In late 2020, Google introduced a VPN for its Google One subscription that provides additional Drive/Photos storage, extended support, and other perks. After initially being Android-only, the Google One VPN is now launching on iOS.
Access to the VPN requires a 2TB or higher Google One “Premium” plan that costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually. (According to the infographic below, the top tier looks to have also just added “Gold status” in Play Points as a perk.) It’s not available for the “Basic” (100GB) or “Standard” (200GB).
Afterward, install the Google One app on iPhone or iPad to start the set-up process. Once rolled out, there will be a card in the Home feed with an “Enable VPN” button. The next page features more details and a toggle, with the iOS “VPN” icon appearing in the status bar once active.
Google’s take at a Virtual Private Network is meant to encrypt your online traffic on unsecured networks (like public Wi-Fi) and hide your IP address. There are no country-switching options like other VPNs. The company says it will “never use the VPN connection to track, log, or sell your browsing activity.” Additionally, the client libraries are open source and the end-to-end system has been audited by a third party.
Google One members can share their plan and VPN, which is available in 18 countries, with up to five family members for free.
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States
Besides iOS, the company previously promised that the Google One VPN will be available on Mac and Windows down the road. The iOS support is still rolling out and we’re not seeing it on our devices yet.
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