I use GrapheneOS with multiple profiles. My main profile contains only FOSS apps, along with two proprietary apps that have no network access. One secondary profile is for my personal Google account (just Gmail) for work and bills, while another is for a disposable Google account for apps like Google Maps when I need GPS.
On my PC, I maintain a browser profile for work Gmail, which I almost never check, and I don’t have anything else connected to Google.
I’m not entirely comfortable knowing that I’m not free from Google and still rely on some of their services. However, I feel much better than I did a few years ago, when Google had complete control over my phone and everything I did on it. Now, I feel free most of the time.
What about you? Do you feel free? Or does it ever seem like Google owns a part of your life? Share your thoughts with me
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My current sitch is that (at least at home, work is an entirely different question) I was able to delete my Google account last year. That said, I’m in the Apple ecosystem, which made things a lot easier. I do check Youtube occasionally, but without an account and with Vivaldi’s built-in adblocker working well. I’m aware that Vivaldi is Chromium-based, which is a trade-off I have accepted for myself.
I think the only things I’m actively using is google calendar(which I would like to replace at some point) and youtube.
I guess my phone is running android, but I’m not much of a phone person so I barely use it.
I forward all gmail’s to my new domain, exported my YouTube subscriptions to newpipe and freetube - the only thing I’m working through is TVs… That is still using my actual YouTube account… Google Photos is, unfortunately a thing still, as-is Google Keep. I like using my S-Pen stylus for random notes.
Not planning to change OSes for banking app compatibility. Although, after thinking about it, I really should consider just using a “clean” browser (librewolf, is what I use on desktop) and “dirty” browser (chromium - very little privacy plugins for temperamental websites) – so I can care less about an app supporting a feature.
Non-existent. I deleted my Google account in January of 2023. I still use YouTube, but only through newpipe. I would encourage people to upload their videos to PeerTube as well. If they did, I would definitely be using it more than I do, although I do my best when possible.
I’m addicted to YouTube and I can’t seem to find a comparable entertainment app. :(
Freetube is great. It accesses Youtube privately.
Yeah. It was easy for me to ditch Google for search, emails and pictures, but there isn’t enough content other than Linux related on Peertube for me.
As soon as I can find some good basketball, videogames and cars channel, I’ll start supporting them and ditch YouTube.
invidious frontends route youtube through a private proxy. they can be an alternative while you wean yourself off.
Grayjay maybe? Connects Youtube and other services, like Rumble, Nico Nico, Peertube, etc.
There’s also NewPipe and its fork, PipePipe. Less connected services, but maybe it’d be of your liking.
I moved from NewPipe to PipePipe a few weeks ago. It’s so good, simply the best YT frontend I’ve ever used.
If I may, why did you change?
Oh we’re way past “it’s complicated”. I skipped “on a break” and were now cleaning out the appartement.
All that’s left is double/tripple checking that mailbox for any loose ends and it’s bye bye!!!
leave it dormant, don’t cost you nothing; check it every month or so.
Stuck with Google Workspace at work. Fortunately, it’s tolerant of me not being reachable 24/7, so it’s all confined to the browser on a work laptop. I like to think that I’m free from Google’s services in my personal life, though I still haven’t been able to give up YouTube yet. At least I’m never signed in.
Also, one personal Google account created ages ago. I’ve completely gutted it and haven’t logged into it in recent memory, but idk, I can’t be bothered to delete it either.
Knowing that Google isn’t peeking over my shoulder on my GrapheneOS phone is very freeing. I wouldn’t ever be comfortable using a regular Android phone again.
though I still haven’t been able to give up YouTube yet. At least I’m never signed in.
That’s good! Since you’re not logged in, you might want to try PipePipe, which is a fork of Newpipe. The only reason to stick with the official YouTube client is for the recommendations, but even then, I’d suggest checking out Morphe (https://morphe.software/). It’s an alternative to YouTube Revanced that patches the official client to remove ads and add other features.
Knowing that Google isn’t peeking over my shoulder on my GrapheneOS phone is very freeing.
I definitely relate to that feeling!
I don’t use anything Google at all anymore, with the exception of YouTube videos (via non-Google apps like PipePipe). That and my phone being a Pixel - running GrapheneOS, no GooglePlay Services running ever. If an app doesnt work without them I simply don’t use it, and just use the web browser. Email, photos, GPS, calendars etc all have viable replacement options.
It feels free and great. I never look back.
100% finaly No Google account, no Google services
it feels free 🧘♂️
Amazing. I’ll get there hopefully.
Looks like you and I randomly generate usernames :D
thats great :)
Google Maps is the one thing left for me… have tried moving but find other gps apps meh in comparison. I use MacOS for work with office 365. My personal computer is Linux, I use proton for my email. Librewolf browsing. DuckDuckGo for searching. If you count it, I suppose I do use Brave on my work computer, chromium base is needed for some websites I use a lot for work. My cell phone is an iPhone (thanks work)
Waze is also by Google but: Works without gapps installed and without login. Has live traffic data and same features as maps.
Currently backing up my phone to switch to GrapheneOS. That’ll leave my email which I haven’t figured out how I want to replace it yet. Step one should be downloading all saved emails though
I’m as distanced as I can be for now but have one more big cord to cut - Google Fi. It’s just by far the most affordable carrier for our use here, and frankly every alternative sucks ass just as much anyway, but I’d still like to move to something else sooner rather than later.
Otherwise, my gmail accounts are still active but rarely used, both forwarding to Tuta. Been using GrapheneOS for over a year now, Aurora and the Play Store are last resorts for app installs. I only use youtube through a self-hosted Invidious instance. Photos has been long replaced with Immich, Drive long emptied and replaced with OpenCloud. For navigation, Magic Earth’s been the most reliable, not FOSS but so be it, CoMaps is good for browsing/exploring but kind of terrible for driving.
I switched from Fi to US Mobile. They just had a deal running for $150 dollars for your first year of unlimited (it’s since expired but they have deals going all the time). You can swap between Verizon, a&t, or T-Mobile, and they offer everything Fi does I believe
I’ve almost completely moved everything away from google. If you ever used sink it there is YouTube version in the works. And I’ve started using this
I’m not 100% degoogled, but if Google deactivated my account tomorrow, it wouldn’t be a big deal. I’ve migrated everything important away from Gmail. Gmail is basically just my spam box now.
I also have Chrome installed on my PC for testing purposes. It is my browser of last resort, only used on occasion when I suspect my normal browsers’ ad/tracker blockers are breaking some site.
Google Maps is hard to get away from because nothing else has all its key features, and a lot of alternatives also use Google’s data so they’re not really more private. For example, I don’t know of any good public transit apps that work in my city and are degoogled (though to be fair, it’s been a few years since I reviewed the options).
I sometimes buy used stuff from people and drive to their houses to get the items. I was surprised to find out that while Google maps was very outdated on more recent buildings and neighborhoods, Organic maps and Mapy were all correct. Sometimes a whole street was missing and I struggled to find the way, so I stopped using it.
Transit is tough if you don’t have options though. The official transit app for my city is leagues better than Google so I’ve never had a reason to look elsewhere.
What does the profile switching look like on Graphene? I see people talk about it but haven’t seen it touched on as far as day to day usage. I just bought a pixel and am curious to try it out.
