Google is finally rolling out its biggest Google Pixel update yet, giving all owners of its Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones free access to its VPN over the Google One service.
That's right: Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro users can now access a service that typically costs at least $9.99 / £7.99 / AU$12.49 a month at no cost. However, they won't have access to other Google One benefits paid subscribers get, like the ability to store up to 2TB of data in Google Cloud and 10% cash back on Google Store purchases.
To start using the free VPN, you'll need to open the Google One app (or install it from the Play Store - opens in a new tab if you haven't already). After that, you may see a pop-up warning you that your phone now comes with the Google One VPN, and there should be a new option in the Benefits section of the app that tells you about the VPN. Tap the "Show Details" button for that option and you'll be taken to the "Use VPN" option which you can turn on, giving you access to Google One VPN in your phone's quick settings.
You'll also be able to turn your VPN connection on and off by going to your Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 Pro's network & internet settings and heading to the VPN section. The Pixel 7's free VPN will be available in most countries where the smartphone is sold, with the exception of Singapore and India.
If you are not located in one of these countries and the service is not yet available to you, you may need to be a little patient. the update is currently rolling out, so it may not have been pushed to your Google Pixel 7 or Pixel 7 pro yet. Check your Pixel 7 and the Google One app again for updates, checking back occasionally to see if the free VPN is already active for you.
However, it's worth noting that while Google One VPN isn't one you should skip right away, it won't be as useful as some of the alternatives out there.
Analysis: You get what you (don't) pay for
Google One VPN is very similar to the services provided by ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
Like its rivals, you can use Google VPN to keep your online activity private and secure; While using the VPN, you can safely browse data while using a public Wi-Fi connection, and regardless of your connection, the data cannot be linked to your identity.
Additionally, Google has promised that, like most major VPN services, it will not use the data transmitted through your VPN to "track, record, or sell your browsing activity" beyond the minimum log (s' opens in a new tab) to guarantee the quality of its service (although Google indicates that it does not associate your IP address or your traffic with this collected data).
However, there is one big disappointment: you cannot use Google VPN to change your IP location. This means you won't be able to use the service to watch content that isn't available in your region (a big draw for services like ExpressVPN).
The inability to change your location is certainly a bummer, but since this service is free for Pixel 7 and 7 Pro users, some markdowns from what paid rivals offer isn't the end of the world. . Cela dit, if you send a payer to Google One to access Google's VPN on materials other than Pixel 7 (like the Google Pixel 6, a Samsung Galaxy S22 or the iPhone 14), c'est quelque chose don't fail to be aware.