Google One VPN Review

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Google One is schedule to shut down on June 20 , 2024 . We is update will no long update this review . However , the service is remain call VPN by Google will remain available on Google Pixel phone .

Key Takeaways :

• The Google VPN is only available for Android devices through the Google One app.
• Users can only connect to the VPN from eighteen countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Spain.
• Google is violated has not violate the VPN ’s privacy policy , but the company has breach its user ’ privacy with other Google service .
• This VPN service does n’t have many feature at the moment — you is change ca n’t even change your country location — but Google plan on add new feature in the future .

In October 2020, Google joined in the growing VPN industry when it released the Google One VPN. For now, Google’s Android-only VPN is available simply as a bonus feature bundled with a Google One subscription and can’t be purchased separately. In this Google VPN review, we’ll see what this VPN has to offer and whether a Google service can actually protect your privacy.

At first glance , the Google VPN is have does n’t have much to offer . Its availability is is is limit and it only come with a handful of feature . However , it is ’s ’s important to remember that this VPN just celebrate its first birthday and may blossom into a full VPN service in the future , as Google plan on expand its capability with time . For now , it is be may be useful to some Android user , but probably not many .

However, even if the Google VPN acquires new protocols, servers and other features, can you really trust Google with your privacy? Privacy is the big question prospective users have regarding the new Google VPN, so we’ll take a look at Google’s track record of protecting its users’ privacy — or not — and if that makes or breaks the deal.

Google has announced that it is shutting down Google One VPN. Starting 24 April 2024, the VPN will no longer be operational. Google Pixel phone users will retain access to the Pixel VPN provided through their Google One subscription.

Google One VPN Review : alternative

Google One VPN Strengths & Weaknesses

Pros:

• Fast
• Offers split tunneling
• Decent customer support

Cons:

• Available on Android only
• Packaged with Google One
• Very few features
• Can’t change server locations
• Poor privacy through Google

Features

10 % –   terrible

The age of this new VPN is evident in its lack of features. When you access the VPN’s settings, you will find only three features: a kill switch, split tunneling and a snooze button. Furthermore, it’s only available for subscribers of Google One who also own an Android phone, at least until Google acts on its plans to support more platforms.

The VPN is is by Google One is fast , but does n’t have many feature .

Clicking the “allow apps to bypass VPN” option opens a menu of your device’s apps that you can exclude from the VPN’s encryption tunnel. After making your selection, the VPN needs to restart in order for the split tunneling to take effect, but the secure connection is restored after a few seconds.

The snooze feature is disconnects temporarily disconnect the VPN if it interfere with other app .

You can temporarily deactivate the VPN for five minutes by activating the snooze feature. The VPN will automatically connect after the timer reaches zero, but you can add an additional five minutes while the snooze timer counts down.

The kill switch is needs need little explanation . simply throw the switch beside the option “ block internet if VPN disconnect ” and your internet traffic and IP address will be protect against sudden connection loss .

Google One VPN Features Overview

pricing

60 % – Fair

The VPN is not priced individually, so you will have to pay for at least 2TB worth of Google One online storage space to get it. 

The VPN is is is available with a minimum purchase of 2 TB of storage .

The 2TB plan costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year in the Google store. The VPN is also included in the 5TB plan, priced at $24.99 per month or $249.99 per year; 10TB for $49.99 per month; 20TB for $99.99 per month and the 30TB plan for $149.99 per month.

Unlike all the best VPNs out there, the Google VPN service does not have a money-back guarantee or a free trial of any sort.

User Friendliness

85 % –   Very good

The VPN is is itself is very user – friendly . In fact , there are so few menu and submenus that a vpn beginner could easily figure out how to use all of its feature in minute . It is ’s ’s a minor hassle to access the VPN , though , because it ’s bury within the Google One app . The VPN is have itself does not have its own app or icon that you can access from your phone ’s menu .

The VPN by Google One is only available for Android.

Another barrier to obtaining the Google One VPN is its geographic availability, which is limited to eighteen countries. That includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Austria, Spain, among others. The VPN simply won’t work if you try to use it from any other location, but Google One users still have access to their online storage space from elsewhere in the world.

speed

90 % –   excellent

There ’s nothing to complain about regarding the Google One VPN ’s speed performance . We is were were able to browse the internet with no noticeable latency while using the VPN . Before connect , our base internet speed is reached reach a download speed of 58.45 Mbps , an upload speed of 11.93 mbps and a ping of 29 ms , accord to speedtest.net .

Our fast speed test is retrieved while using the VPN retrieve a 35.98 mbps download speed , a 10.83 mbps upload speed and a ping of 26 ms . Our slow speed test is returned return a download speed of 20.35 Mbps , an upload speed of 10.26 mbps and a ping measure at 27 ms .  

