After Google announced in October 2020 that it will arrive to iOS, the VPN service that comes with a Google One Premium subscription is now accessible on iPhones. While a Google-run VPN has been accessible on the platform for months via the Google Fi cell service, today’s change means that anyone who purchases 2TB or more of Google One storage will also receive a VPN for their phone.
People in 18 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Mexico, can use the VPN. iPhone users may be aware with the concept of a more expensive storage plan that also includes a mechanism to hide your IP address and internet traffic — All of Apple’s premium iCloud services feature the Private Relay function.
A VPN, on the other hand, is a useful addition for iPhone users who prefer Google’s services to Apple’s. There is one major drawback to the service: you won’t be able to get an IP address from another country, which could allow you to watch other shows on streaming platforms. Other VPN services include this capability as one of their primary selling points, but it’s not available with Google or Apple’s offerings.
In its blog post, Google also cites several new capabilities for Android VPN users, such as a “safe disconnect” function that turns off internet connection if you disconnect from the VPN (ensuring that your data doesn’t end up somewhere unintended). If you’re using Android, it also indicates that you can set particular apps to skip the VPN.