Great Alternatives for Google Apps

We are all aware that Google is a great company. No doubt about that. But it’s also no secret that the company is harvesting data from its users — and by users… that means us. While their apps are all great and handy, that doesn’t stop us from feeling concerned about our online privacy.

So, if you’re looking for a new home that respects your privacy and doesn’t mine your data or if you’re just plain tired of the pre-installed Google apps on your phone, then we got your back.

Author’s Note: All apps are available on Android and iOS.

Google Chrome Alternatives

• Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox is probably one of the best and famous alternatives for Chrome. Aside from the fact that this browser is fast, it also has strong privacy control. It blocks unwanted ads and trackers that follow you around the web with its Enhanced Tracking Protection. And Firefox makes password management easy by remembering your passwords across all your devices.

Download: Android | iOS

• Cliqz

Cliqz is a German-made app based on Mozilla’s Firefox that prioritizes maximum privacy. It includes an anti-tracking feature that prevents your personal information from being transferred to advertisers or other third parties when you visit a website. It also has Forget Mode which, well, doesn’t save your browser history.

Download: Android | iOS

Gmail Alternatives

• Spark

Spark is considered one of the best alternatives to Gmail as it also offers the same feature as sorting your emails based on priority but what makes this app stand out is its collaborative feature. You can invite teammates to discuss specific emails and threads. What’s even cooler is that you can collaborate with your teammates using real-time editor to compose professional emails and schedule them to be sent later on. It works even if your device is turned off.

Download: Android | iOS

• Microsoft Outlook

Well, who wouldn’t be familiar with Microsoft Outlook? Its app is by far one of the most highly-rated apps out there. One of the many things that makes Outlook great is that it sorts your messages based on priority and puts all the unimportant ones like socials and ads into the ‘Others’ tab. It also lets you view and attaches any file from your email, OneDrive, Dropbox, and more, without having to download them to your phone.

Download: Android | iOS

Google Calendar Alternative

• Simple Calendar

As the name suggests, Simple Calendar is a simple open-source calendar app that is easy to use and doesn’t pester you with annoying ads or pop-ups. Among its many features are adjustable font size, customizable themes, schedule planner, support for importing & exporting events via .ics files, and it is password-secured which means you can lock the app with a password or Face ID.

Download: Android | iOS

Google Photos Alternative

• Zyl

Zyl is an ad-free, smart photo managing app that focuses on your privacy as it doesn’t upload any of your photos to a cloud which means that it doesn’t have any sync or backup features so rest assured your photos will only stay on your phone.

Download: Android | iOS

Gboard Alternative

• Swiftkey

Swiftkey is an intelligent keyboard made by Microsoft and it has also been my long-time favorite. This keyboard learns all your slang, your most frequently used word, and even your emoji usage so you get better and accurate predictions as you type or swipe. It’s also highly customizable and enables you to use two languages at once.

Download: Android | iOS

Google Drive Alternatives

• Dropbox

Dropbox is easily one of the best alternatives for Drive. Aside from the fact that it’s easy to use, it encrypts your data in motion and at rest and offers two-factor authentication. You can also access any file in your account—even offline—and preview over 175 file types, no special software required. Once you sign up, you’d only be getting 2GB storage which is pretty meager.

Download: Android | iOS

• Microsoft OneDrive

With OneDrive, you get free 5GB of storage once you sign up, which isn’t so bad. Just like Dropbox, you can access all your files offline and it offers decent security which means all your files are safe.

Download: Android | iOS

• Mega

Mega offers a sizable 65GB of storage for free. It also encrypts your data in motion and at rest. The company prioritizes security above all things, so when you sign up for an account, make sure to never forget your password, and download the Recovery Key they provide, or else you’ll lose all your data.

Download: Android | iOS

Google Map Alternative

• MAPS.ME

What makes MAPS.ME great is that all of its features are free and downloads the entire map for later offline use. All of the maps are updated daily by its millions of users, so expect it to be accurate. Aside from that, it also has bookmarking, directions of point interest, and location sharing. It also offers guide catalogs if you’re planning to check out your next travel destination.

Download: Android | iOS

Google Keep Alternative

• Microsoft OneNote

If you’re looking for a digital notebook or a sticky note reminder app, then OneNote has it. You can sync your notes via OneDrive to access them anytime, anywhere. For security, you can secure your notes with a password and use touch ID to quickly access them.

Download: Android | iOS

Android Messages Alternative (no alternative/s for iMessage)

• Textra

Textra is a no-frills and highly-customizable SMS messaging app where you can choose theme color, bubble colors, and emoji style. What’s cool about this is that you can customize it per contact as well and it’s all free!

Download: Android

And there you have it. We think that these are some of the best and secure alternatives for Google apps. Have you tried any of these? If you have any more suggestions then don’t hesitate to leave comments down below.