Privacy, Libre & no alternatives to Google
Below is a list of privacy-friendly, libre and no alternatives to Google.
I tend to replace existing software by Free Software when I find one - or no alternatives.
| Alternatives | |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | You might want to stop browsing the web and read that book you’ve wanted to read |
| Google Search | Tip: write what you think you need to look on a piece of paper. Wait until tomorrow1 |
| Google Maps | Paper maps are fun |
| Google Analytics | Stop tracking people. User research should be a conversation2 |
| Google Chrome Passwords | Firefox Lockwise Leepass Butter cup Keeweb KeepassXC |
| Google Sheets | EtheCal CryptPad LibreOffice (use locally) Baserow |
| Google Docs | Etherpad CryptPad LibreOffice (use locally) |
| Google Translate | Deepl |
| Google News | You read the news too much |
| Google Messages | Element (Matrix protocol) |
| Google Mail | ProtonMail Tutanota |
| Google Photos | Use an analog camera. Print photos. Gift them to your friends. |
| Google Keep | Joplin |
| YouTube | Stop watching YouTube. Otherwise, watch video locally, using VLC and mp4 files |
| Google Blogger | Ghost Gohugo Blot |
| Google DNS | Find a non-profit organization for your DNS |
| Google Drive | Keep your data locally |
| Google Meet | Jitsi |
| Google Voice | You look weird talking to your smartphone |
| Google Scholar | arXiv, sci-hub |
| Google Contacts | See email alternatives |
| Google Calendars | Try a pen and paper, buy a notebook calendar; that helps spending less time on screens. |
| Google Groups | Discourse |
| Google Ads | Ethical ads |
| Google Alerts | You already have too much information to deal with |
| Google Slides | Stop using slides. People don’t listen to you when you talk |
| Google Flights | (pandemic times) |
| Google Finance | - |
| Google Weather | $ curl wttr.in/[your-city] |
| Google Forms | User research should be conversation3 |
| Google Store | Switch back to a dumb phone |
Hey, I’m writing a book to explain the nature of our relation with “tech platforms” (e.g. Facebook, Google), and the impact our usage of platforms has on our autonomy, individuality, desire, and intimacy.
Time is the best filter↩︎
I am working on this topic. Get in touch if you want to chat https://romainaubert.com/contact↩︎
see above↩︎
privacy slow web google how-to open source libre well-being
