-
deGoogle
First step...
Google’s main strategy is to give you great and easy to use products for free and at the same time have you pay with your data!
In an Interview with James Bennet, the former CEO of Google, Eric Schmidt stated:
With your permission, you give us more information about you, about your friends, and we can improve the quality of our searches. We don’t need you to type at all. We know where you are. We know where you’ve been. We can more or less know what you’re thinking about. Eric Schmidt - former Google CEO This interview is from 2010 so as you can imagine that by today Google probably knows what color your dog’s favorite ball is (or what they are thinking!)
If you would like to get away from Google and get away from having them in your life, then here are a few simple recommendations when it comes to alternatives and replacements:
Browser Desktop
Firefox
Available in over 90 languages, and compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux machines, Firefox works no matter what you’re using or where you are. Make sure your operating system is up to date for the best experience.
Tweak using Arkenfox or Firefox Profilemaker for more privacy and security.
LinuxWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSLibrewolf
This project is an independent fork of Firefox, with the primary goals of privacy, security and user freedom.
Every Firefox extension works, but then it is a Firefox fork after all. Privacy focused and secure, without all the commerce of a Firefox. I love the fact that I can add my own DNS server, just like on Firefox.
LibreWolf is designed to minimize data collection and telemetry as much as possible. This is achieved through hundreds of privacy, security, and performance settings and patches. Intrusive integrated add-ons including updater, crash reporter, and pocket are removed too.
Open-SourceLinux WindowsmacOSHighly RecommendedTor Browser
Well, there is always Tor and the Tor-Browser bundle which, frankly, should be always be your No1 Browser when it comes to privacy and anonymity.
Open-SourceLinuxWindowsmacOSAndroidHighly RecommendedBrave Browser
Chromium based—Brave blocks all creepy ads from every website by default. And that thing where ads follow you across the web? Brave blocks that too.
Honorable mention: Anonymized network routing (Tor mode). Brave Talk Unlimited, private video calls, right in your browser.
Controversial: Wikipedia Brave (heart)!?!
Maximize your Brave Browser Privacy and Security with no browser extensions by going into brave://flags and changing the settings for better privacy and security.
https://write.as/xbdm/maximize-your-brave-browser-privacy-and-security-with-zero-extensions Open-SourceLinuxWindowsmacOSAndroidiOSTor .onionFalkon
Falkon was formerly known as QupZilla. It was a research project written in Python which later morphed into a browser. It uses the WebKit engine. It has ad-blocking, speed dial and, of course, a bookmark manager. Amazing. The performance on Falkon is good as it uses less memory than most other browsers including Firefox and Chromium. I wish the themes would look a little less dated but, other than that, it's a pretty good browser.
Open-SourceLinuxGNOME Web
Based on the WebKit engine, it is great where gnome is pre-installed as the Gnome Web (Browser). This browser has a built-in ad-blocker but other than that it's a straightforward browser, no extras, no extensions etc.
Open-SourceLinuxUngoogled-Chromium
A lightweight approach to removing Google web service dependency!
Chromium has its advantages, so when it comes to security this could be your daily drive.
However, be warned! It does not support 'out of the box' Chromium add-ons, it can be sorted but requires a lot of tweaking. That said, this is a great browser which comes without all the Google spyware pre-installed. The pre-selected search engines are DuckDuckGo, Ecosia and Searx.
Note: However, many people are unaware that their patches often regress the privacy/security rather than improve it.
https://qua3k.github.io/ungoogled/ Open-SourceLinuxWindowsmacOSAndroid
Bromite
Bromite is my daily second browser. I always recommend using two different browsers, regardless of whether you are on a computer or a cellphone.
Bromite has the option to add your own DNS server for just Bromite, so you could use Bromite for things you would have blocked system-wide, but want to use in case you need to.
Tor Browser
This browser is based on Firefox and is an official Tor browser. It will hide your IP address and keep you anonymous to the websites you visit.
Mull
Mull is a Firefox-based, open-source browser which also allows Firefox add-ons. I recommend here Decentraleyes and uBlock Origin. NoScript Security Suite could be a third option for the hard core privacy people out there.
iOS
One of the big myths about iOS is that as every browser is based on Safari anyway, you should just use Safari out of the box. And even though that statement is not completely untrue, as every browser is indeed using the built-in Safari engine, not every browser is equally private or secure. Some even have diagnostics and other unnecessary things enabled in the browser itself.
