Using a VPN is a great way to keep your data private, bypass region locks, and more. And there is no shortage of iPhone VPN options for people to choose from. But one thing people already have is gone. It might not surprise you that the company that's shutting down its VPN service is Google, a company that can't stop terminating support for its services.
The service in this case is Google One VPN, which Google launched in October 2020. The VPN feature was part of the broader Google ONe subscription, with prices originally starting at $9.99 per month for the Gone Premium plan. Currently, the VPN component costs $1.99 per month. But that won't be the case for long.
Google has started warning customers that it will begin discontinuing VPN features later this year. Those who own a Google Pixel Android phone will continue to enjoy VPN access as part of that device's feature list, but everyone else who pays for Google One will lose out on the benefit.
no one used it
The news was first shared by Android Authority, and Google sent out a notice detailing other changes, including the removal of free shipping on print orders through Google Photos.
“In order to focus on delivering the most in-demand features and benefits, we are discontinuing free shipping on select print orders from Google Photos (Canada, UK, US, EU) starting May 15th, and Google One VPN thereafter. “This year,” the warning reads. “If you're a Pixel user and have a Pixel 7 or later model, you can still access the VPN on Google through your Pixel settings.”
Of course, Google has a history of killing features and services that people seem to really enjoy using. Google RSS is one example that many people still won't forgive Google for taking away, but in this case it appears that this move may actually have merit.
According to 9to5Google, the reason why the One VPN feature is being removed is very simple. Actually, no one has ever used this feature. In a statement to media outlets, Google said the company was “planning to discontinue the VPN feature.” [it] “We found that people simply weren’t using it.” Ultimately, the decision means the team can “refocus” and “support more in-demand features with Google One.”
Notably, Google announced earlier this year that Google One had reached 100 million users. This raises the question of how many people were actually using the VPN feature before this decision was made.
Nonetheless, iPhone and Mac owners who now need to look for a new VPN shouldn't have too many problems. The market is huge with several great alternatives. But if you already pay for Google One every month and use the included VPN, it's time to find an alternative and add the subscription to your collection.
Apple doesn't offer a VPN itself, but iCloud Private Relay may offer some of the same features. This feature, part of your iCloud Plus subscription, prevents websites and services from seeing your real IP address, reducing the likelihood of them tracking you across the Internet and between sessions.