Rejecting Modernity: Keep Calm and Degoogle

So.. if you're here, you've probably began the process of leaving behind YouTube already, and while that is a start.. 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 ways to go against the major G. See, when YouTube and Google makes sure you're figuratively not allowed to use any of their services unless you love AI, there's a point where you gotta take the hint.

And with Gmail now including Gemini as a part of it's major features, and with probably many more bad AI-related decision, it's probably about time a guide made it's move, before they do. For people who want to go further and beyond and completely disconnect themselves from Google's recent AI-driven decisions, 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:

(NOTE: The V here represents me, the B represents Bruhity who worked on this guide as well and will be updating his parts of the guidce as a part of the Rejecting Modernity Rebrand.)


Get a better search engine.

V/B

For Google Search, there's a lot of suggestions you can go for, however I and Bruhity highly suggest DuckDuckGo, and Brave Search. They are great options, and while they are somewhat infested with AI, it's at least 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, as you'll still be needing it to carry over any emails, data, etc. 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 for you to afford an SSD. Physical media, such as SSDs are a step above cloud storage, that can be deleted, if say, the company does not like the stuff you store in there. There are also tutorials on how to set up a NAS (Network Attached Storage) as well as turning your old PC into one. Physical media is also a lot more private, meaning nobody but you and anyone who uses your computer know what's in your storage.

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 via Data and Privacy. I'd also suggest doing so ASAP as, due to another oversight, there's a high potential that you could get your Google account deleted over a misfire of their AI systems. If you're a phone user, there ARE actually SSDs for both Android phones and iPhones, so don't worry, you're also included in this process.


Clear the Inbox.

V

For Gmail, there are multiple choices. Outlook (From futher research, Outlook has unfortunately became unreliable, and both classic and modern Outlook at least on PC fails to respond or sync sometimes, and on mobile it isn't looking any better. I do not suggest Outlook if you're looking for a good Gmail alternative), Proton, Thunderbird Yandex, fuck, even Zoho Mail are good options. I'd recommend Yandex Mail (And that's an immediate never mind, I suggest you to read Bruhity's note below for the reasons why you shouldn't use Yandex) and Zoho Mail over Proton and Outlook, but remember that Twitch does not use Zoho Mail, and also remember that Yandex Mail is well.. based in Russia. There are other alternatives too, however, they too come with caviots, for example, one alternative makes it so you have to sign up for a subscription in order to carry over Gmail files, which is really dumb imo.

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 email. 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, I've made an entire tutorial for quitting YouTube, which you can find in both the guides menu and over here as well. I suggest finishing that before returning here, as this part of the Rentry will instead explain what to do after you've done all of this. And since that guide provided multiple things that YouTube fucked over, let me also provide one here and tell you that as of 2026, not only was every YT Rewind unlisted, they were later outright privated, for no reason aside from "YT moving on", which I would believe, until I realize who's running the platform as of right now. (Neal Mohan, what are you planning in the background?)

For YT Music, you have a onboard music player already, however, I do also suggest Echo, a music player that allows you to sync your YT Music data to it if you don't want to delete your account. Use it, and if you have an SSD onboard, great, use that too! In fact, I'd actually rather you do this before performing the steps in the Rejecting Modernity guide for YT first.. for Google has now locked accessing lyrics to Premium, something that was originally free before, and something Spotify gives for free. Do you see why people attempt to Degoogle themselves now?

After switching, I suggest saving whatever playlists and history you have on Tubular,
FreeTube, or LibreTube and delete them all on YT. Clear your Watch Later and Watch History after migrating them to LibreTube as well. This is to make sure you leave nothing behind in terms of what you've done on the platform.

After you've done that, 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 via Data and Privacy, and take your leave. You deserve a break from the nuclear fallout.


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, however if I had to choose an equivalent, I'd suggest Fruux, just because the Degoogle community said so and it looks like a pretty serviceable alternative to Calendar. Honestly, I just 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, one of the previous guides has already proved Edge to be entirely useless with what you're doing in that tutorial (if you're here so far and you've followed that guide, good job on you installing Linux btw).

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.

V

(POST-WRITE UPDATE: Firefox Mobile users are still screwed, but PC users have finally gotten the AI killswitch function, meaning you can now finally turn off the AI features feared in the top paragraph. I do still suggest using older versions/140esr, as I do not know how long you will be able to adjust these AI functions.)

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 unfortunately uses AI now, and if you're following the Rejecting Modernity guide for Generative AI, you shouldn'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. (Bruhity's Main Section)

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^^
    (Vivi Note: I suggest selling your current phone for a bootloader unlocked phone. Carry any data you have from there and then sell your phone.)
  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.

V

If you wanna go straight for the kill without having to worry about any of this, I suggest buying a Motorola or a Fairphone, should the time come necessary. Future Motorolas should come with GrapheneOS, meaning they will most definitely be Degoogled out the box.


In Conclusion..

Now that I've taught you how to De-Google yourself, I also suggest following the Degoogle subreddit for more steps on what to take to stop supporting Google.

Remember, censorship is a brutal killer. But it's something we can fight back against.

Don't let them take things you own away from you.

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Pub: 22 Jan 2026 05:05 UTC

Edit: 10 Apr 2026 19:23 UTC

Views: 86