (or laptop estimator). That'due south going to keep you safe when you lot're browsing at home, or on the go. And you'll never need to worry almost connecting to unsecure WiFi networks again, which is a big deal for some people (should be for everyone though).

Where is it available?

Google 1 VPN started out as existence bachelor in the United states of america only, like most of Google's products. However, it is at present available in the US, United mexican states, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Italian republic and the Uk. That's all the same a far weep from existence available everywhere that Google'southward services exist.

If you live in the US, Mexico, Canada, French republic, Germany, Kingdom of spain, Italy or the United kingdom, sign upwards for the 2TB programme from Google One and you'll be able to use the VPN.

Update: On August 10, 2021, Google announced it was expanding its VPN service to other countries. That includes Mexico, Canada, France, Frg, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Is the VPN worth it?

Given the recent storage changes that Google has announced, most of us are probable going to be upgrading to the 2TB plan anyways. Which makes the VPN free. Or at least included. And that makes this VPN a lot more useful. Equally well every bit more probable to be used. It'due south definitely worth using, especially if you lot do a lot of traveling, or apply a lot of public and/or unsecure WiFi networks.

The big issue though, with the Google Ane VPN, is that information technology is not available on everything. The biggest sticking signal is computers. Ordinarily when I travel, I take my laptop and do most of my work on that. Having the Google I VPN available on my laptop would be a huge assistance. Especially when trying to get effectually region-restricted websites. That is something Google is adding in the future, but as of right now, it'southward a no-show.

If the VPN is worth information technology for yous, is but something you tin can answer though. It'due south always better to be safe than deplorable. And let's face information technology, our ISPs don't need to know where we spend nearly of our time online, these days anyways.