Snowhaze
Snowhaze is great, it has many features you can’t find in Safari itself, including adding search engines, a built-in VPN (paid service), TOR, which is experimental, but will also be able to block fonts, scripts and makes sure no one can fingerprint your browsing experience. The browser is totally free, and you do not need to subscribe to the paid VPN service.
No data is collectediCab Web
If you're looking for even more features, iCab Web is for you. However, keep in mind this browser is not free. Yet, it has many unique features and just as Snowhaze allows you to add search engines, but also has a great built-in download manager. iCab has so much to offer that I recommend you to read the official website to learn more about it. The amount they're charging is surely worth the browser!
No data collectedOnionbrowser
Last but surely not least is Onionbrowser, not an official Tor browser, but is recommended by the Tor project. Not only does the browser have zero trackers, but it also allows you to use the Tor network, and hide your browsing history and habits from third parties, like your ISP.
No data collectedSearch Engines
Searx
Privacy-respecting, hackable metasearch engine / pronunciation sɜːks.If you are looking for running instances, ready to use, then visit searx.space.
Self-hostable, open source metasearch engine. Users can access existing public instances.Launched 2014Open-SourceTor .onionQwant
Qwant is a French search engine, launched in July 2013 and operated from Paris. It is one of the few EU-based search engines that has its own indexing engine. It claims that it does not employ user tracking or personalize search results in order to avoid trapping users in a filter bubble.
Launched 2013Based in FranceMetaGer
MetaGer is a metasearch engine focused on protecting users' privacy. Based in Germany, and hosted as a cooperation between the German NGO 'SUMA-EV - Association for Free Access to Knowledge' and the University of Hannover, the system is built on 24 small-scale web crawlers under MetaGer's own control. In September 2013, MetaGer launched MetaGer.net, an English-language version of their search engine.
Launched 1996Based in GermanyStartpage
Startpage is a Dutch search engine company that highlights privacy as its distinguishing feature. The website advertises that it allows users to obtain Google Search results while protecting users' privacy by not storing personal information or search data and removing all trackers.
Launched 1998Based in the NetherlandsBrave Search
Brave Search uses its own index, but also ensures a fully anonymous search, is transparent in how search results are ranked, and integrates with a privacy-preserving browser on desktop and mobile – an across-the-board combination of independence and privacy which no other provider offers.
Launched 2021US based Launch blog postDuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo (DDG) is an internet search engine that emphasizes protecting searchers' privacy and avoiding the filter bubble of personalized search results. DuckDuckGo does not show search results from content farms. It uses various APIs of other websites to show quick results to queries and for traditional links it uses the help of its partners and its own crawler.
Launched 2008US based Swisscows
With Swisscows you will find absolute security: you search anonymously, without tracking and completely privately.
Launched 2014Based in SwitzerlandMojeek
Mojeek is a search engine based in the United Kingdom. The search results provided by Mojeek come from its own index of web pages, created by crawling the web
Launched 2004Based in the UK Whoogle
Get Google search results, but without any ads, javascript, AMP links, cookies, or other tracking. Easily deployable in one click as a Docker app, and customizable with a single config file. Quick and simple to implement as a primary search engine replacement on both desktop and mobile.
Launched 2020Open-SourceGoogle Docs
Skiff
Skiff lets you write and edit together in real time. Connect securely and confidently with your collaborators from anywhere in the world. Web3. Skiff brings the future of the internet to you. Log in with Metamask or store your data on the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS). Your data belongs to you, so you can capture the value of your work.
Open-SourceE2EEDecentralizediOS (incl iPadOS)WebHighly RecommendedEtherpad
Etherpad is a highly customizable open source online editor providing collaborative editing in really real-time.
Open-SourceWebCryptPad
CryptPad is built to enable collaboration and is private by design.
CryptPad has a full Office Suite of applications, which includes Rich Text, Spreadsheets, Code/Markdown, Kanban, Slides, Whiteboard and Polls. This means you have everything Google Docs can offer you plus some additional features like Kanban, Poll, Code and Whiteboard.
Privacy Cookbook entry Open-SourceE2EEWebHighly RecommendedEtherCalc
Your data is saved on the web, and people can edit the same document at the same time. Everybody's changes are instantly reflected on all screens.
Work together on inventories, survey forms, list management, brainstorming sessions and more!
Open-SourceWebONLYOFFICE
ONLYOFFICE offers a complete productivity suite with document management, project management, CRM, calendar, mail, and corporate network.
Open-Source WebLinuxmacOSWindowsLibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free and powerful office suite, and a successor to OpenOffice.org (commonly known as OpenOffice).
Its clean interface and feature-rich tools help you unleash your creativity and enhance your productivity.
Open-SourceLinuxmacOSWindowsAndroidHighly RecommendedVikunja (/vɪˈkuːnjə/)
The to-do app to organize your life.
Vikunja is an open-source, self-hosted To-Do list application for all platforms. It is licensed under the AGPLv3.
Open-SourceSelf-HostedWebLinuxWindowsAndroid (early Alpha)YouTube
PeerTube
PeerTube, developed by Framasoft, is the free and decentralized alternative to video platforms, providing you over 600,000 videos published by 150,000 users and viewed over 70 million times
Open-SourceNewPipe integration (Android)WebRecommendedInvidious
An open-source alternative front-end to YouTube. No Ads or Trackers.
In Settings --> Proxy videos (click it and Google won't have your IP address). Or use the Tor Browser, and Invidious will even give you an onion address.
Open-SourceWebPiped
Piped is a free and open-source front end for YouTube that is also self-hostable. Note: Piped requires JavaScript to function.
Open-SourceWebFreeTube
You can enjoy your favorite YouTube content and creators without your habits being tracked. All of your user data is stored locally and never sent or published to the internet. FreeTube grabs data by scraping the information it needs (with either local methods or by optionally utilizing the Invidious API). With many features similar to YouTube, FreeTube has become one of the best methods to watch YouTube privately on desktop.
Open-SourceWindowsmacOSLinuxAndroid
LibreTube
LibreTube is not connected to Google directly, instead it uses Piped instances to load data and play videos. Therefore, this app doesn’t need to use any of the Google Services installed.
Open-SourceF-DroidHighly RecommendedNewPipe
NewPipe has been created with the purpose of getting the original YouTube experience on your smartphone without annoying ads and questionable permissions.
NewPipe is basically the same setup as Invidious, but for Android. It is on the F-Droid store and fully open-source. The beauty here is you can also subscribe to channels without making an account. Unlike Invidious, you can really do this without any account whatsoever!
Now, Invidious and NewPipe are both great solutions. However, they can't do it with any or all Google, so videos getting pulled from
googlevideo.comand Google will know your IP address.NewPipe x SponsorBlock
A fork of NewPipe with SponsorBlock functionality.
iOS
Privacy Redirect
A configurable web extension that redirects Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Google Maps, Google Search, and Google Translate to privacy-friendly alternatives.
Not FreeiOSiPadOSmacOSPiped (browser)
Piped is a free and open-source front end for YouTube that is also self-hostable.
Note: Piped requires JavaScript to function. Open-SourceWebGoogle Maps
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap is a map of the world, created by people like you and free to use under an open license.
Web OSMAndMaps
Global Mobile Map Viewing and Navigation for Online and Offline OSM Maps
WebAndroidiOSOrganic Maps: Offline Hike, Bike, Trails and Navigation
Organic Maps is a free Android & iOS offline maps app for travelers, tourists, hikers, and cyclists based on top of crowdsourced OpenStreetMap.
Open-SourceF-DroidAndroidiOSHighly RecommendedGoogle Play
F-Droid
F-Droid is an installable catalog of FOSS (Free and Open-Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.
Open-SourceAndroidRecommendedNeo-Store (Droid-ify)
A quick material F-Droid client.
Open-SourceAndroidHighly RecommendedAurora Store (downloads app from Google Play)
Aurora Store is an alternate to Google's Play Store, with an elegant design, using Aurora you can download apps, update existing apps, search for apps, get details about in-app trackers, spoof your location and much more.
Open-SourceF-DroidGoogle Drive
Nextcloud
Nextcloud Files offers an on-premise Universal File Access and sync platform with powerful collaboration capabilities and desktop, mobile and web interfaces.
Open-SourceWebSelf-HostedF-DroidmacOSiOSWindowsLinuxHighly RecommendedFilen
Zero knowledge end-to-end encrypted cloud storage, redefined. First 10 GB Free
E2EEWebProton Drive
Proton Drive is an end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) general file storage service by ProtonMail.
E2EEWebTahoe-LAFS
Tahoe-LAFS is a free and open decentralized cloud storage system. It distributes your data across multiple servers. Even if some servers fail or are taken over by an attacker, the entire file store continues to function correctly, preserving your privacy and security.
