Google One has grown into much more than just extra storage for Drive, Gmail, and Photos. While many see it as a simple cloud upgrade, it bundles a wide range of tools. In this guide, we’ll answer the question: “What is Google One?” and explain how much it costs.
What Is Google One?
Google One is Google’s customer-facing cloud subscription service that bundles extra storage. Usually, it covers Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos, along with a host of extra features like AI-powered editing tools, family sharing, and access to Google experts.
Launched as an upgrade to the free 15 GB Google account storage (which ranks among the most common free cloud storage options), Google One caters to both everyday users and professionals looking for a more unified, scalable cloud experience.
What Does Google One Offer：
- Expanded Cloud Storage: From 100 GB to several terabytes, shared across Drive, Gmail, and Photos.
- Family sharing: You can share your storage plan with up to five family members.
- Google Store discounts: Occasionally, subscribers receive discounts on Pixel devices and other Google hardware.
- Advanced editing tools: Access to premium Google Photos editing features, like Magic Eraser and portrait light adjustment.
- Google AI features: Access to AI-powered writing, summarizing, and productivity tools (more on this below).
Beyond the core cloud storage and AI tools, Google One’s higher-tier plans include some often-overlooked perks. Priority customer support, for example, can save users a lot of time by providing direct access to Google experts. You can consider it something really valuable for anyone relying heavily on Google services.
There’s Google One VPN, too. It was offered with select plans until it was discontinued in 2024. It was also a convenient add-on for users seeking simple privacy without juggling extra apps. Now that it’s gone, users might need to look for standalone VPN solutions.
What Is Google One Subscription
A Google One subscription gives you access to the above benefits in exchange for a monthly or annual fee.
Google One is often used by:
- Photographers need extra storage for photos.
- Gmail-heavy users who exceed the free 15 GB cap.
- Professionals who need secure backup.
- Families sharing a single cloud account.
Google One Pricing:
A Google One subscription is a paid plan that extends your default Google storage and adds premium features. Subscriptions are monthly or yearly, totally depending on your preference.
So, how much does Google One cost? Here’s a clear breakdown of the different Google One tiers:
| Plan | Storage | Monthly Price | Yearly Price |
| Basic | 100 GB | $2 | $20 |
| Standard | 200 GB | $3 | $30 |
| Premium | 2 TB | $10 | $100 |
| Higher plans | 5 TB–30 TB | Varies, ($25- $250) | Usually, no annual plan |
Note: Some features (like AI tools and Google Workspace benefits) are only available in premium plans or above.
What Are the Benefits of Google One?
Besides storage, here are some standout benefits that differentiate Google One from simply using the free Google account storage:
1. Useful AI Tools (Premium and AI Premium Plans)
At its higher tier, Google One has started to shift from being just a cloud storage solution to something closer to a lightweight productivity suite.
Gemini AI integrates with Gmail, Docs, and Sheets. It helps you save time from drafting emails and summarizing long documents.
2. Google Photos Premium Editing Tools
Photo editing features provide noticeable benefits for subscribers. Tools such as Magic Eraser and portrait lighting within Google Photos enhance basic editing capabilities.
While these features don’t replace advanced professional software, they offer quick and convenient options suitable for everyday personal use. They’re not on par with Pro tools, but for everyday edits, they’re faster and more dependable than most free AI photo editors.
3. Enhanced Cloud Experience
On the practical side, automatic phone backups, centralized storage management, and faster access to customer support round out the package.
What Are the Drawbacks of Google One?
- No local file sync app like Dropbox or OneDrive: You have to manually manage files through Drive or the web interface.
- The AI tools are locked behind pricier tiers, which may not appeal to casual users.
- The discontinued VPN feature: Some users value this privacy tool, and its removal may be a dealbreaker for those seeking bundled digital privacy services.
- Limited interoperability: Not always ideal if you’re in a mixed ecosystem with Apple, Windows, or Linux.
Google One VPN Shut Down: What’s the Impact?
In 2024, Google pulled the plug on its Google One VPN. It was never trying to rival the big-name VPNs, but for anyone already paying for extra storage, having a built-in privacy layer felt like a nice bonus.
Why does this matter?
- Users relying on built-in privacy tools now need alternatives.
- The VPN was especially valued by mobile users seeking basic anonymity while browsing or using public Wi-Fi.
- It signals Google’s shift away from bundling security tools, focusing instead on productivity and AI.
Reliable Alternative:
If you’re looking for a VPN to replace Google One’s now-discontinued service, LightningX VPN is a strong contender.
It provides global coverage with over 2,000 servers across 70+ countries, which is great for consistent surfing.
The service offers unlimited bandwidth, extremely useful for streaming or large downloads. And it follows a strict no-logs policy to help keep your activity private.
It’s also widely compatible, with dedicated apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chrome, so that you can easily stay protected across all your devices.
Is Google One Premium Worth It? A Bundle That Goes Beyond Storage
For many users, the real value of Google One doesn’t stop at cloud storage. Why? Since there is a bundle of high-end tools and premium services that make it a smart upgrade.
Google One Premium and AI plan unlock a powerful suite of add-ons that would otherwise cost much more on their own. This is even more cost-effective, especially when you are already fit well in Google’s ecosystem.
Gemini Pro
Rather than just being “an AI assistant,” Gemini Pro quietly integrates into the tools you already use – Docs, Gmail, and even Chrome. It’s less about flashy features and more about cutting through mental clutter.
In some daily scenes, like drafting emails, summarizing long documents, or pulling ideas together in a browser tab, it is perfect for reducing friction.
YouTube Premium (AI Ultra Tier)
No ads, offline viewing, YouTube Music, all included. If you were planning to subscribe anyway, this alone makes the AI Ultra plan more worthwhile. You can check our guide “How much is YouTube Premium?” if you want a clearer picture of the value.
NotebookLM Pro, Flow Pro, Whisk Pro
Note that these tools are not for everyone. They’re designed for people doing research-heavy work or lightweight content creation.
NotebookLM helps break down complex documents into digestible ideas and lets you collaborate on them. Flow and Whisk are geared toward creators, letting you turn stills or scripts into video clips with AI support.
Workspace Premium Features
Longer meetings, noise cancellation, and custom booking pages are small upgrades. Still, users who rely on Google Meet and Calendar daily make scheduling and collaboration noticeably smoother.
Nest Aware & Fitbit Premium (UK only)
These benefits are only available in the UK for now, but they’re surprisingly practical. Nest Aware gives your security cameras better video storage and event detection. Fitbit Premium adds guided programs and deeper health insights.
Having them feels like being baked into your Google One plan means fewer monthly charges and less mental overhead.
