Google has announced its decision to discontinue the VPN feature within its Google One cloud storage application later this year. The specific date for the termination of this service has not been disclosed. Existing users of the VPN service will be directed to alternative VPN providers. Introduced in October 2020, the VPN by Google One was initially designed to enhance online security for Android devices, promising an additional layer of protection. The service's technical framework was detailed in a white paper published by Google, which also underwent an independent third-party audit to verify its security measures. The VPN client APIs were made open source, reflecting Google's commitment to transparency.
Originally exclusive to the Premium plan at $9.99 per month, the service was made more accessible by reducing the price to $1.99 per month in March 2023 and expanding its availability to all subscription levels. Despite these efforts, Google noted a lack of sufficient user interest in the VPN service. The discontinuation will allow the company to allocate resources towards developing more in-demand tools for Google One users. Currently, the VPN is available in 22 countries, including the Netherlands and Belgium, across Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows platforms.
