The Google One VPN app will be shut down permanently after less than four years of service.

The big tech company announced its decision in an official email sent to One subscribers, which was seen by the Android Authority team. But Google reassured readers that Pixel 7 (or newer models) owners can access Google's VPN through their phone's settings.

This news may come as a shock to One subscribers who are active users of the virtual private network app. Fortunately, however, there are plenty of alternatives on the market for Android loyalists.

After launching Google One VPN in October 2020, one might wonder why the company wants to pull the plug on this product.

The email was intentionally vague, but a Google spokesperson explained to 9to5Google that the reasons for discontinuing the VPN are simple and boil down to the simple fact that "people weren't using it."

The company initially wanted a $9.99 monthly fee, which it lowered to $1.99 last March. By all appearances, the lower price did not make the VPN app more attractive to Google One users.

The company believes the move will allow the team to "refocus" and "support more in-demand features on Google One."

The good news is that the market is flooded with reliable Android VPNs.

As of this writing, our top pick is NordVPN. The largest in the industry, NordVPN lives up to its reputation with a complete security package that includes built-in antivirus and ad-blocking tools. It is also a great streaming VPN and was able to unblock everything we tried last time we checked.

If you are simply looking for a VPN app to enhance your mobile security, we also recommend looking into the best free VPNs; PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN Free offer great premium security without lengthy subscription plans