Is There A Substitute For Google Services
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Summary: The Best Google Alternatives for 2022!
Google provides a range of services, such as Search and Maps, which make our daily lives much easier. Most of these are costless, which merely makes them more than popular.
Merely people are increasingly enlightened of privacy risks associated with using Google services. These risks stem from Google's business model, which is based on information collection and sharing to create targeted ads.
Moving away from Google isn't like shooting fish in a barrel, only knowledge of the available alternatives helps make the process easier. In this article, we provide alternatives to Google'southward most pop services, including:
- Brave instead of Chrome
- DuckDuckGo in place of Google Search
- pDrive instead of Google Drive
- Piwigo in place of Google Photos
- ProtonMail as opposed to GMail
- OpenStreetMaps instead of Google Maps
- DTube to supplant YouTube
- /e/ instead of Android
Read the entire article to learn more about why you should expect for Google alternatives and which alternatives to choose!
Countless individuals across the world use Google products. In fact, 7 of its services, such as Search and Photos, each have more than a billion monthly active users! The ease of use, wide variety, and zero cost attract all kinds of customers to Google's apps.
All the same, people are increasingly aware of the privacy concerns associated with using Google's gratuitous services. They are now looking to move away from Google to safeguard their privacy. Unfortunately, their attempts at switching abroad are hampered past a lack of information on Google alternatives.
This article provides alternatives to some of Google's most popular products. It too explains why and how Google provides its services for free, and what this means for your privacy.
Google Chrome Alternatives
Chrome is Google's browser and your window to the Internet. Information technology commands 65% of the global browser market, despite a poor reputation for privacy. In fact, information technology'due south Google's most powerful data-gathering tool.
Information technology besides exerts considerable processing loads on your devices, which can slow down their performance. So, it's a clever idea to ditch Chrome and motion to a dissimilar browser. Nosotros suggest choosing i of the options below.
1. Tor Browser
Tor has established itself equally a household name when it comes to private and anonymous browsing. It uses NoScript to mask your activity from websites you visit and fifty-fifty deletes cookies later every session. Its three-layer protection coupled with a good VPN can make you lot a digital ghost. That said, Tor tin can be quite slow and isn't recommended for streaming content online.
two. Brave
Brave, which was launched in 2016, is based on Chromium. As a result, it retains some of Chrome's much-liked features in a less privacy-invasive browser. It's more secure than Chrome and faster than Tor. It besides has a few nifty security features, like congenital-in advertizement-blocking and the ability to secure not-HTTPS links. Brave is not fully ad-gratis, notwithstanding, as information technology launched its own ad programme in 2019. However, information technology doesn't use any of your information to personalize these ads. Important to mention is that Brave got caught upwards in an chapter referral scandal in 2020, as result of an auto-complete feature fault. Although this issue has since been solved, it shows how important it is to always exist disquisitional of the tools you lot employ to access the internet.
3. Mozilla Firefox
Firefox has been one of Chrome'due south biggest competitors for a while. It's different from Chrome, every bit it does not sell your information to 3rd parties for ads. The Mozilla Foundation is a non-for-profit organization and operates Firefox in a transparent and open up-source manner. Of course, enabling Firefox'southward privacy and security features requires customization, which can be daunting for some users. You should too note that Firefox is quite RAM-hungry, like Chrome, and can slow down old machines.
Our article on the all-time internet browsers for your privacy provides a deep dive into these three browsers and several others.
Google Search Alternatives
Using Google Search to find relevant information is so quick and easy that most people fail to consider the privacy implications of its utilize.
