But people are increasingly aware of privacy risks associated with using Google services. These risks stem from Google’s business model, which is based on data collection and sharing to create targeted ads. Moving away from Google isn’t easy, but knowing the best Google alternatives makes the process easier. In this article, we provide alternatives to Google’s most popular services, like: Read the article below to learn more about why you should look for Google alternatives and which alternatives to choose! Despite their ubiquity, Google’s products are far from ideal. Due to privacy concerns, people are increasingly seeking privacy-friendly alternatives to Google’s free services. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find Google alternatives that offer the same usability and essential features. We’ve scoured the web to find the best Google alternatives. We’ll tell you about these products, what they have over Google, and why they may be better for your privacy.
Google Chrome Alternatives
Chrome is one of the most popular browsers. Google’s browser commands over 65% of the global browser market. But it has a poor reputation for privacy; in fact, it’s Google’s most powerful data-gathering tool. It also exerts considerable processing loads on devices, which can slow down their performance. Are you considering ditching Chrome for a different browser? We suggest choosing one of the Chrome alternatives below. Below, we’ll discuss these Chrome alternatives in more detail.
1. Tor Browser – Best Google alternative for privacy and accessing the dark web
Tor is the standard for private and anonymous browsing. It uses NoScript to mask your activity from the websites you visit and deletes cookies after every session. Its three-layer nodes, coupled with a good virtual private network (VPN), can make you a digital ghost. Tor is the most popular dark web browser, as people who visit this part of the internet value anonymity. The Tor browser might be the best alternative to Google if you’re serious about privacy. But it can be pretty slow and isn’t recommended for streaming content.
2. Brave – Has Chrome-like features but prioritizes users’ privacy
Brave, launched in 2016, is based on Chromium. As a result, it has some Chrome-like features, but it’s designed with a focus on privacy. It’s more secure than Chrome and faster than Tor. It also has a few nifty security features, like a built-in ad and tracker blocker and the ability to secure non-HTTPS links. Brave is not fully ad-free. It launched an ad program in 2019; you can earn tokens by viewing ads. Brave doesn’t collect user data to deliver personalized ads. Brave got caught up in an affiliate referral scandal in 2020 due to an auto-complete feature error. Although this issue has since been solved, it shows how important it is to always be selective with the tools you use to access the internet.
3. Ungoogled Chromium – An alternative that stays true to the Chrome experience
Ungoogled Chromium is another browser that tries to stay true to the Google Chrome experience many users are familiar with. It looks identical to Google. However, the browser claims it’s much more private. A large part of its privacy strategy involves disabling Google features that track users. These include Google Host Detector, Google URL Tracker, Google Cloud Messaging, Safe Browsing, and others. Ungoogled Chromium has some features designed to improve users’ privacy and security. Below are some of its most important privacy and security features.
By default, it clears all cookies when you close the browser. The browser doesn’t use a zone identifier on downloaded files. It forces pop-ups into a separate window, so they don’t bother you as much. It uses HTTPS by default when a URL scheme is not provided. This is great for pages that don’t have an HTTPS version.
4. Mozilla Firefox – The most popular private browser
Firefox has been one of Chrome’s biggest competitors for a while. It’s very different from Chrome, as it does not sell your information to third parties for ads. The Mozilla Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that operates Firefox. The foundation is very transparent about its open-source browser. Firefox’s privacy and security features require customization, which can be daunting for some users. We should note that Firefox is quite RAM-hungry, like Chrome, and can slow down old machines. The company recommends turning on hardware acceleration in the browser settings to minimize memory usage.
5. Vivaldi – A highly customizable private browser
Vivaldi is a privacy-focused browser that supports high levels of customization. It doesn’t track users. This browser also offers a built-in blocker for ads, trackers, and cookies. In 2019, Vivaldi announced it would stop using unique user IDs to count users for improved privacy. Vivaldi not only scores full marks for privacy and customization, but it’s also user-friendly and supports productivity. It has an array of useful features and built-in tools that make your browsing experience more comfortable. For example, you can organize your tabs in “two-level tab stacks.” Our Vivaldi review contains more information about this browser.
6. Puffin – A Google alternative for businesses
Puffin was designed for businesses, but individuals will also benefit from its security features. It shields users from cyber threats. Puffin uses cloud technology and encrypts traffic data to prevent unauthorized parties. It is built with Zero-Trust architecture. This browser isolates malicious HTML, CCS, and JavaScript code on web pages within Puffin’s cloud environment. This prevents the code from causing damage to your system and network. Check out our article on the best browsers for privacy to learn more about the browsers above and discover some new options.
