Following its expansion to iOS earlier this year, Google One VPN is now available on Mac and Windows computers. Google first launched its VPN service on Android in late 2020 as part of its Google One subscription plan that provides additional cloud storage on Google Drive, along with extended support and other perks. With the expansion to iOS, Windows and Mac, the service is now available on all major mobile and desktop platforms.
Google One is one of the most popular cloud storage services worldwide alongside iCloud, OneDrive, Dropbox, IDrive, Box, etc. However, unlike the other options, Google One offers more than just cloud storage. It comes with Photos, Docs, Sheets, and Slides – collectively called Google Workspace – allowing users to create, edit, store, view, and synchronize files across platforms. Subscriptions start at $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year for the Basic plan that offers 100GB of additional cloud storage. The Standard plan costs $2.99 per month or $19.99 per year and offers 200GB of additional storage, while the Premium plans start at $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually for 2TB of storage.
To use Google One VPN on a Mac or Windows computer, sign in to the Google One account on a browser and click on the 'Benefits' tab on the left. Now select 'VPN for multiple devices' and hit the 'Download' button to get to the download option. Finally, select the VPNbyGoogleOneSetup.exe file on Windows or VPNbyGoogleOne.dmg on Mac to download and install the app. Do note that the app is still in the process of rolling out, so it might still take a few days to be available to all eligible users.
Only Available With Select Plans
The Google One VPN is only available for users subscribed to the Premium 2TB plan and above. It is currently available in 22 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Australia, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan. Like the rest of the Google One service, the VPN can be shared with up to five other users, including friends and family members.
It is worth noting that unlike most VPN services that allow users to choose servers in multiple countries to circumvent geo-restrictions imposed by various apps, websites and online services, Google One only assigns users an IP address from the country they are connecting from. So while Google One VPN is not as useful as standalone VPN services like Nord, Express, or CyberGhost, it still offers the security and encryption needed to keep users' browsing sessions safe from tracking and potential eavesdropping.
Source: Google