To deliver its highly personalized results, Google tracks your IP address, search queries, and assigns a unique ID that monitors the sites y'all visit and links you lot click on. Hence, it becomes important to consider privacy-focused alternatives which collect minimal personal data. Three of those are listed below:
1. Startpage
Startpage.com is an excellent privacy-focused search engine that is based on Google's results database, without the loggers and trackers. This means y'all're likely to get similarly comprehensive results minus the personalized ads.
two. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is perhaps the most pop privacy-friendly search culling to Google. It combines multiple sources, including Yahoo!, Wikipedia, and its own spider web crawler to offer impressive search results. Additionally, it uses the Tor Network, which makes it even harder to runway activity online. You can find out more virtually DuckDuckGo and its anonymity here.
three. Qwant
Qwant is a France-based secure search engine. Its appeal is the features information technology provides in addition to basic search. For instance, it provides upward-to-date news and trends on its homepage. It too allows you to search for music. Qwant Maps fifty-fifty offers one of the viable alternatives to Google Maps (which will be covered later).
For more data, read our article on the best privacy-friendly search engines!
Google Drive and Google Ane Alternatives
Google Bulldoze provides a 1-finish solution for all your deject storage needs. You even get 15 GB free just by creating an business relationship. Google Ane, the paid version of Google Drive, offers even more storage. Its availability across platforms makes information technology even more appealing. Despite all this, information technology's even so a part of Google's surveillance structure. Luckily, in that location are quite a few secure alternatives to Drive:
1. pCloud
pCloud is one of the leading alternatives to Drive for individuals, especially considering information technology comes with a complimentary 10 GB plan. It also has some of Drive's near appealing features, including seamless document sharing and cross-platform functionality. This is all packaged with secure customer-side encryption and zippo-knowledge privacy.
ii. Tresorit
Tresorit is emerging equally a user-friendly file hosting and sharing service. It's based in Switzerland and is compliant with GDPR. This means it offers some of the highest privacy protections around. Its focus on data residency flexibility, third-political party audit, as well as source lawmaking testing, brand it a very highly-seasoned option for corporates and large enterprises. It is, however, slightly expensive for private users.
iii. Nextcloud
Nextcloud is different from the other alternatives listed higher up, every bit information technology is a self-hosting solution that's free and open-source (FOSS). This means that your data is stored in your own information eye, or a server managed past you, instead of floating around in the cloud. These features make it an attractive choice for those looking to do full control over their data while still allowing for collaboration and sharing through Nextcloud'due south suite of products.
Google Photos Alternatives
Google Photos is an extremely popular service, especially considering it used to offer unlimited uploads of high-quality photos. Additionally, Google Photos also uses image recognition and AI to edit photos and make them look even better.
However, starting June 2021, Google is fixing a 15GB limit even on high-quality photo uploads. This has led to many users looking for replacements that offer the aforementioned functionality and convenience. Some of these are:
one. iDrive
iDrive is a veteran file hosting service that provides some unique features for photographers. Information technology has a free 5GB plan, which might be sufficient for apprentice users. Even for professionals, information technology offers a generous 5TB at the cost of $52.12/yr. Information technology's highly secure as it encrypts information both when it is at residual and in transit.
2. Piwigo
Piwigo provides a handy choice for users interested in self-hosting servers on which they shop their images. The software itself is FOSS, meaning you simply need to pay your hosting provider. It supports easy uploads from multiple devices and editing tools, like Lightroom. Features like batch management make it easier to organize and share photos with family, friends, and clients.
3. Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe is one the leaders when it comes to photo management and editing tools. For Adobe users, its Artistic Cloud offers a perfect solution to store and transfer photos and videos across its different software on all your devices. Even so, information technology may not be suitable as a standalone photo storage solution given its high cost and deep integration with Adobe tools.
Gmail Alternatives
Gmail is one of the most widely used mail service services. Its sheer scale of utilise makes it very susceptible to privacy threats. Information technology has been reported that Google not simply scans through the content of your emails to deliver ads, but besides shares this information with tertiary-party apps in sure contexts.
Your emails ordinarily contain an incredible amount of personal, sensitive, and secret information, and then it is ideal to switch to a provider that respects your privacy. Some options for you to consider include:
1. ProtonMail
The name ProtonMail may sound familiar to most readers as it has significantly grown its user base in the past few years. Based out of Switzerland, ProtonMail features high-level stop-to-stop encryption, is open up source and requires no personal data to annals. You tin sign upwards for free and get storage up to 500MB, which tin exist expanded by opting for a paid programme. ProtonMail also offers well-designed apps across all major operating systems.
