Google has announced that it will be discontinuing its VPN service, VPN by Google One, later this year. The service was launched as a bonus feature for paying Google One subscribers, initially exclusive to the 2TB tier for $10 a month, but was later made available to all Google One tiers, including the entry-level $2-per-month option.
The Google One VPN service was designed to provide users with enhanced privacy and security while browsing the internet. However, despite efforts to make the VPN feature widely accessible, Google cited low user engagement as the primary reason for phasing out the service.
The Google One VPN service was the most flexible of Google’s three VPN products, with the widest platform support, including Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. Its discontinuation represents Google ending VPN support for Windows and Mac. However, Google will continue to offer VPN functionality through its Google Fi cellular service and Pixel users will still be able to access Google’s VPN features via Pixel settings if they have a Pixel 7 or newer model.
The exact shutdown date has not been announced yet, but it is expected to be phased out later in 2024. Existing users will be directed to third-party VPN alternatives instead. This decision underscores the challenges tech companies face in maintaining user engagement with value-added services, especially in the competitive VPN market.
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