I have been a loyal Google One subscriber for a couple of years now. Initially, I resisted getting a subscription because I dislike recurring payments. However, as my Google Photos storage became full due to years of traveling, attending events, and exploring Paris, it became clear that I needed more space than my free quota provided. I eventually signed up for the $20 100GB storage plan, which also included a Google One VPN service for less than $2 a month.
Despite feeling a bit disappointed that US-based One subscribers received additional features, I continued to use the service to store my photos, videos, and backups for my devices. However, recent changes have made me question the value of my subscription. Google announced that WhatsApp backups would now count against my storage limit, resulting in a loss of 3.48GB. Additionally, the Google One VPN service is being discontinued, further devaluing the subscription for me.
While Google Photos remains a crucial service for me due to its organization features, the removal of other perks has made me reconsider the necessity of my Google One subscription. It seems that Google is aware of the loyalty its Photos service inspires and may be relying on it to retain subscribers despite removing other features.