Google is discontinuing its VPN by Google One service later this year, less than four years after its launch in October 2020. The company sent out a vague customer email about the shutdown but did not specify an exact date. The VPN service, available on Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows, had subscription prices starting at $1.99 per month.
In a statement to 9to5Google, Google cited low usage as the reason for killing the service, stating that “people simply weren’t using it.” This may be because Google offers two other VPN options through Google Fi and Pixel devices from the Pixel 7 and newer models, giving customers more choices.
The shutdown of VPN by Google One adds to Google’s long list of discontinued products and services, often referred to as the “Google Graveyard.” Ironically, this news comes just weeks after Google One announced reaching 100 million subscribers for its cloud storage service. Google mentioned that the VPN was being phased out to “focus on providing the most in-demand features and benefits,” which could be related to the company’s push for Gemini AI integration into Google One.
Google One VPN Alternatives
Since Google is shutting down its VPN service, if your are a VPN users of Google, you might seek for some good alternatives to Google VPN services. Here are something you can consider:
Trend Micro VPN: Trend Micro VPN is a popular service providing high-speed, unlimited connections to customers. Beyond its VPN capabilities, it includes valuable features such as web threat protection and ad blocking services.
Duckduckgo VPN: DuckDuckGo VPN is a new virtual private network (VPN) service offered as part of their DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro subscription. It encrypts your internet connection, protecting your online activity and data from being monitored by your internet service provider (ISP).
NordVPN: One of the most popular and highly-rated VPN services. It offers strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and a large server network across multiple countries.
ExpressVPN: Known for its fast speeds and reliable connections. It has user-friendly apps and provides excellent security features, including kill switch and split tunneling.
Surfshark: A budget-friendly option that allows unlimited simultaneous connections. It offers a wide range of security features and has servers in over 60 countries.