2. StartMail
The creators of Startpage have brought their expertise in security and privacy to postal service with StartMail. The service has some exceptional privacy features such every bit PGP encryption, 2FA and support for burner accounts and aliases. However, they offer no complimentary service, meaning you lot'll have to pay to utilize StartMail. There are also no native mobile apps every bit yet.
3. Tutanota
The postal service provider of choice for journalists, researchers, and professionals dealing with sensitive information is Tutanota. This was one of the outset services to provide terminate-to-end encryption in 2011 and it has built a formidable reputation for privacy protection since then. The fact that it's open-source lends further credibility and transparency to its operations.
Google Maps Alternatives
There is niggling doubt that Google Maps offers unparalleled navigation, directions, and points of interest. But it also tracks and stores your location when using the app and creates a timeline of places you've visited.
While it's necessary to collect some corporeality of location data to offer navigation services, the following services do so in a more than privacy-friendly mode than Google:
ane. OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is hailed as the Wikipedia of maps as information technology'southward based on contributions from volunteer users. This means you can propose changes or add maps to locations where their coverage is lacking. OSM is primarily web-based and doesn't have as well many features as well basic navigation and direction. It has a large repository of maps, which is used past other alternative apps, like Maps.me.
ii. Maps.Me
Maps.Me is a service that is based on OSM'southward database. It provides maps for more 300 countries and islands. The app is primarily meant for offline apply, though the online version provides added data on public transport and traffic. The points of interest are well-categorized, and information technology fifty-fifty allows you to share hiking trails. Maps.Me is an open-source platform and uses minimal information to offering it services. Information technology does, notwithstanding, use your location information to provide some ads. Yet, this data is not linked to a personal profile.
iii. Sygic Maps
Sygic Maps is another great secure alternative to Google Maps. It'due south based in Europe and compliant with GDPR privacy requirements. It offers navigation, lane guidance, and parking spot availability information in some countries. Travelers and tourists may notice its travel guides and TripAdvisor recommendations to be very helpful.
YouTube Alternatives
YouTube is the most popular platform when information technology comes to sharing and streaming video content. Information technology likewise offers numerous methods for creators to monetize their content.
YouTube is entirely centralized. This means that it has full command over what is shared on the platform and can choose to accept down whatsoever content. Its search algorithm is also designed to consistently feed you personalized content based on your watched history. This creates an echo bedroom or filter bubble that limits engagement with new and organic content.
The apps suggested beneath are your best bet at breaking out of the YouTube repeat sleeping accommodation:
1. DTube
DTube is an entirely decentralized platform. It exists on a blockchain. This means it isn't controlled past a fundamental entity, like YouTube. Information technology also doesn't have a recommendation algorithm. Instead, content is managed by its community. Due to its decentralized nature, DTube is censorship-free. Finally, DTube allows content creators to earn profits through cryptocurrency.
2. PeerTube
PeerTube is another open-source and decentralized alternative to YouTube funded by a French not-for-profit organization. Information technology allows users to cocky-host servers, or "instances", on which content is then uploaded. Past doing so, it avoids the key control that other video services like YouTube and Vimeo exercise over their user's content. Additionally, information technology also offers integration with other popular open-source social media platforms, such as Mastodon.
Besides DTube and PeerTube, there are other alternatives to YouTube available too, merely nosotros've decided not to include those for a variety of reasons. Some, similar Vimeo, utilize personal data to create targeted ads. Others, like BitChute, started out as censorship-free video hosting platforms, but quickly morphed into platforms that promote hate spoken language and misinformation. For these reasons, we wouldn't recommend them and suggest yous to be careful when y'all do decide to apply them.
