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It was just a week ago when the major tech giant announced that its new Google Pixel 7 series comes with its Google One VPN service at no extra cost.
The Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, which generally cost around $10 a month as part of the company’s Premium One plan, are the first smartphones on the market with a completely free Android VPN.
Until now, however, it was not clear how long users could enjoy this free VPN. And it looks like this security tool will stay free longer than many will keep the phone itself.
Free VPN from Google to support all Pixel updates
“With VPN from Google One, Pixel helps protect your online activities at the network level. Think of it as an extra layer of protection for your online security,” the provider wrote in a statement. blog post (opens in new tab).
“VPN by Google One becomes available at no extra cost as long as your phone continues to receive security updates.”
Google promises its Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro devices will support major OS updates for up to three years and security updates for five years. You may have even upgraded your phone before your time is up.
This is great news for users who want to secure their online lives without having to pay for a premium subscription.
However, Google One VPN cannot quite match the features offered by the best VPN services out there.
It lacks security options like connecting automatically when you access insecure Wi-Fi, or useful extras like blocking malware and phishing sites.
You also cannot select the server of your choice, nor falsify your location to circumvent online restrictions or other geo-restrictions when you are abroad. This means that you should opt for another reliable streaming VPN to keep up with your favorite shows when you travel.
In terms of software infrastructure, it also doesn’t support various VPN encryption protocols, beyond Google’s own custom offering.
Is free Google One VPN a no-brainer?
Google One VPN is definitely a good way to improve your device’s protection, especially since you don’t have to pay any fees to enjoy its benefits.
However, we’ve seen this VPN software fall far behind our top picks ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surfshark in terms of functionality.
While many free VPNs can compromise your privacy, there are a few freebie and premium services that offer free plans that we would definitely recommend instead. These include Switzerland-based Proton VPN Free, torrent-friendly PrivadoVPN, Windscribe, Tunnelbear, Hotspot Shield, and Hide.me.
In short, if you are planning to buy the new Google Pixel 7 or 7 Pro, make sure to take advantage of the benefits of a free built-in security tool. However, be aware of its limitations.
On the other hand, if the reason you’re buying Google’s latest smartphone isn’t to pay for its premium VPN, think twice. There are much better freebies out there.
Plus, you can always consider a premium provider that offers a free VPN trial instead. All top VPN providers offer between 30 and 45 days money back guarantee.