Frequently Asked Questions

The time varies depending on how many Google services you use. Most people can transition their primary services (email, search, browser) within 1-2 weeks. A complete transition, including photos and Drive, typically takes 1-3 months to do properly.

No! We recommend a gradual approach. Start with services where alternatives are easiest (like search or browser), then move to more complex ones like email. Taking it step-by-step prevents overwhelm and ensures smooth transitions.

Modern privacy alternatives are highly capable. You may lose some convenience features tied to Google's ecosystem (like seamless cross-product integration), but you'll gain privacy, data ownership, and often discover features Google doesn't offer.

If you're not paying for a product, you are the product. Paid privacy services are often more reliable, have better support, and align their incentives with your privacy rather than advertisers. Many have free tiers to try before committing.

Privacy isn't about hiding wrongdoing—it's about maintaining control over your personal information. Your data is used to manipulate purchasing decisions, influence political views, and can be stolen in breaches. Everyone deserves a private space.

Google collects your search history, location data, YouTube watches, emails, calendar events, photos, voice recordings (if you use Assistant), purchase history, browsing data in Chrome, and much more. You can see some of this at myactivity.google.com.

Generally yes. Open-source software can be audited by security researchers worldwide, bugs are found faster, and there's no hidden tracking code. Closed-source software requires you to trust the company's claims about privacy.

End-to-end encryption means only you and your intended recipient can read your messages—not even the service provider can access them. This protects your communications from hackers, governments, and company employees.

Use Google Takeout (takeout.google.com) to download all your Google data. You can select specific services and export formats. Large exports may take hours or days, and Google will email you when the download is ready.

Your Gmail address continues to work indefinitely (unless you delete your Google account). We recommend keeping it active with email forwarding for 6-12 months to catch any services you forgot to update.

Yes! Export contacts from Google Contacts as a VCF or CSV file, then import into your new email or contacts app. Most privacy-focused email services have import tools specifically for Google contacts.

Start with critical accounts (banking, primary social media), then work through less important ones. Check your email inbox for services you've used, and update them over time. Keep a list to track progress.

ProtonMail is the most popular for privacy. It offers end-to-end encryption, is based in Switzerland, and has a user-friendly interface. Tutanota is another excellent option with a focus on privacy and affordability.

Yes! GrapheneOS (for Pixel phones) and LineageOS (for various devices) are Android-based operating systems without Google services. You can use F-Droid for apps and Aurora Store to access Play Store apps anonymously.

You can use Google Docs in a privacy-focused browser with containers/profiles that isolate Google from your main browsing. For personal use, CryptPad, OnlyOffice, or Collabora are privacy-friendly alternatives.

For privacy while watching YouTube, use FreeTube, Invidious, or NewPipe. For alternative platforms, try Odysee or PeerTube. However, most content creators are still primarily on YouTube.