Google One
{{Short description|Subscription service from Google}}
{{distinguish|Android One}}
{{Infobox software
| logo = Google One logo.svg
| logo size = 65px
| developer = Google
| released = {{sda|2018|05|14|df=y}}
| ver layout = stacked
| platform = Android, iOS, web
| genre = Cloud storage service
}}
Google One is a subscription service developed by Google that offers expanded cloud storage and is intended for the consumer market. Google One paid plans offer cloud storage starting at 30 gigabytes, up to a maximum of 30 terabytes, an expansion from the free basic Google Account storage space of 15 GB, which is shared across Google Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos.
Launched in May 2018, Google One replaced the paid services of Google Drive to emphasize that the program is used by multiple Google Services.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/15/17693006/google-one-cloud-storage-plans-launch|title=Google One launches with cheaper cloud storage plans|work=The Verge|first=Frederic|last=Lardinois|date=14 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010011115/https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/15/17693006/google-one-cloud-storage-plans-launch|archive-date=2018-10-10|url-status=live}} The program's raw storage is not accessible by users, but emails, files, and pictures can be added and removed through Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. The various plans include other benefits. The service has over 100 million subscribers {{As of|2024|2|lc=y}}.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=2024-02-10 |title=Google One hits 100 million subscribers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/10/24068539/google-one-100-million-subscribers-g-suite-ai-premium-gemini |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=The Verge |language=en}}
History
Google One was launched in May 2018. The 1 TB plan for Google Drive was upgraded to 2 TB, while the 2 TB plan's price was the same as Google Drive's 1 TB plan (US$9.99). 24/7 support was available with all Google One plans.{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/14/say-hello-to-google-one/|title=Say hello to Google One|work=TechCrunch|first=Frederic|last=Lardinois|date=14 May 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203085227/https://techcrunch.com/2018/05/14/say-hello-to-google-one/|archive-date=2018-12-03|url-status=live}} From May to August 2018, Google began upgrading Google Drive users in the United States to Google One. All Google users could get access to Google One in the U.S. free of charge, but without member benefits or upgraded storage.{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/15/google-one-is-now-open-to-all/|title=Google One is now open to all|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2018-11-26|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127064716/https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/15/google-one-is-now-open-to-all/|archive-date=2018-11-27|url-status=live}}
On October 29, 2020, Google added a VPN service for Google One users on a 2 TB plan or higher;{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Napier |date=October 30, 2020 |title=Google launches VPN service so Google One users can browse more privately |url=https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2020/10/30/google-launches-vpn-service-for-google-one-users-to-browse-privately/ |website=Plugged | The Next Web}} this was discontinued on June 20, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=2024-04-11 |title=Google One VPN will be discontinued, Pixel VPN remains with upgrade coming |url=https://9to5google.com/2024/04/11/google-one-vpn-discontinued/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=9to5Google |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Google to shut down Google One VPN on June 20 - here are some alternatives |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-to-shut-down-google-one-vpn-on-june-20-here-are-some-alternatives/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}
In January 2023, the Google One app passed one billion downloads on Android.{{Cite web |last=Maddison |first=Lewis |date=2023-01-10 |title=Google One hits a billion downloads |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/google-one-hits-a-billion-downloads |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=TechRadar |language=en}} In February 2023, the Magic Eraser editing feature in Google Photos previously exclusive to Pixel 6 and 7 owners was made available to all Google One users.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Abner |date=2023-02-24 |title=9to5Google Log Out: Google One has a promising future |url=https://9to5google.com/2023/02/24/9to5google-log-out-google-one-promising-future/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=9to5Google |language=en-US}} In March 2023, Google expanded access to the VPN service to all plans and added a dark web monitoring feature for most users.{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Mitchell |date=2023-03-08 |title=Google's One plans are getting expanded VPN access and dark web monitoring |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/8/23629530/google-one-vpn-all-plans-dark-web-report |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} On February 8, 2024, Google introduced the AI Premium plan which provides access to Gemini Advanced and Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Meet.
