6 Alternatives to Google Apps on Your Phone

Every time you tap the Google app, you're feeding data to a data-hungry machine that tracks your every move. If that's not okay with you, it's time to say goodbye. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives that offer an even better experience.

6. Ditch Gmail for Proton Mail

Gmail has earned the title of the most popular email provider, and it's not hard to see why. Gmail is fast, familiar, and makes it easy to manage your messages, schedules, and confirmations. From receipts and travel plans to meeting invites, everything is in its place. But behind that seamless experience lies a deeper trade-off: Your inbox silently collects clues about your habits, preferences, and personal life.

Proton Mail takes a different approach. It's built around privacy, not profiles. Every email you send is end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one, not even Proton, can read your messages. What you share stays private between you and your intended recipient, with no third-party scanning or algorithmic filtering in the background. Unlike services that use your data to stay free, Proton's model is simple: You're not the product; you're the priority.

1. Download Proton Mail (Free, subscription required)

5. Convert Google Maps to Organic Maps

Ever feel like Google knows too much about you? Google Maps tracks your location, your routes, and even how often you visit places. That data helps Google target ads to you, which is unsettling to think about. If you don't want to be tracked, try Organic Maps, a free, open-source navigation app focused on privacy and offline access.

Organic Maps is essentially Google Maps without supervision. It uses community-run OpenStreetMap data to create detailed maps and turn-by-turn directions, but it never tracks or shares your location. There are no ads, no tracking, and no in-app data collection. In fact, you can pre-download maps, navigate, search for places, and you don't even need a SIM card or internet connection. You get where you want to go—and only you know where that is.

1. Download Organic Maps for Android | iOS (Free)

4. Exit Chrome to use Brave

Using Google Chrome can be like leaving your front door open. Sure, it's fast and convenient, but as an advertising company, Google uses Chrome to collect user data and fuel its advertising business. If that makes you uncomfortable, Brave offers a refreshing alternative that puts your privacy first.

Brave runs on the Chromium engine, so it looks and works just like Chrome. You can use all your favorite extensions, and everything runs smoothly on the desktop. The key difference is that Brave blocks ads, trackers, script fingerprinting, and intrusive cookies before they ever hit your screen. It also includes features that Chrome doesn't, like Tor mode for private browsing, a VPN for mobile, and a clear reader view to help you focus.

1. Download Brave (Free)

3. Replace Google Photos with Immich

Your photos tell the story of your life, so why let Google control the story? Sure, Google Photos offers convenience with automatic backups and smart organization, but that convenience comes at the cost of your privacy. Every photo you upload is scanned for faces, places, and objects, contributing to a profile Google builds based on your habits and interests. Even the most private moments—family gatherings, birthdays, vacations—become data for the company to analyze.

If you want to keep those memories private, Immich is a sleek, fully automated storage solution. Instead of uploading everything to Google's servers, it lets you store your photos on your own hardware, such as a home NAS (Network Attached Storage), VPS (Virtual Private Server), or even a Raspberry Pi .

1. Download Immich (Free)

2. Remove Google Calendar to use Proton Calendar

Your calendar is more than just dates and reminders; it's a silent record of your life. From work calls and doctor's appointments to bill deadlines and birthdays, it reflects your habits and priorities. It knows when you're free, busy, or away from your desk. And if you use Google Calendar, all that data is stored on servers that Google can access. In a world where Google knows what you're doing every Tuesday at 10 a.m., that's a bigger exposure than most people realize.

Proton Calendar offers a private way to stay organized. Built by the team behind Proton Mail, the app uses strong encryption to protect your data. Everything—title, description, participants, and locations—is encrypted on your device before it reaches Proton's servers. Not even Proton can see your schedule.

1. Download Proton Calendar (Free, subscription required)

1. Replace Google Drive with MEGA

Cloud storage should be like a digital safe, not a window into your personal files. Google Drive makes it easy to upload, sync, and share documents, but that simplicity comes at a hidden cost. Google can scan the contents of a file—whether it's a photo, PDF, or personal note—and use that data to make policy decisions or improve its services. Ultimately, the file may no longer be entirely yours.

That's where MEGA comes in with a more privacy-friendly approach. With end-to-end encryption enabled by default, files are encrypted on your device before they leave it. Only you have the decryption key, so not even MEGA can access your data. Your documents, photos, and personal backups are 100% secure.

1. Download MEGA (Free, with registration)

David Pac

Update 24 June 2025