Leaving Google: My Journey to Alternative Services

For years, Google has been deeply embedded in my digital life—Gmail for emails, Google Search for information, Drive for storage, and YouTube for entertainment. However, I've decided to step away from the Google ecosystem completely. This decision isn't just about privacy; it's about control, independence, and a desire to support open-source and privacy-respecting alternatives.

Why Leave Google?

While Google provides excellent services, its deep data collection practices, increasing restrictions on account usage, and monopolization of the web have made me reconsider my reliance on it. I want to regain control over my data and move towards services that align with my values.

The Alternatives I’m Using

After thorough research and testing, I’ve replaced Google services with the following alternatives:

• Gmail → ProtonMail / Tutanota / Self-hosted email
  I switched to a privacy-focused email provider. ProtonMail and Tutanota offer strong encryption, and for even more control, I host my own mail server.

• Google Search → DuckDuckGo / Brave Search / Searx
  I now use DuckDuckGo for quick searches and Searx when I need more diversity in results. Brave Search is also a solid independent option.

• Google Drive → Nextcloud / Syncthing
  Nextcloud is my personal cloud solution, letting me store and sync files without relying on a third party. For device-to-device syncing, Syncthing works perfectly.

• Google Docs → LibreOffice / OnlyOffice / CryptPad
  LibreOffice and OnlyOffice handle my documents, and CryptPad is great for real-time collaboration with privacy in mind.

• Google Calendar → Nextcloud Calendar / Etar
  I’ve migrated my events to Nextcloud Calendar, and on mobile, Etar is my go-to calendar app.

• Google Maps → Organic Maps / OpenStreetMap
  Organic Maps, based on OpenStreetMap, provides excellent offline navigation while respecting privacy.

• Google Photos → Immich / PhotoPrism / Local Storage
  I’ve set up Immich for auto-uploading and organizing my photos locally, and PhotoPrism helps with AI-powered search features.

• YouTube → Invidious / NewPipe / PeerTube
  I still enjoy video content but access YouTube through privacy-friendly frontends like Invidious or NewPipe. I also explore PeerTube for decentralized alternatives.

• Android (Google Play) → F-Droid / Aurora Store
  Instead of relying on Google Play, I get my apps from F-Droid, which offers open-source software, and Aurora Store, which provides anonymous access to Play Store apps.

• Google Chrome → Firefox / Brave
  I’ve fully switched to Firefox with privacy tweaks and occasionally use Brave for its built-in ad-blocking and privacy features.

• Google Analytics → Plausible / Matomo
  For web analytics, I now use self-hosted Matomo and Plausible, both of which respect user privacy.

Final Thoughts

Leaving Google completely is challenging, but it's also liberating. While some transitions take time, the benefits of privacy, control, and supporting open-source projects outweigh the initial inconvenience.

If you're considering a similar move, take it step by step. Every service you replace with an alternative is a step towards digital independence.

Are you also reducing your reliance on Google? Let’s discuss your favorite alternatives!