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 | Stop browsing the web. Read that book you want to read |
| Google Search | Write what you need to search on a piece of paper. Wait until tomorrow1 |
| Google Maps | Paper maps are fun |
| Google Analytics | Stop tracking your users. 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 analog. Print photos. Gift them to your friends. |
| Google Keep | Joplin |
| YouTube | youtube-dl |
| Google Blogger | Ghost Gohugo Blot Jekyll |
| Google DNS | Find a non-profit organization for your DNS |
| Google Drive | Do things locally |
| Google Meet | No one looks good on video |
| 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, that works. |
| 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 | Take the train, hitchhike (it works fine), live locally |
| Google Finance | Stop watching your portfolio |
| Google Weather | $ curl wttr.in/[your-city] |
| Google Forms | User research should be conversation3 |
| Google Store | Switch back to a dumb phone, your kids won’t hate you |
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
