Google provides a free VPN built into newer Google Pixel devices. When I tried Google’s VPN after my Google Pixel 8 arrived, I came away feeling underwhelmed.
A trusted VPN service often requires a subscription. Great VPNs like Surfshark, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN all have premium plans.
Free VPNs, if trusted, often lack many core features. Google’s free VPN is no exception.
While I appreciate Google including a free VPN with the Pixel 8, it isn’t enough to make me cancel my NordVPN subscription.
The pros and cons of using Google’s free VPN
It at least does what it is supposed to do
A full-fledged VPN can do more than mask your connection. As a result, Google’s free VPN service is hardly a full-fledged one.
It’s a limited experience when Google’s free VPN is only available on newer Pixel devices (you need a Pixel 7 or newer to use it). For someone who owns six non-Pixel phones, it already isn’t helpful.
Previously, Google offered a VPN service as part of the Google One subscription. However, Google retired that serviceon June 20, 2024.
Now, if you wish to use a free VPN service authorized by Google, you must use VPN by Google (formerly Google Fi VPN).
VPN by Google lacks multi-platform support. It is only offered on newer Pixel devices, including the Pixel tablet.
You cannot access or use the VPN on any other device, including other Android phones or through a router. It is also only available in select countries.
VPN by Google is solely used to encrypt your internet traffic. It hides your activity between the start and end points by routing your internet traffic through Google’s VPN servers.
It protects you from being tracked by ISPs or attackers on public networks. It adds an extra privacy layer to prevent people from snooping on what you do online.
This also includes Google. Google uses a technique called blind signing to enhance privacy. Blind signing is how Google separates your Google account from the VPN servers.
Your connection is assigned a one-time token after user authentication. That token establishes a connection to the Google VPN server.
The token is anonymous and can’t link your personal information (such as your internet traffic and IP address) to Google.
Google says it doesn’t track or sell your browsing activity, but it does log some data to improve its “service quality.” So this is not a zero-logs policy.
Google also conducts third-party security audits and makes its core system open source to be transparent about what it offers. Anyone can check it out and read about it publicly before trusting it.
However, despite its privacy offerings, it does not work like a traditional VPN. You don’t have control over the servers you are assigned to, and it doesn’t necessarily help you access content remotely.
As a Canadian who uses US-oriented services and products, I need some way to access content I otherwise couldn’t. The VPN by Google doesn’t give me that. The server you connect to is generic.
Google uses automatic location detection to determine the closest server in its network. So, unless you plan to spoof your location on your Android phone, you won’t be able to controlthe location that routes your traffic.
Even if Google’s VPN is about privacy, it lacks critical features
VPN by Google doesn’t offer a kill switch
You can’t use a VPN to spoof your location to access content you couldn’t otherwise access, like a new catalog on your signed-up streaming services,with Google’s built-in service.
I’ve had my fair share of horror stories trying to use free VPNs the same way. I realized no trusted free VPN service provides solid speeds and lets you freely pick any country without a trade-off.
VPN by Google makes it clear that it won’t help you bypass geo-restrictions. Instead, it focuses on masking your privacy. That’s fine, except it doesn’t offer much beyond that.
For example, since I’ve been using NordVPN, I’ve begun deep-diving into the importance of its extra features, the ones that enhance privacy when I need it.
I didn’t understand how vital a kill switch can be until I looked into how VPNs can be exploited, even if you’re using one with solid security.
A kill switch is used as a safety net. A kill switch cuts your internet connection if your VPN connection suddenly drops or can’t be detected.
Your internet connection only re-establishes after it detects that the VPN tunnel is back up and your connection is encrypted.
The kill switch removes any vulnerable moments of exposure. This prevents your IP address, your online activity, or other sensitive data, such as your login credentials or financial information, from being seen if your VPN connection suddenly drops.
It’s especially important if you use an unstable network. For example, on public Wi-Fi, your data can be vulnerable to hackers.
A VPN connection encrypts it, but if it drops without warning, it becomes vulnerable to interception (think of the dangers of man-in-the-middle attacks).
Still, not everyone will worry about their connection being completely insecure, since not everyone will access or use public Wi-Fi.
If you don’t need the airtight privacy a paid VPN offers and want extra speed, you can enable split-tunneling.
This routes some of your internet traffic through the encrypted VPN tunnel, such as your work credentials, while leaving other traffic unrouted. Google’s free VPN also lacks split-tunneling.
Try a VPN while on a budget
VPNs are great tools for privacy, as they let you hide your VPN traffic from prying eyes, such as your ISP, and give you peace of mind that your browsing activity isn’t fully logged and tracked.
Full-fledged VPNs can give you more control over your virtual server, which helps you unlock more content when you’re in a different location.
These features are great, but paying for a subscription can be expensive and not worth the commitment if you barely use it. Or maybe you don’t know how well a VPN works and want to try without paying up front.
I’ve mentioned before that free VPNs can sometimes feel like a scam. Some steal your data, while other, reputable ones (like Proton VPN) have heavy restrictions.
That’s where keeping your eyes peeled for limited-time offers like free trials or money-back guarantees can help you see which brands you like and which features are worth paying for.
While I wanted to like Google’s free VPN a bit more (I already knew it would be limited before trying it), it wasn’t even close to a real VPN experience.