Features
Every Google Account provides 15 GB of storage for Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos. Google One increases the quota to 100 GB or more, depending on the plan, and provides additional functionality such as Google Photos editing, shareable with up to five other people. Non-subscribers can use Google One to back up data from Android or iOS devices, and clean up space in their Google Account with the storage manager.{{cite web | title=Secure storage and AI from Google - section Frequently Asked Questions| website=Google One | url=https://one.google.com/about/?g1_landing_page=0 | access-date=17 November 2024}}
A paid plan provides:
- More storage space, depending upon the plan.
- Support from "Google experts" for Google services available 24/7 in the US over chat, email, and phone. Support options elsewhere vary.
- Automatic phone backup on Android through the Google One app.
- Dark web monitoring which scans the dark web for the user's personal information.
- Enhanced editing features such as Magic Eraser—which erases parts of an image and uses AI to fill in the erased section to look like the rest of the background{{cite web | title=Edit photos with AI: Magic Editor, Magic Eraser and Unblur | website=Google Photos | url=https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/photos/editing/ | access-date=17 November 2024}}—portrait light, blur, and color pop become available on Google Photos.{{Cite web |date=2021-02-11 |title=A new video editor, plus enhanced editing features |url=https://blog.google/products/photos/new-video-editor-plus-enhanced-editing-features/ |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Google |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |title=Additional editing features for Google One members - now on iOS - Google Photos Community |url=https://support.google.com/photos/thread/135072228/additional-editing-features-for-google-one-members-now-on-ios?hl=en |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=support.google.com}}—
- Ability for up to five additional family members to share a Google one subscription.{{Cite web|url=https://one.google.com/about|title=Google One - More storage and extra benefits from Google|website=one.google.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127055541/https://one.google.com/about|archive-date=2018-11-27|url-status=live}}
- Up to 10% cashback on purchases from the Google Store for users in the 200 GB and 2 TB plans.
- Google Play credits and other benefits from Google services.
- Gemini Advanced, available only in the 2 TB AI Premium Plan.{{Cite web |last=Ortiz |first=Sabrina |date=2024-02-08 |title=You can try Google's new 'AI Premium Plan' for free. Here's how (and why you'll want to) |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/you-can-get-free-access-to-googles-new-ai-subscription-includes-access-to-gemini-advanced-and-the-rebranded-duet-ai-heres-how/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=ZDNET |language=en}}
- The accounts of Google One subscribers display a modified avatar icon.
Storage
The storage managed by Google One is used by Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Price varies in different regions. Storage purchases renew automatically at the end of the subscription period. Users can upgrade their storage plan at any time.
Storage can be shared with up to 5 additional family members, with each person getting the default 15 GB. Files count towards the free default storage before counting towards shared storage. Many items do not take up any extra space: shared files or files in "Shared with me" only use up the owner's quota. Google Pixel phones up to the Pixel 5 allow users to back up an unlimited number of videos and photos that don't count towards the quota.{{Cite web|url=https://support.google.com/googleone/answer/9004014?hl=en&ref_topic=9171059|title=How your existing storage works with Google One - Google One Help|website=support.google.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-26}}{{Cite web|url=https://support.google.com/photos/answer/6220791|title=Choose the upload size of your photos and videos - Computer - Google Photos Help|website=support.google.com|language=en|access-date=2018-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119222529/https://support.google.com/photos/answer/6220791|archive-date=2018-11-19|url-status=live}}
When Google Photos was announced in 2015 free unlimited photo storage was promised. On June 1, 2021, Google removed unlimited storage from the "High quality" (renamed "Storage saver") and "Express quality" settings in Google Photos and Google Docs Editors file formats (except for Google Sites) stored in Google Drive. Users have a storage quota, although photos, videos and Docs Editors files uploaded before June 1 were not affected.{{cite web |last1=Haselton |first1=Todd |title=Google just ended unlimited free storage for photos, but still gives you more than Apple |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/11/google-photos-unlimited-free-storage-ends-june-1.html |website=CNBC |date=11 November 2020}}