Google Search Alternatives
Google Search is the default search engine for most people. And it’s easy to see why. Google’s algorithm is much more advanced than other search engines. As a result, it has more pages indexed and typically produces more relevant results. While it is arguably one of the best search engines available today, many people choose to stay away from Google Search due to privacy concerns. Google tracks users’ IP addresses, search queries and assigns each person a unique ID to monitor the sites they visit and links they click. The company does this to deliver highly personalized results and targeted ads. If you are uncomfortable with Google’s invasive tracking, consider switching to one of the privacy-focused Google alternatives we outline below. Below, we’ll highlight some of the best alternative search engines.
1. Startpage – Solid privacy and good search results
Startpage is a truly private search engine. While it depends on Google Search results, it prevents data logging or tracking. This means you get unfiltered results and non-personalized ads. Startpage also blocks website trackers, website cookies, and website fingerprinting. The Netherlands-based search engine doesn’t store any personal data, including users’ IP addresses. It also doesn’t create a profile on users; your search queries are deleted. Startpage’s Anonymous View feature ensures your traffic is routed through HTTPS when you visit a site from search results. This keeps you anonymous.
2. DuckDuckGo – Popular privacy-friendly search engine
DuckDuckGo is a popular search engine. It’s a top privacy-friendly alternative to Google Search. It aggregates its results from multiple sources, including Yahoo!, Wikipedia, and its own search engine, to provide relevant information. DuckDuckGo doesn’t collect user data or share this information with third parties. It also doesn’t track your searches and blocks third-party trackers from following you across the web. You can find out more about this search engine in our in-depth guide to DuckDuckGo.
3. Qwant – A great alternative to Google with extra features
Qwant is a France-based search engine. It doesn’t collect data about users and doesn’t deliver personalized search results or targeted ads. Qwant also doesn’t share your data and blocks third parties from accessing it. Apart from its search engine, Qwant has other unique features. For instance, it provides up-to-date news and trends on its homepage. It allows you to search for music, and Qwant Maps is an alternative to Google Maps. There’s also Qwant Junior, a search engine designed for six to 12-year-olds.
4. Brave Search – An independent privacy-focused search engine
Brave Search is a search engine developed and owned by Brave Software, the same company behind the Brave Browser. Brave Search is completely private; it does not track your searches or even your clicks and keeps your data from third parties. What sets Brave Search apart is that it doesn’t depend on big tech for its search results. A vast majority of Brave Search results come from its independent web index. The search engine refines search results based on anonymous community contributions. Brave Search delivers non-personalized ads. You can switch to the premium version for ad-free browsing. Overall, Brave Search is an excellent Google substitute.
5. OneSearch – Privacy-friendly search engine with expiring links
OneSearch is a private search engine launched by Verizon in 2020. This search engine safeguards users’ privacy by blocking all cookies and trackers. Also, it doesn’t store your search history. OneSearch produces unfiltered results; you get the same search results as everyone. It also encrypts your search terms in Advanced Privacy mode. And any links to search results you share will expire after an hour.
6. Searx – A private meta-search engine
Searx is a search engine that focuses on users’ privacy. This meta-search engine aggregates results from over 70 search engines. Searx doesn’t share your IP address nor your search history with the search engines it gets its results. Searx also blocks cookies. Unfortunately, this search engine is not available publicly. You must host it on a server to use it. This search engine is ideal for organizations that want an in-house, private search engine.
7. Gibiru – A transparent private search engine
Gibiru is a less well-known private search engine. The company is transparent about its practices and is committed to safeguarding users’ privacy. Gibiru primarily makes money through ad commissions. The company doesn’t log any personally identifiable data. Gibiru recommends using the Gibiru Wormhole app or a VPN alongside its search engine for complete protection. We recommend using NordVPN. This is our top-rated VPN provider; it offers a vast array of super-fast servers, multiple secure VPN protocols, and other useful security features.
8. Neeva – Ad-free private search engine
Neeva is an ad-free private search engine. This means you don’t have to scroll past ads before finding search results. While Neeva collects some information like your search history, email address, and name, the company says it doesn’t sell or share this data with third parties. Neeva also allows you to customize your search results. For example, by specifying what retailers you’d like to see products from or what news outlets you prefer. Neeva has a free and premium version. The premium version of this search engine costs $4.17 monthly. Premium users get additional privacy tools and other benefits.
9. Swisscows – “Family-friendly” private search engine
Swisscows is a “family-friendly” private search engine created in 2014 by Swiss company Hulbee AG. The company says it doesn’t store any user data and doesn’t keep track of your search history. It also doesn’t use trackers or cookies. Swisscows doesn’t index pornographic and sexual content. It delivers ads to generate revenue. These ads are served by Bing but are “exclusively” based on your search term and not any personal data.
