The VPN included with Google One is an excellent perk to have, and for Google One subscribers with an iPhone or iPad, using the VPN takes just a couple of taps. For anyone who spends a lot of time in the Google ecosystem, Google One is a must-have subscription. Subscribers get cloud storage for Google Drive and Google Photos, enhanced customer service, family sharing, and cashback on Google Store purchases.
Another perk of Google One is its VPN service. VPNs aren’t anything new, but they’re an incredible tool for safe and secure web browsing. Rather than visiting a website and sharing your IP address with it, a VPN masks your address and tells the site you’re coming from somewhere else — often times a completely different part of the world. Not only does this make your browsing more private, but it also enables some pretty nifty features (such as being able to watch the Netflix catalog from different countries).
In the case of Google One, enabling its VPN on iPhones and iPads is incredibly simple. Open the Google One app on either device, tab the ‘Enable VPN’ button on the home screen, and tap the toggle next to ‘Enable VPN.’ Upon doing so, a ‘VPN’ icon appears in the top-right corner of the iPhone or iPad to confirm that it’s active and running. As Google explains on the app, its VPN allows people to use the internet “on an encrypted, private connection,” protect themselves against hackers and unsecured Wi-Fi networks, and hide their IP address from any websites snooping for it.
Requirements For Using The Google One VPN
While enabling the Google One VPN on iPhone and iPad is easy enough, there is one big caveat to consider. The VPN is only available for subscribers to a Google One Premium plan. The cheapest Premium plan costs $9.99/month or $99.99/year. Along with VPN access, it also includes 2TB of cloud storage and 10 percent cashback on the Google Store. All of the more expensive Premium plans also come with Google One’s VPN, including the 5TB, 10TB, 20TB, and 30TB options.
While paying at least $100/year for Google One Premium may sound intimidating, the good news is that all Google One plans can be shared with up to five other people. If someone signs up for the $99.99/year plan and splits the cost between five friends/family members, that brings it down to just over $16/year per user. The best part? Google One’s VPN functionality is also shared with everyone, even if they’re using an iPhone or iPad.
