Privacy-friendly alternatives to Google services
It's not clickbait. This is not a drill. I've compiled a list of privacy-friendly alternatives for every popular and useful service product that Google offers. I've even tested most of them out myself and left my thoughts.
I started this guide during the pandemic and have since returned periodically to ensure the information and advice remains accurate and up to date.
Before you go any further though, you should know that this isn't a fanboy's take on ditching Google. I haven't listed any alternatives from Microsoft or Apple either, because they're just as bad. Here, the focus is on privacy-respecting, open-source software. If any of these companies made such software, I'd gladly include it.
- Android
Apple's hypocrisy and their walled garden make them awful for privacy. Hardened Android is the way to go. - Authenticator
2FA is annoying but essential for security. Here's options to make it easier & keep you safer from hackers. - Bookmarks (Reading List)
Are you going crazy with all your open tabs? Losing important stuff? Let's fix that, without giving up privacy. - Calendar
Google Calendar is very popular. Fortunately, there are better ways to get organized and keep your privacy. - Chrome
DeGoogling can only take you so far if you still use Chrome. Time to dethrone the most popular browser. - Contact Sync
Instead of syncing your contacts and calendar to Google (or Apple), why not sync to your own server? - Google Docs
Google Docs captured the education market. Unlike MS Office, Docs is free, fast, web-based, & autosaves. - Google Drive
Where does your data go when it floats up to the cloud? Who should you trust with your data? Yourself. - Encrypted Email Apps
Email is very public. Your emails are visible in plaintext to every hop along the way. Enter PGP encryption. - Gmail
Gmail is your gateway to Google's ecosystem. The most popular email service, not the best. Let's replace it - G-Suite/Workspace
G-Suite and MS 365 are full of problems, and not just privacy. I compiled a list of alternatives for your team. - Google Keep (Notes)
Notes apps evolved beyond notes and lists into complete document editors. Google Keep is for amateurs. - Maps
Google has been mapping the world for 20 years. Who else can guide you as reliably? Well, few options. - Messaging
SMS is awful for privacy. WhatsApp replaced it, but then got bought by Meta. iMessage? RCS? Telegram? - News Reader
Where do you get your news? Who do you trust to curate it? Important questions amidst fake news & bias. - Password Managers
Security breaches happen every day exposing millions. Do you still use the same password for everything? - Photos
With how low storage costs are, it's cheaper than ever to self-host your own private photo backup server. - Pixel
In case you're not satisfied with changing only your software, there are privacy-friendly hardware options. - Play Store
How do you get and update apps on Android? Here's privacy-friendly alternatives to the Google Play Store. - Search
Google's search has been getting a lot worse lately. Even Bing is better, but not for privacy. Alternatives? - YouTube
YouTube requires unimaginable resources to run. Fortunately, there are privacy-friendly alternatives. - YouTube Music
YouTube Music is the best streaming service for artists and listeners. Only problem is Google. Let's fix it. - Google Voice
GV gives you a real number that works worldwide at the cost of privacy. There are much better alternatives