10. Ecosia – An eco-friendly private search engine
Ecosia is not just a search engine but stands for a worthy cause. It dedicates all its profits to climate action. A bulk of this money goes toward planting trees, as the company aims to restore ecosystems around the world. So far, Ecosia has planted close to 160 million trees. It’s a pretty good search engine. Ecosia doesn’t sell your data to advertisers. It encrypts your searches and doesn’t create user profiles based on users’ searches and preferences. However, Ecosia appears to store some user data temporarily. Its privacy policy says it anonymizes all searches within a week. For more information about the private search engines above and to discover other alternatives to Google Search, check out our article on the best privacy-friendly search engines!
Google Drive and Google One Alternatives
Millions of people across the world depend on Google’s cloud storage services — Google Drive and Google One. While they’re protected with end-to-end encryption, they’re not completely private. Google’s cloud storage platforms are a top target for hackers and scammers. Also, in the past, the company has handed over user data to the government. All these are reasons to opt for a completely private alternative. Below, we highlight three secure alternatives to Google Drive and Google One. Below, we’ll discuss these Google Drive alternatives in more detail.
1. pCloud – A popular, privacy-focused Google Drive alternative
pCloud is one of the best alternatives to Google Drive and Google One. The free version gives users 10 GB of storage, and premium plans give users up to 10 TB of storage. It also has many of the same features as Google’s cloud storage services, including seamless file sharing and cross-platform compatibility. This company is based in Switzerland and complies with the European Union’s (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regulations. pCloud uses TLS/SSL encryption and stores files in highly secure servers. The company’s zero-knowledge privacy ensures your files are never exposed to prying eyes.
2. Tresorit – User-friendly and ultra-secure Google Drive alternative
Tresorit is a privacy-focused, user-friendly file hosting and sharing service. It’s based in Switzerland and is GDPR-compliant. Tresorit protects your data with zero-knowledge encryption. It allows you to share files with secure, encrypted links. Tresorit is third-party audited and is transparent about its security practices. Tresorit offers data residency options, which make it an appealing option for businesses and large enterprises. It is compatible with different operating systems.
3. Nextcloud – The best Google Drive alternative for organizations
Nextcloud is not a cloud storage solution like the options above; it is designed to support collaboration. Nextcloud allows organizations to host files on their in-house servers or the cloud. Nextcloud has a suite of tools that promote collaboration. This includes Nextcloud Files (for file sharing and synching) and Nextcloud Talk (for group calls and chats). Your files are protected with encryption, and it comes with additional security tools, like protection from ransomware and brute force attacks. It is an excellent option for organizations that want full control over their data.
Google Photos Alternatives
Google Photos is an extremely popular service; it allows users to upload high-quality photos to the cloud and comes with a powerful image editor powered by artificial intelligence (AI). For years, Google Photos offered users unlimited storage. However, since June 2021, users need a Google One account for unlimited storage. If you want a more affordable alternative to Google One, or you’re looking to stay away from Google’s service because of its invasive privacy practices, these are some great options below. Below, we’ll discuss these Google Photos alternatives in more detail.
1. iDrive – Great for professional and amateur photographers
iDrive is a file hosting service that provides some unique features for photographers. It has a free 10 GB plan. Premium plans give users up to 5 TB of storage. iDrive Photos supports unlimited backup on mobile devices for $9.95 yearly. iDrive is compatible with different operating systems. It claims to back up files faster than Google Drive without downgrading their resolution. iDrive protects your files with 256-bit AES encryption at rest and in transit.
2. Piwigo – Image library software for organizations
Piwigo is an image library software built for organizations. It’s not only designed for pictures but also videos and other documents. You can choose its hosting service or host the software on your in-house or cloud servers. Piwigo supports easy uploads and collaboration from multiple devices and editing tools, like Lightroom. Features like batch management make organizing and sharing photos with family, friends, and clients easier. To prevent data loss, Piwigo has standby servers with a backup of all the content on its central server.
3. Adobe Creative Cloud – A popular Google Photos alternative
Adobe is a leader in the photo management and editing space. For Adobe users, its Creative Cloud offers a perfect solution to store and transfer photos and videos across its different software on all your devices. This subscription gives you over 20 Adobe tools for photography, video, design, and more. While it’s an excellent solution, it may not be suitable as a standalone photo storage option, given its high cost and deep integration with Adobe tools.