Android Alternatives
Android is the operating system for most non-Apple smartphones and even some laptops. It is, still, designed with several of Google's services at its core. For instance, most phones running Android require you to log in to a Google account for full functionality. Similarly, Google search is the default search choice on nigh Android phones. To break out of this lock-in effect created by Android, consider the following alternatives:
1. /e/
/e/ is an Android distribution that provides a completely open-source experience. It replaces Google's services with its own and uses FOSS software as much as possible. It supports 112 devices and is updated regularly. The app store in /eastward/ is based on F-Droid (an open-source culling to the Play Store) and allows users to install some of the more pop Android apps. The only drawback is that installing /e/ might prove challenging for most users.
two. LineageOS
When it comes to replicating the Android experience without Google'due south apps, there are few better options than LineageOS. A fork of the immensely popular CyanogenMod, Lineage provides a stock Android experience in an open up-source environment. The broad range of devices it supports also adds to its popularity.
Notation:In curating this list, we have omitted software and services provided by other "BigTech" companies such as Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon. Later on all, the services provided past these companies feature some of the same privacy risks we are trying to avoid by moving away from Google.
Why exercise I Demand Alternatives to Google?
The answer to this question lies in understanding Google'southward business concern model, which is based on data collection. The data information technology collects from users is used to target them with ads. Google earns revenue from the service providers who pay for these ads. In fact, the company raked in more than $45 billion of ad acquirement in the kickoff quarter of 2021 alone.
And then, Google is actually earning from the personal and sensitive data that it collects from you. When you think about it this fashion, Google'southward services aren't free, as you're paying for them with your data.
In 2019, Google was fined $57 million by the EU as it was guilty of non disclosing to users how the data it nerveless could impact their privacy. Repeated instances of such privacy violations hamper your online security and privacy, which is why it'southward important to wait for privacy-friendly alternatives to Google.
How Does Google Collect Data?
Google uses a diverseness of techniques and methods, including cookies and browser fingerprinting, to rails your activity across the web. The collected data is used to create a unique profile of your interests and behavior patterns. The profile can then be used to tailor and target ads that are specifically suited to you.
Google has tried to address tracking and data collection concerns by committing to a consummate phase-out of cookies by 2023. However, its new FloC technology, which will replace cookies, has non inspired much conviction amongst privacy enthusiasts. They fear that information technology's no different from third-political party cookies and may even exist worse.
Is In that location a Privacy-Friendly Way to Utilise Google?
Let'southward face it. Google'due south apps are incredibly convenient to use. They integrate seamlessly with each other, and you only need one account to admission them all. Additionally, several companies and workspaces depend on Google Workspace to conduct business. This leaves many people wondering whether there'due south a more individual way to use Google.
There are a few things that you tin practise to brand your use of Google more private.
You tin understand and take charge of your privacy settings to minimize tracking and targeting by Google. Read our Google privacy settings guide for more information.
You could too consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) and that will encrypt and protect your online action and information. Combined with a solid adblocker and browser extensions like Ghostery and Privacy Badger, you can attain some more than privacy and security whilst browsing.
Google fifty-fifty has its own VPN at present, available as part of its Google 1 programme. It'due south very barebones at the moment, but that may change in the future.
Implementing the higher up steps will certainly help maintain your online privacy. If you want to live a Google-gratis life, you should adopt a holistic strategy, which requires a gradual shift to other services. Not a big fan of Google anymore? Here'southward how to delete your Gmail and Google account permanently.
Best Google Alternatives for 2022: Oft Asked Questions
Some of you may have specific questions that yous demand quick and brusk answers to. Or y'all might be looking for alternatives to services not listed above. If that's the instance, refer to the answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Google Alternatives beneath.
Please let us know if there's annihilation nosotros've missed out by leaving a comment in the comments section.
Is at that place a feasible alternative to the Play Store?
Google controls the apps that y'all tin install on your phone through the Play Shop. While you lot tin find and download APKs from online sources, these can contain viruses and harm your device. Some secure alternatives are:
What are some alternatives to Google Meet and Hangouts?
With the world affected by the COVID-nineteen pandemic, people have been looking for video-calling solutions. A few secure alternatives to Google's services include: A comprehensive list of secure video-conferencing solutions is available here.
Is There A Substitute For Google Services,
Source: https://vpnoverview.com/privacy/anonymous-browsing/best-google-alternatives/
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