Google’s suite of app Gmail, Drive, Docs, and more—dominate the digital workspace, but they’re not the only options. Whether you’re concerned about privacy, cost, or simply want to explore new tools, here are powerful alternatives to Google’s most popular applications.

Email: Proton Mail vs. Gmail

For those prioritizing privacy, Proton Mail offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and your recipient can read emails. Unlike Gmail, it doesn’t scan your messages for ads. Other alternatives include Tutanota and FastMail for secure, ad-free communication.

Cloud Storage: Nextcloud vs. Google Drive

Nextcloud is a self-hosted alternative to Google Drive, giving you full control over your data. It supports file syncing, collaboration, and even integrates with office suites. For a simpler cloud solution, Dropbox or pCloud offer strong security and cross-platform compatibility.

Office Suite: LibreOffice vs. Google Docs

LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite with word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations—all offline. For real-time collaboration like Google Docs, try Zoho Docs or OnlyOffice, which offer cloud-based editing without Google’s data tracking.

Web Browser: Brave vs. Chrome

Brave blocks ads and trackers by default, making it faster and more private than Chrome. Other privacy-focused browsers include Firefox (with strong customization) and DuckDuckGo’s browser for anonymous searching.

Other alternatives: Chromium the Open Source project for the Chrome Browser. If your really like to kick Google to the curb, install the UnGoogled Chromium. I now highly recommend the Ublock Origin plugin for all web browsers these days, therefore you must learn how to sideload this plugin.

Calendar: Proton Calendar vs. Google Calendar

Proton Calendar provides encrypted scheduling, keeping your appointments private. FastMail’s calendar and Apple Calendar (for macOS/iOS users) are also great Google Calendar alternatives with clean interfaces.

Maps: OpenStreetMap vs. Google Maps

For navigation without data harvesting, OpenStreetMap is a community-driven, open-source mapping tool. Here WeGo offers offline maps, while Maps.me is great for travelers.

Video Calls: Jitsi vs. Google Meet

Jitsi is a secure, open-source video conferencing tool that doesn’t require an account. Signal and Zoom (with proper settings) also offer encrypted alternatives to Google Meet.

Password Manager: Bitwarden vs. Google Password Manager

Instead of relying on Google’s built-in password tool, Bitwarden is a free, open-source password manager with cross-device syncing and better security features.

Why Switch?

Many Google alternatives prioritize privacy, offline functionality, and user control. Whether you’re ditching Google for security reasons or just exploring new tools, these options provide powerful, often more ethical, solutions.

Have you tried any of these alternatives? Which is your favorite? Share your thoughts below!