Gmail Alternatives
Gmail is one of the top email providers. Its popularity makes it a top target for malicious actors looking to exploit security vulnerabilities. Over the years, Google has reported several bugs in its system and attacks that exposed users’ privacy. There are not only external privacy threats to your Gmail. For years, Google scanned the inboxes of Gmail users to deliver targeted ads. While the company ceased this practice a few years ago, Gmail add-ons can still scan the contents of your email and share your data with third parties. Critics have also warned that Google’s AI-powered Smart Compose feature may be a potential privacy risk. Emails contain an incredible amount of personal, sensitive, and confidential information. That’s why you must use an email provider that protects your privacy. Below, we highlight some of the best alternatives to Google’s Gmail for privacy-conscious users. Below, we’ll discuss these alternative email services in more detail.
1. ProtonMail – A private, end-to-end encrypted email service
ProtonMail has grown its user base significantly in the past few years. Based out of Switzerland, ProtonMail offers high-level end-to-end encryption, is open source, and requires no personal information to register. You can sign up for free and up to 1 GB of storage. You can choose one of its premium plans to increase your storage space. ProtonMail has a well-designed app that’s compatible with most operating systems.
2. StartMail – Exceptional privacy, but no mobile app
StartMail was created by the same people behind Startpage. The service has some exceptional privacy features, such as PGP encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA), and unlimited aliases. StartMail says it doesn’t read users’ emails. It also blocks ads and tracking, hides your IP address, and protects you from malicious links. However, StartMail is not free. Also, it doesn’t have a native mobile app yet.
3. Tutanota – A private Gmail alternative for journalists and professionals
Tutanota is the email provider of choice for journalists, researchers, and professionals dealing with sensitive information. This was one of the first services to provide end-to-end encryption in 2011, and it has built a formidable reputation for privacy protection since then. Tutanota is open-source, lending further credibility and transparency to its operations. It offers end-to-end encryption and blocks ads. You can sign up for Tutanota anonymously; you don’t need to provide any personal information.
Google Maps Alternatives
Google Maps offers unparalleled functionality. But it also tracks and stores your location using the app and creates a timeline of places you’ve visited. While it’s necessary to collect some amount of location data to offer navigation services, the following services do so in a more privacy-friendly manner compared to Google: Below, we’ll discuss these alternative map services in more detail.
1. OpenStreetMap – Community-driven alternative to Google Maps
OpenStreetMap (OSM) is hailed as the Wikipedia of maps as it’s based on contributions from volunteer users. This means you can suggest changes or add locations. OpenStreetMap doesn’t have a mobile app; it’s web-based. Its only features are basic navigation and direction. However, it has a large repository of maps and is used by other alternative apps, like Maps.me.
2. Maps.Me – A great offline navigation option
Maps.me provides maps for more than 300 countries and islands. The app is made for offline use, though the online version provides added information on public transport and traffic. The points of interest are well-categorized, and it even allows you to share hiking trails. Maps.me is an open-source platform and requires minimal information to sign up. It does, however, use your location data to provide ads. However, this data is not linked to a personal profile. The Maps.me app now features a web3 wallet that allows you to pay with crypto in over 190 countries. Users also earn cryptocurrency tokens by using the service.
3. Sygic Maps – Multifunctional Google Maps alternative
Sygic Maps is a multifunctional navigation app. It offers more features than you’ll find on most map apps. It provides real-view navigation, real-time traffic information, a 3D offline map, and information about fuel prices, among other things. Sygic Maps also doubles as a dashcam and offers lane guidance as well as information about parking spot availability in some countries. Sygic is based in Europe and is compliant with GDPR privacy requirements. Travelers and tourists would find its travel guides and TripAdvisor recommendations very helpful.
4. Waze – Google’s crowd-sourced navigation tool
Waze is a navigation tool designed to help drivers find the best route to their destinations and escape traffic. This app was launched in 2006 by Waze Mobile. In 2013, Google acquired the company. Waze has some remarkable features, including real-time traffic updates, turn-by-turn navigation, information about parking spot availability, and more. It depends on satellite data and inputs from its community of users. We don’t recommend Waze because it collects and stores a trove of user data. This includes the information you provide to Waze, such as your account information or your communication with Waze. It also includes a lot of data that Waze gathers on you, such as:
Your location and route information, based on “GPS signals (combined with a time-stamp), IP address and other information from sensors and receivers on or around your device.” Your search terms (for locations and venues). How you interact with content and ads on the app.
This is just some of the information Waze collects about you.
