Alphabet, the parent company of Google has announced the discontinuation of the VPN service included with its cloud storage offering, Google One.
In an email sent to users, the company revealed its plans to phase out the service within this year. Initially introduced in 2020, Google One’s VPN feature was exclusively available to users subscribed to a plan with a minimum of 2TB of storage, priced at $10 per month.
However, the service’s availability was later expanded to encompass all One plans, including the basic $2-per-month option, making it more accessible to a wider audience.
Currently, users in 22 countries where the service is active can utilize One’s VPN feature across iOS and Android devices, as well as on Mac and Windows computers to conceal their internet activity.
While Google has not specified an exact date for the discontinuation of the VPN service, it cited low usage as the reason behind its decision. Instead of allocating resources to promote a feature with limited uptake, the company plans to redirect its efforts to support other One features that are in higher demand.
Despite the discontinuation of the Google One VPN service, users will still have access to the free VPN provided with Pixel devices.
This functionality will remain accessible through the Settings app on Pixel 7 devices and newer models even after the closure of Google One’s VPN service.
