RE:Vivienne's (and Bruhity's) Guide on Replacing Google

So.. you've arrived. If you're here, you probably boycotted YouTube already. Others take it to the next level: fully committing to disconnecting themselves from Google. This method is called "Degoogling", and it's one of the many major ways to go against major corporations.

See, when YouTube and Google makes sure you're figuratively and literally not allowed to use any of their services, you take the hint, and stop supporting them.

For people who want to go further and beyond
and completely disconnect themselves from
establishmentariasm, then continue reading, for this tutorial may be for you.

Allow me to run you through a full entire list of Degoogled equivalents of Google services, and what to do once you've switched:


Get a better search engine.

V/B

For Google Search, there's DuckDuckGo, and Brave Search. they are great options, they sure are somewhat infested with AI, but it's less than what Google's trying to do. not to mention, they are a lot more private, and they care more about you than Google does.

After you switch, don't delete your Google account just yet. Instead, delete your search history and switch all browsers to use DDG/Brave Search as it's search engine instead. Avoid using Google Search at all costs.


Ditch the cloud services.

V

For Google Drive and Photos, it's about time you afford yourself an SSD. Physical media like this will always be one step above online, unsafe, media, that can be deleted in one snap. There are also tutorials on how to set up a NAS (Network Attached Storage) as well as turning your old PC into one. Either or, it's about time you ditch the cloud services and go the way of the physical.

B

It is also best you avoid SSDs that die in one year, I may not recommend SanDisk for this very reason. then again I primarily use SanDisk USBs and a Toshiba HDD to backup my stuff.

It's reccomended that after switching, carry your
Drive and Photos data over to your new SSD, then
clear your Drive data out entirely. This is due to
another oversight, where there's a high potential
that you could get your Google account deleted
over a misfire of their AI. If you're a phone user, there ARE actually SSDs for both Android phones and iPhones, so you're also included in this process.


Clear the Inbox.

V

For Gmail, there are multiple choices. Outlook, Proton, Yandex, fuck, even Zoho Mail are good options. I'd reccomend Yandex Mail~ (Never mind, read Bruhity's note below for the reasons why you shouldn't use Yandex or Outlook) and Zoho Mail over Proton and Outlook, but remember that Twitch does not use Zoho Mail, and also remember that Yandex Mail is.. sorta.. based in Russia.

B

please don't use outlook, also don't use Yandex Mail since i just found out you really need a russian phone number for it. ntm it's Russian, your data will go to Putin instead of google.

After switching: You should change any emails using the Gmail account to the new, non-Google emai. If you're on Linktree, and you used Sign In with Google, tough luck. You might have to delete your Linktree account and make a brand new one. Once you've done all of this, close your Gmail, via
Data and Privacy.


No Longer Broadcasting Yourself.

V

For YouTube, if there's any reason to head to Glomble, Odysee, or use other social medias, now is your chance. Remember, follow the BoycottYouTube initiative. DON'T LET THEM TAKE YOUR SOUL.

For YT Music, you have a onboard music player
already. Use it, and if you have an SSD onboard,
great! Use that too!

After switching, I suggest using the YT-to-Odysee migration tool seen here, so that you may carry over your videos to a new platform.

Save your playlists and history on Tubular, or FreeTube, LibreTube and delete them all on YT. Clear your Watch Later and Watch History after migrating them to LibreTube as well.

Then, make a message on your posts announcing to your audience your leave. Tell them where you're going and where to find you after you leave YouTube.

Then, after a few days, close your channel down, and take your leave. You deserve a break from the nuclear fallout. There's no saving YT anyways.


Direct Yourself to a New Map.

V

For Google Maps, there's Organic Maps, an open source map app based on OpenStreetMap data, that lets you download entire regions for offline use! Furthermore, it isn't constantly pinging remote servers for on-map adverts meaning it saves on battery life as well!

After you switch, use Data and Privacy once more
to clear your Google Maps data. Yeah, I've got nothing else to say about this one.


New Year, New Calendar

V

For Google Calendar, there are, like, 50 alternatives to it that you can pick from that I can't list in here, lest I run out of space to make this as short as I possibly can, I say choose your fancy and have fun.

B

call me ignorant but why the fuck do you need google calendar 😭😭

After switching, you should carry over any
beneficial Google Calendar data you have on your
computer or phone to the alternative, then delete
the app or use Data and Privacy to begin the
process of clearing your Calendar data
permanently.


Better Browsers, Better Time

V

Time to do away with your current browser. While Google Chrome may be versatile in its extensions, what it isn't versatile in is its privacy.

In fact, we're gonna do away with Chromium, in general.

Those who say "GUYS I USE CROMITE" are still Google's bitch. They own Chromium. Cromite USES Chromium. You're still in Google's grubby little hands.