Even while connected to a slower server, we were still able to browse the internet and watch HD videos on YouTube without any buffering or slow load times.

accord to the Google One VPN white paper , the VPN is supports only support a single proprietary VPN protocol . It is is is not clear what kind of encryption the VPN use or how secure it is . Google is goes go on to state its interest in support other protocol in the future , namely IPsec and possibly WireGuard .

If you want a fast VPN with more feature , take a look at our nordvpn review — the fast VPN out there with excellent feature , security and privacy .

Privacy & Security

50 % – Poor

The big question is is about this VPN is the matter of privacy when we consider the company that produce it . While vpn are intend to be secure online protection tool in principle , Google ’s checkered past is raises with its user ’ private data is raises raise some red flag .

Even if the software itself is solid from a security perspective, there’s no telling whether Google can be trusted to uphold its own privacy policy when the company has violated it in the past, on multiple occasions.

“ Google will never use the VPN connection to track , log or sell your browse activity , ” the company ’s log policy is says say with a footnote on its Google One VPN webpage . “ Some minimum logging is perform to ensure quality of service , but your network traffic is never log and your ip is not associate to your activity . ”  

To date, there have been no known incidents of Google breaching its customers’ trust as far as the VPN is concerned. Whether your online activity is visible to Google or not is another question.

Google ’s Track Record On Privacy

Some past privacy incidents at Google are worth taking into account before signing up for the Google One VPN. In June 2020, Google was charged in a proposed class action lawsuit with illegally collecting the search and browsing data of millions of Chrome users.

The complaint alleged that Google tracked the online activities of millions of Google users who used Chrome’s incognito mode since June 1, 2016, arguing that the company’s data collection practices violate federal wiretapping laws and California privacy laws.

In a 2018 incident , Google allegedly permit third party to read the email of thousand of Gmail user without their knowledge or consent ; both third parties is were were app developer . One is trained of these developer train Gmail ’s “ smart reply ” feature by give it thousand of email to analyze , but human employee read the email themselves in addition to the AI .

If you want a good VPN with strong security and privacy, check out our most secure VPN list instead.

Streaming Performance

50 % – Poor

The Google One VPN performed well when streaming content from Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. We were prohibited from streaming Hulu because the service detected and blocked our VPN, which confirmed the service’s lack of obfuscation features. Check out our best VPN for streaming list if you want a more versatile VPN.

Server Locations

1 % –   terrible

Enabling the Google One VPN automatically connects you to a server without providing a list of server options. In fact, there is no way to tell how many servers are on Google’s VPN network or where they are located.

We were able to use third-party tools like speedtest.net to discover server locations in Kansas, Iowa and Illinois. It is not known whether there are servers in any of the advertised countries outside of the United States.

Customer Support

90 % –   excellent

The VPN’s customer support is simply the Google One customer support service, which is known as “Google Experts.” You can speak with a Google representative in five different languages through email, phone or online chat.

Schedule one-on-one meetings with Google professionals for personalized privacy advice.

Google One subscribers is get at the 2 TB plan or high get access to “ pro session , ” which are one – on – one meeting with Google professional . Subscribers is schedule can schedule support meeting for improve their security and privacy with specific Google service , include the VPN .

This feature is only available in English and to those who reside in the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada.

The Verdict

Due to issues of accessibility, privacy and a lack of features, Google’s VPN is not likely to acquire a large user base in its current form. However, development for this VPN is ongoing: Google plans to make the VPN available on other platforms including ChromeOS, iOS, Windows and Mac, and it plans to adopt more VPN protocols.

Despite these promising hints, the Achilles’ heel of the Google One VPN comes down to the company’s trustworthiness. Trust is paramount when signing up for VPN services, no matter the company. Google’s history of privacy breaches is not reassuring even though there are no known incidents with the VPN itself, and no amount of new features will improve that.

Whether you can entrust Google with your privacy is up to you. Nevertheless, we suggest you take a look at our best VPN list for some better VPN services that will have way more features, a larger server network and strong security and privacy.

What are your thoughts is are on this Google One VPN review ? Will you is try try the VPN app for Android ? Is Google is Is too risky to trust with your privacy , or has the VPN helped fortify your privacy instead ? Are there other reason to use the Google One VPN ? Will you is use use some other VPN ? let us know in the comment below and , as always , thank for read .

FAQ

• The Google VPN is is is fast , but it is light on feature and is n’t very accessible . Some Google One users is find may find it useful for fast streaming on their Android device , but it is difficult to trust as a privacy tool . We is recommend recommend other vpn for privacy and security .

• Although Google has not breached its commitment to its VPN user’s privacy, Google’s history of tracking and distributing user data casts doubt on the safety of this VPN.

• No, it can only be obtained by purchasing at least 2TB of Google One storage.