Open-SourcemacOSLinuxWindowsGoogle Translate
DeepL
With DeepL’s advanced features, you can simplify your workflow, save valuable time, and scale your translation needs without compromising on translation quality.
WebmacOSF-Droidlibretranslate
Open-Source Machine Translation—100% Self-Hosted. No Limits. No Ties to Proprietary Services.
Open-SourceWebTranslate Locally
Translate Locally is a desktop application for text translation. Unlike cloud providers, all processing is performed locally, and your text remains privately on your computer.
Open-SourceWebLinuxmacOSWindowsApertium
A free/open-source machine translation platform
Open-SourceWebLingVa
Alternative front-end for Google Translate, serving as a free and open-source translator with over a hundred languages available.
Open-Source Web SimplyTranslate Mobile (Unofficial)
This app is an alternative front-end to Google Translate, but doesn't directly connect to it. Including Text-To-Speech (TTS)
InstaLate
Distraction-free translation displayed in a semitransparent overlay window. Choose from many translation providers.
Gmail
Protonmail
ProtonMail is incorporated in Switzerland, which means all user data is protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Protonmail uses end-to-end encryption and zero access encryption to secure emails.
Note: Protonmail offers Free & Paid accounts.
E2EEWebAndroid (GCM for push )iOSAccept BitcoinRecommendedTutanota
With end-to-end encryption and 2FA, your emails have never been more secure. The built-in encryption guarantees that your mailbox belongs to you: Nobody can decrypt or read your data.
Note: Tutanota offers Free & Paid accounts.
Open-SourceE2EEWebF-DroidiOSHighly RecommendedMailbox.org
Enjoy an ad-free e-mail inbox – with your own domain name, if you like. At mailbox.org, you can rest assured your e-mails remain your private matter. Use all important Office features, such as calendars, address book, and task lists, in a secure cloud environment. (30 days free) EUR €12/year
WebSMPT/IMAPMailvelope PGP supportedStartMail
Send encrypted emails to anyone. If your recipient doesn’t use encryption, they can receive and reply to your encrypted emails with a password you set for them.
WebSMPT/IMAPPGP encryptionAccepts Bitcoindisroot.org
Disroot is a platform providing online services based on principles of freedom, privacy, federation and decentralization.
No tracking, no ads, no profiling, no data mining!
WebPGP encryptionMail-in-a-Box
Take back control of your email with this easy-to-deploy mail server in a box.
Open-SourceSelf-HostedWebPGPSMPT/IMAPDevelopers
Analytics
Plausible
Plausible can be self-hosted via a docker-based self-hosting setup, but we actually recommend supporting this wonderful project and go with a hosted solution. You can generate and point a CNAME setup to a subdomain of yours, so uBlock Origin and other blockers cannot block your stats.
21 Questions with Marko Saric (Plausible)
Open-SourceSelf-HostedOn-PremiseMatomo
Matomo is fully open-source and gives you two options. One is using the paid Matomo service hosted by Matomo and the other is to host it yourself! There is no 3rd party to whom your data is shared or sold!
Open-SourceSelf-HostedOn-PremiseUmami
A simple, fast, website analytics alternative to Google Analytics.
Open-SourceWebNULLITICS
Privacy should be affordable. We give you analytics, so you wouldn’t have to pay with your users' privacy.
Open-SourceWebAckee
Self-hosted, Node.js based analytics tool for those who care about privacy. Ackee runs on your own server, analyzes the traffic of your websites and provides useful statistics in a minimal interface.
Open-SourceSelf-HostedWebShynet
Shynet is a portmanteau of "Skynet" and "shy." The idea is that it gives you loads of useful information (Skynet) while also respecting your visitors' privacy (shy).
Pirsch
Pirsch is a simple, cookie-free, and open-source web analytics solution that easily integrates into your website or backend.
Open-SourceGoAccess
GoAccess is an open source real-time web log analyzer and interactive viewer that runs in a terminal in *nix systems or through your browser. GoAccess is easy to deploy and has all the stats you will need. Self-hosted and without the need to inform your visitors of trackers and cookies. GoAccess is GDPR, CCPA and PECR worry free! No privacy is invaded, and the way GoAccess is logging your visitors is 100% private and acceptable.
Open-SourceSelf-HostedWebTerminalFathom
For the longest time, website analytics software was seriously bad. It was hard to understand, time-consuming to use, and worse, it exploited visitor data for big tech to profit.