YouTube Alternatives
Next to Google, YouTube is the second most visited site on the web. It ushered in an era of unrestricted video sharing and streaming. Unfortunately, YouTube is centralized. This means it has full control over what is shared on its platform and can choose to take down any content. Also the YouTube search algorithm is also designed to feed you personalized content based on the videos you’ve watched. This creates an echo chamber or filter bubble that limits engagement with new and organic content. The apps suggested below are your best bet at breaking out of the YouTube echo chamber: Below, we’ll discuss these YouTube alternatives in more detail.
1. DTube – A blockchain-based video-sharing platform
DTube is a decentralized platform. It exists on a blockchain. This means it isn’t controlled by a central entity like YouTube. Instead, content is managed by its community. Due to its decentralized nature, DTube is censorship-free. It also doesn’t have a recommendation algorithm, so you’ll come across the same trending videos as others. Content creators on DTube can earn cryptocurrency tokens.
2. PeerTube – A decentralized video streaming platform
PeerTube is an open-source and decentralized alternative to YouTube funded by a French not-for-profit organization. It allows users to self-host the software on their servers, giving them full control over the platform. PeerTube supports peer-to-peer broadcasting, which cuts down server bandwidth overload. Additionally, it can be integrated with Mastodon and other platforms. Note: Besides DTube and PeerTube, there are other alternatives to YouTube. But we’ve decided not to include them in this list for a variety of reasons. Some, like Vimeo, use 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 speech and misinformation.
Android Alternatives
Android is the most popular operating system (OS) in the world, with the lion’s share of the mobile market. However, it’s owned by Google, which is a cause for concern. Most Android phones require you to log in to a Google account for full functionality. Google Search is the default search option on most Android phones. Google has also been accused of harvesting data about Android users, including their locations. To break away from Android, consider the following alternatives: Below, we’ll discuss these alternative operating systems in more detail.
1. /e/ – A “deGoogled,” open-source Android alternative
/e/ is an open-source, Android-based operating system. It replaces Google’s services with its own and uses free and open-source software as much as possible. This OS is supported by more than 100 devices and is updated regularly. The non-profit e Foundation owns this app. Its website says the OS is “a totally deGoogled Android.” The /e/OS doesn’t monitor you or track your location. The app store on /e/ is based on F-Droid (an open-source alternative to the Play Store) and allows users to install some of the more popular Android apps. The only drawback is that installing /e/ might prove challenging for most users.
2. LineageOS – A great Android-like experience
LineageOS replicates the Android experience remarkably well without Google’s apps. A fork of the immensely popular CyanogenMod, Lineage provides a stock Android experience in an open-source environment. The wide range of devices it supports also adds to its popularity. Lineage is quite popular; it crossed the one million user mark in 2017. The OS supports a high level of customization and receives regular security updates.
Why Do I Need Alternatives to Google?
Google’s business model, which depends on invasive data collection, threatens your privacy. The company uses the data it collects from users to deliver targeted ads. Google earns from the personal and sensitive data it collects from you. When you think about it this way, Google’s services aren’t free, as you’re paying for them with your privacy. Google earns most of its revenue from advertising, so it’s unlikely the company will change this business model soon. In 2019, France’s privacy watchdog fined Google $57 million for not informing users about how the data it collects could impact their privacy and failing to get their consent to collect personal information. Such privacy violations can have far-reaching consequences for your online security.
How Does Google Collect Data?
Google uses various techniques, like cookies and browser fingerprinting, to track your activity across the web. The data it collects is used to create a unique profile of your interests and behavior patterns. The company depends on this data to recommend content and serve you targeted ads you’re more likely to be interested in.
Google has tried to address tracking and data collection concerns by committing to phase-out cookies completely by 2023.
Conclusion: Is There a Privacy-Friendly Way to Use Google?
Google’s apps are incredibly convenient to use. They integrate seamlessly, and you only need one account to access them all. Also, several companies and workspaces depend on Google Workspace. Thankfully, you can change your privacy settings on Google for maximum privacy. Read this article to learn how to take charge of your Google privacy settings.
Also, consider using a VPN to encrypt your data and help you stay anonymous online. We recommend using a trusted VPN with a solid track record, like NordVPN. We also recommend learning about the online security tools and practices in the articles below:
The 18 Best Extensions for Privacy and Security The Best Ad Blockers How to Delete Your Gmail And Google Account Permanently Who Can See Your Browsing History and the Websites You Visited? What was Google FLoC? How to Browse the Internet Anonymously: Tips to Stay Private Search Encrypt: How to Fully Remove This Browser Hijacker
Check out our article for the best alternatives to Google’s other products. Check out our comprehensive list of secure video-conferencing solutions for more options.