So, for the Chromium replacement, use Firefox, Brave or LibreWolf. Don't even think about touching Microsoft Edge, there's too much bloat in there unless you use Winaero Tweaker. In fact, Vivienne's Guide to Boycotting Microsoft has already proved Edge to be entirely useless with what you're doing next.

B

Firefox user here, you're still fucked if you use Firefox, especially with the new CEO of Mozilla. Always Remember to stay on 140esr or older versions.

You can also Try LibreWolf or Brave as Vivienne Stated.

After you switch, you should carry your history
over from Chrome to Firefox or any of the
browsers listed before, then delete the Chrome
app or uninstall Chrome from your computer.


Some New News

V

as for Google News, I've seen Feedly and ReadYou be bought up a ton around the Degoogle community, so I say try those if you wanna. Otherwise, Flipbook and other news sites also exist.

B

ignorance is bliss

After switching, attempt to set your suggestions to what it is on Google News, then delete Google News from your phone.


A New Meeting Spot

V

For Google Meet... Zoom exists.. use that. There's also Cisco Webex Meetings but.. that uses AI now, so don't use that.

After switching, do not delete Google Meet just yet until you know you aren't going to be using it for a while.


Translate Tool Blues

V

For Google Translate, the best I can muster up for you as an option is LibreTranslate, an open source machine translation API that is powered by well, itself. I've heard it's at least somewhat on par with Google Translate, so I suggest trying that.

After switching, on PC, you may stop using Google Translate, but for mobile, I suggest waiting, and keeping the Google Translate app until an open source equivalent to the camera translation tool comes out, THEN delete the Translate app.


Moving Up in the Office Suite

V

For the Google Office ( and Microsoft Office) Suite, if you're a computer user, you'll learn to love LibreOffice like it's your child. For Android users, AndrOpen Office is basically LibreOffice/OpenOffice for phone users.
After you switch, just like Google Drive, carry your
Google Office Suite data over to your SSD as well,
then clear your Office Suite data out entirely.


Buying from a New Store

V

For Google Play Services, there's microG, a emulation of Google Play Services that still uses the system, while still being open source-ish. (If you use Revanced, you're goated. Also, microG would've auto-installed itself, hehe.)

For Google Play itself, I suggest using the Aurora Store, as well as Fdroid from now on. I also suggest hooking both up to Shizuku, which you can also find on Fdroid, so that you can bypass Google's dumb sideloading blockage.

After switching, avoid using Google Play Store from now on, or disable it. You can use Macrodroid to auto-redirect attempts to going to the Google Play Store to the Aurora Store, if you have it. DON'T touch Google Play Services however. Some apps will get bricked, such as anything that uses Maps or.. Notifications itself for some reason.


Misc: Google Classroom

V

Barely anyone uses Google Classroom, say for middle and high schools. If you're a college student, be prepared to use Brightspace a lot!

Once you make it to college, you are free to delete Google Classroom! You don't need it anymore, you've got Brightspace.


Misc: The Dreaded Google App Suite

V

For the Google App Suite, downloading the Fdroid version of the Simple App Suite, porting other OSes OEM Apps, or using Fossify apps should get you close to the same experience without the Google nonsense.


And then there was you, Android.

B

since this is my section, let me get some things straight first off:

  1. No, you cannot just delete Android and Install postmarketOS or Ubuntu touch that easily
    Processes like this require alot of patience. not to mention support for Linux on phones is shotty as hell. It's best you stay on Android.
  2. You need a phone with an unlockable bootloader:
    https://github.com/zenfyrdev/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame
    ^^check this guide out^^
  3. DO NOT, AND I REPEAT, DO NOT INSTALL AOSP/GSI.
    AOSP Android is meant as a basis for the Android OS, in case any OEM wants to shove their apps and services into Android, it's extremely clunky and far from recommended, and the same applies to Generic System Images. you have to install software that is completely compatible with the phone you're using
  4. Be Absolutely Careful of what you're gonna flash your phone with
    Just specs aren't gonna cut it, make sure the code name, build number, and look of the phone match
  5. You need microG for basic functionality
    alot of app developers rely on Google Mobile Services for basic functionality, such as Notifications, Location Services, License Verification, etc. this is unfortunately normal, since app developers are developing their apps for the majority, meaning phones that have Google Services attached with them. this is why you need microG, without it, you'll miss important conversations, or your GPS might fuck itself up.

I recommend LineageOS, its the best AOSP Experience, since it offers its own suite of essential apps, which are actually updated and aren't left for dead since Android 5, and it's Google-free! it doesn't come with microG services unfortunately, meaning you have to install it separately, but you can also try out /e/OS, which has microG services embedded into the OS.


In Conclusion..

Now that I've taught you how to De-Google yourself, I also suggest following this Change link, and following the De-Google subreddit for more steps on what to take to stop supporting Google. Remember, your ID is your soul. Lose it, and lose your identity. Don't let them take it away from you.

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Pub: 29 Dec 2025 06:15 UTC

Edit: 18 Jan 2026 00:19 UTC

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