Try NextDNS too. It routes to private DNS instead of using Google's, and it also lets you use blocklists. There are specific google and facebook blocklists, along with many other. You can see the logs and notice how much Google stalks you all over the Internet! It also shows you info about trackers that see you, even if you didnt block them, and gives you the option to block those too. Logs show blocked trackers as well. Good job, btw!
this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
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DeGoogle Yourself
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Congratulation! familiar list. The workload was quite surprising, wasn't it? How many google/gmail logins you had to change? Youtube to freetube? Or how you going with that?
To me META was quite hard to cut off because there is not really alternative to whatsapp. However META is probably the most toxic from those 5 so it felt best.
It was a lot of work. I had the benefit of having time off and recovering from spinal fusion to make this happen. I deleted many of my accounts that I used gmail for logins. My gmail address that people have had for years is now forwarding to my custom domain. For YouTube I've been using PeerTube and not using YouTube at all.
Meta is hard as I manage pages for work, but I currently have no friends which caused my wife to get messages from friends asking if we were getting divorced 🤣. I've brought my wife, sister and mom over to Signal so far by SMS is difficult to get people to change. I just cancled my Whatsapp account and if people want to connect they can reach out.
Also make sure to uninstall the Facebook app from your devices as well as any other Meta owned apps like Instagram. It was somewhat recently discovered they are using it as a backdoor to your web browsing history on any websites with Meta plugins, even when the browser isn't tracking you directly. Though GrapheneOS should prevent that communication between apps if you don't give the web browser extra permissions, better to be safe.
I've uninstalled all those apps!
Congratulations. Only moving away from Google entirely took me 3+ years. You really killed this fast.
I was at home recovering from lumber fusion so I had some free time on my hands b🤣
I would consider that incredibly fast if you are an ent, then.
I hope the surgery went well!
If you still use your Google account to synchronize your contacts and calendar, you can move them to Nextcloud too.
Welcome! that's quite a list of changes and i am impressed how fast you're freeing yourself from shit platforms.
You hit a lot of good checklist items, well done.
Great! All of these are great alternatives, but I would replace Firefox with librewolf.
I second that you use Librewolf, which is a hardened fork of Firefox.
But beware of using any recent firefox, zen, and librewolf packages from the AUR. They supposedly contain malware.
How do you know? I probably got my latest Librewolf from AUR. Thanks for letting us know!
It was news. Also, I think the malware package was included additionally to the normal package. They just changed the name by including "patch", " fix", etc.
Other packages like MS fonts, Google chrome were also infected the same way.
What would you use on Android?
I use FOSS browser from fdroid.
Vanadium
Iron fox: D
Or run arkenfox settings tool on firefox
I've #degoogled a lot, but Graphene is not an option. Waiting on a Harmony NextOS phone so I can dump Android altogether. I've seen some high end Huawei phones in my area sporting it, but am waiting for something I can afford from Xiaomi, OPPO or Vivo. I'd rather hand my data to the Chinese than Google and 5-Eyes.
As someone considering a switch to Graphene (shopping for deals on 120hz pixel models as we speak) why is Graphene a non-starter for you?
I don't think I've ever actually seen a Pixel phone, plus they are way out of my price range. Where I reside, your choice is basically Chinese or Samsung.
Ah interesting. Mind if I ask where at? Where I'm located, you can find great deals on refurbished pixels (with a 1 year warranty!) on ebay for as little as 100USD.
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Anyone have good alternatives to Google Sheets? I don't even care about the social features. I gave LibreOffice Calc a shot and it was super frustrating. Seems like maybe CryptPad is my best bet as far as open source goes?
I never really used sheets. I know standard notes has tables, but it's probably not nearly what you'd need. Cryptpad is intriguing, but the lack of mobile apps or apps in general is a hurdle for me.
The Excel-like thing that ships with a Synology NAS is really nice.
I'd use Firefox too... LibreOffice to get an office suite. DuckDuckGo is still feeding Google - sadly.
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If you're in need of GPS for android auto, I recommend organic maps as an entirely offline and privacy respecting alternative to Google maps.
comaps is the new community one
Oh thanks for the tip. Trying it today.
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I've tried this one I got fined because it sent me through a road that was recently switched to "license holders only". Mostly my fault because I didn't see the sign but another time it tried to send me through roadworks and refused any alternatives. However great the idea of OpenStreetMaps is, community based maps are only as good if you have community members nearby.
I'll stick with Waze for navigation.
Didnt Google buy Waze? I used Mapquest recently.
what did you use for your 2fa codes? Most of mine are in google authenticator and I would likely need to migrate them first.
Aegis is another option. I use vaultwarden for most OTP.
+1 on Aegis, love it, it's FOSS and on F-droid. Can make auto backups/exports (encrypted/not), can register codes from a screenshot of a QR code (love that feature when I'm on my phone), it's a simple and clean design overall.
I moved my extensive 2FA to Bitwarden Authenticator - I think I had to scan the migration QR codes from Google authenticator and recover the keys manually but it worked fine
Most MFA codes I can store in freeotp+. Import/export function means I can back it up, too.
I keep mine in 2FAS and Vaultwarden.
I have found something yet, but I've heard ENTE Authenticator is pretty good.
Awesome, how do yoi like the Graphene experience? I just switched from Samsung to a Pixel and installed Graphene as soon as I got it. Still getting used to things, and still using some Google services and apps. Have you found good replacements for things like Android Auto and RCS for text messages (not that I can get RCS working yet in any case)?
NextCloud and Ente look interesting, I need to check those out for Photos and Drive alternatives.
I've been enjoying GrapheneOS. It's seems to fun well for me and the battery life seems to be great. I made a point to not use any Google apps so that means no RCS for me. My car doesn't have Android Auto so I'm not sure about a replacement.
The battery life on GrapheneOS can be epic.
It stands out when my friends do a "How is everyone's phone battery?" check after a long day hiking, and I'm still above 30% while theirs are dead or dying.
Thanks for sharing this list. Bookmarking for when I'll be doing the same.
Damn boi good on you. Welcome to the degoogled fam
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