Fathom is a Google Analytics alternative that doesn’t compromise visitor privacy for data. It revolutionized website analytics by making them easy to use and respectful of privacy laws (like GDPR and more). (7-day free trial)
Web Swetrix
A powerful analytics platform that respects user privacy
Swetrix brings an advanced and customisable analytics service for your web applications. Track every metric you need without invading your users' privacy.
Web Simple Analytics
Simple Analytics does not use cookies or collect any personal data and just like the ones above it is GDPR, CCPA and PECR worry free! Simple Analytics gives it all away in its name, it is simple and just has the essentials. Page views, referrers, top pages and screen size. It can also screenshot the tweets that refer to you and some other social media links that bring traffic your way.
WebiOSreCAPTCHA
TextCaptcha
The TextCaptcha service provides access to textual CAPTCHA challenges via a simple JSON or XML API over HTTP.
hCaptcha
Stop more bots. Start protecting user privacy.
Web Google Fonts
Squirrel
Free fonts have met their match. We know how hard it is to find quality freeware that is licensed for commercial work.
WebGoogle Webfonts
A hassle-free way to self-host Google Fonts (download locally and integrate via CSS)
Self-HostingAndroid Developers
Crashlytics
Sentry
Working Code, Happy Customers
From error tracking to performance monitoring, developers can see what actually matters, solve quicker, and learn continuously about their applications - from the frontend to the backend.
Self-HostingFirebase
Kuzzle
Kuzzle is an open-source software platform for the Internet of Things (IoT) and data management.
Open-Source Appwrite
Secure Open-Source Backend Server for Web, Mobile & Flutter Developers
Appwrite is a self-hosted backend-as-a-service (BaaS) platform that provides developers with all the core APIs required to build any application.
Open-Source
Further Reading
EXPOSED! First you learned your ABC, but then Alphabet learned all about you!
Love it or hate it, Google will be out there for a long time to come. It is unfortunate however, that it now plays far too big a role in people’s everyday lives. It's very efficient, but at times manipulative, search engine will spew out a vast array of responses to whatever weird requests you may type into the box. But it doesn’t stop there. In fact, from Google’s point of view, they are happy now to draw you in, hook, line and sinker
decentralize.today "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place"
Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO EXPOSED! Google Search: looking for the truth
Don’t think for a moment that when you do a search on Google that you are getting the best of results in a true and fair fashion. Google claims that their algorithms are objective and essentially autonomous, not influenced by human bias or business considerations.
decentralize.today Smart Home! Google just makes you "aware"!
Google Home records even when you haven't asked them to. Of course, they do, we've reported this in the past. However, Google now calls it 'Aware' and, of course, it's not spying! It's a feature! Hurray!!!
decentralize.today Google loves to track you (and has the Maps to prove it!)
Google loves to track you. You can feel the corporate glow emanating from their HQ every time you switch on location services. Now they know where you are and probably also what you are up to….
decentralize.today EXPOSED! Orwell's Blueprint - Chapter Three - Google
In today's edition, we want to highlight a few things about Google - The Mothership!
decentralize.today The Startling Secret Between Google and Mastercard
Imagine that you are the creator of a useful tool that you think will help
society . You spend endless nights perfectingthe design, favoring yourDesi-Rae
deGoogle ⁄
We've been hearing and reading about how Google AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) has been impacting peoples' mobile web experience.
Google & their AMPs — deGoogleAndroid ⁄
When it comes to mobile, the best approach to 'degoogling' is a Pixel phone with GrapheneOS on it. Full stop!
Samsung — AndroidAndroid ⁄
First things first, when people talk about replacing the OS on an Android phone, they think you need to be a geek to actually get it done! Not so with GrapheneOS. The installation is dead simple!
GrapheneOS — AndroidAndroid ⁄
When it comes to custom ROMs and privacy on a mobile phone, it is always GrapheneOS for me
CalyxOS — AndroidAndroid ⁄
More than a few people around me are waking up and realizing that the simple cellphone is the weakest link when it comes to privacy.
CalyxOS or GrapheneOS — AndroidPhoto Storage
When it comes to Photo Storage, both iOS (iCloud) and Android (Google photos) make it easy. However, please do replace them! I back all mine up offline and have it on a USB, but that's me. So if you want a Photo Manager online, where you can share pictures with others or sync between your devices, ...Useful Links
This reference section is designed to provide you with links and resources available elsewhere on the internet centered on the subject of privacy. These include links into our social media network, other privacy sites plus bloggers, vloggers and podcasts that we follow and appreciate.