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What apps have you tried to "de-google" yourself? (reddthat.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Right now a lot of us are trying to divest and diversify from having our entire lives on Google both because of the way Google spends its money and the long-standing privacy concerns seeming a bit more scary now.

What services have you switched to and what has your experience been? What do you like, what don't you like, would you recommend them?

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (8 children)

I guess I'll share my setup aha. Forewarning: I invested heavily into self hosting and being in full control of as much as possible, mainly to try to be 'Internet independent'.

Google ads, APIs, telemetry and everything else that is not necessary: AdGuard Home (selfhosted)
Android app store: Fdroid with IzzyOnDroid repo, failing that Aurora Store, if apps still whine about not being to use Play Services then I use the Play Store
Gmail: Mailcow Dockerized (selfhosted) with K9 Android client
SMS (not that I use it anyway): Fossify SMS
Instant messaging: Matrix (selfhosted) for Discord/Telegram style with Element client, or Telegram FOSS
File Manager (I goddamn hate that Google Files forces itself onto any phone after initial setup, even when there's a manufacturer installed one already): Material Files
GBoard (It's also really fucking invasive): HeliBoard
YouTube: via Revanced Manager, with Odysee as a hopeful replacement. Much lower userbase though, obviously.
Google Photos (refuses to settle for less than 100% file access): Part of a self hosted Samba share that I keep synced to via FolderSync (from Play Store - they charge €10 for the app outside of Google)
Chrome: Brave (I downloaded a script to debloat it of crypto and AI)
Google Search: My partner uses Ecosia for environment reasons, and I use DuckDuckGo for privacy reasons
Chromecast: I recommend a Roku
AndroidOS: CalyxOS if Pixel, LineageOS if not
Play Services: Gapps pico or nano because some things are still tied to Play Services
Maps is superior, unfortunately, but OSMAnd is a good alt
Google DNS, used by default by a lot of things like routers: Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (4 children)

I've tried HeliBoard as already suggested elsewhere, but I find its autocorrect and suggestions absolutely abysmal in English and even worse in my native Bulgarian. With Gboard I can usually type a letter or two and it already knows what's up, and it often knows what's the next word based just on the previous one.

How's your experience with it?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I tried Heliboard but went back to SwiftKey. It's the best keyboard I've found. It's from Microsoft but I have internet access disabled in Tracker Control and it works fine with multiple languages, swipe and emoji.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

I've tried SwiftKey as well, but last I remember it was a bit sluggish. I'll give it another try, thanks.

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