Google Announces Shutdown of Google One VPN, Pixel VPN to Receive Upgrades
Google has decided to discontinue its VPN by Google One, citing low user engagement as the primary reason for its closure. Introduced in October 2020, the VPN was designed to offer an additional layer of online protection for Android users, accompanied by a detailed white paper, third-party audits, and open-sourced client APIs.
Initially exclusive to the $9.99/month Premium plan, Google made the VPN accessible on the more affordable $1.99/month plan in March 2023. Despite these efforts and the broad platform availability—including Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows—the feature did not achieve widespread adoption.
This decision aligns with Google’s strategy to prioritize more popular services within Google One, which recently surpassed 100 million subscribers. Google’s refocus comes amid broader integrations of AI capabilities across its services, such as the recent announcement that AI editing tools in Google Photos will become free, except for unlimited Magic Editor usage.
While the Google One VPN will be phased out in the upcoming months, with no specific end date yet provided, existing users are being advised to switch to third-party VPN services. In contrast, the Pixel VPN, introduced with the Pixel 7 series in 2022 and guaranteed for five years, will not only continue but is also set to receive significant upgrades.
An upcoming update scheduled for June will expand the advanced VPN features introduced with the Pixel 8 to older models, including the Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, and Fold. This update will enhance the integration of the VPN into the system, removing the need for a persistent notification and streamlining its use.
Additionally, the VPN service associated with Google Fi will continue to be available, ensuring that users across Google’s ecosystems have options for maintaining privacy and security online.
