Goodbye Google

Publish Date: Oct 24 '20

34 19

I’ve been a gmail user since it first came out, and I used to be a fan of google, but now I find myself more and more concerned with their data gathering practices. I’ve decided to move all of my personal services off of google onto open source self hosted alternatives. This page will act as a checklist for each of the services I’m able to get off of. Each of the links below will talk about what I’m using now and how I set it up.

Google Services To Replace

[x] search
[x] browser
[x] email
[x] calendar
[ ] photos
[ ] contacts
[ ] maps
[ ] android
- [x] authenticator
- [x] play store

Search

This one was the easiest of the bunch. Instead of using google.com as a search engine, I now use duckduckgo.com. I’ve made duckduckgo.com my default search engine for everything. There’s even a command line tool that lets you search from the cli: https://github.com/jarun/ddgr

Browser

Instead of using chrome, I’m now exclusively using Firefox.

Email

Email was complicated since there are so many moving parts. Instead of gmail, I’m now using a combination of OpenBSD’s smtpd, the dovecot imap server, and OpenBSD’s spamd hosted on a Vultr VPS running OpenBSD. To read and send mail I’m now using aerc as well as Thunderbird as my local clients. I don’t do webmail anymore.

Calendar

For my calendar, I’m now using simple calendar synching to a self hosted instance of kcaldav. I pretty much only use my calendar on my phone so I don’t currently have a web version.

Photos

No good solution for photos yet.

Contacts

Haven’t tried to figure out contact syncing yet.

Maps

While I’ve used openstreetmap it’s not very effective where I live. I’ve been contributing to it when I can, but it can’t yet replace google maps for me.

Android

I know there are some open source forks of Android out there and I’ve tried CyanogenMod previously (which I guess is now called LineageOS), but I think ideally I’d like something like the PinePhone to fully opt out of the Android ecosystem.

Authenticator

Instead of Google Authenticator I’m using andOTP.

Play Store

Instead of the play store, I’m using F-Droid a catalog of open source software for Android.

Comments 19 total

Lakshya SinghOct 24, 2020
Brave can be a better option with chrome's capabilities ane privacy as well
- qier222Oct 24, 2020
  I don’t trust Brave, this is why: theverge.com/2020/6/8/21283769/bra...
Victor WarnoOct 24, 2020
Hey! Degoogling is a good idea! I started using osmAnd as a Maps alternative. It feels different but does its job. I am also looking into a new mobile phone setup and thinking about /e/OS - a degoogled version of Android. It actually let's you install the common android apps but limits communication with Google services and shows you a privacy score for each app! Keep fighting the good fight!
- Gabriel GuzmanOct 26, 2020
  Cool, thanks good to know! I've tried osmAnd but the directions are very poor where I live (out in the country). I'll keep trying it though and adding information to the maps database so it will improve!
Pacharapol WithayasakpuntOct 24, 2020
I think Aurora Store has non open source APK's as well.

For OTP, I currently use Authy.
- Kihayu Oct 24, 2020
  There is also a store called APKPure which contains a lot of free Play Store apps
- ellasofia253Nov 12, 2021
  I scene all game tools just one platform also provide games. This store is gave you a lot of facilities
  
  Thanks
  
  Regard :Ella
Daniel SchulzOct 24, 2020
Self hosting a nextcloud is a nice and comfortable solution for files, images, contacts, calender, etc.
Shakib D shyOct 24, 2020
Hey! Yandex is a nice and comfortable solution for files, images, etc. I'm using this. You can try it.
MeghdadOct 24, 2020
Hey! use Nextcloud for Google Drive alternative.
David Dal BuscoOct 24, 2020
Interesting initiative and share Gabriel 👍

Never tried out but I follow Gaël Duval on Medium and his journey with the /e/ Foundation.

They build a "desirable, open source, privacy-enabled smartphone operating systems". Worth to have a look!
Kevin LewisOct 24, 2020
I’ve also done this. For photos I have a managed instance of Nextcloud with a host that uses renewable energy to power data centres. The Nextcloud app has a ‘backup photos as they’re taken’ option just like google photos. Hope this helps
- Gabriel GuzmanOct 26, 2020
  Cool, I used to run a nextcloud instance, but it's been awhile. Nice that they do photos now too! I'll have to give it another look.
King AsixOct 24, 2020
Aren't you gonna have to find more alternatives if you get a Pinephone?
- Gabriel GuzmanOct 26, 2020
  Not necessarily, since the PinePhone is currently running a somewhat standard linux distribution a lot of the things I'm now self hosting should work somewhat decently. We'll see, but I'm definitely liking where they are going so far.
Gabriel GuzmanOct 26, 2020
While that does get me off of Android, it doesn't tick off the "open source, self hosted alternative" box. I'm going all in!
evaabionNov 11, 2021
Their might be many options that are providing that facility just go to here
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Gabriel Guzman @gabeguz