Hot Take Wary of US surveillance? Try these European alternatives to Big Tech

[lokamoka820]

How we use the internet is largely shaped by a handful of US-based tech giants — Google, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta in particular. While they may make life more convenient, that convenience comes at a cost: your privacy. Their apps collect vast amounts of personal data, using it to refine algorithms, target ads, and — when required — even share that data with governments and law enforcement.

There are tools, however, that let you take back that control. If you want to use the internet without giving up your most sensitive, valuable data, many European services offer a privacy-forward alternative.

Privacy-focused European alternatives​

• Proton Mail (Gmail alternative)
• Proton Drive (Google Drive alternative)
• Proton Docs (Google Docs alternative)
• Proton Pass (Google Password Manager alternative)
• Proton Calendar (Google Calendar alternative)
• Proton VPN(new window) (VPN alternative to US-based services)

• Qwant(new window) (France): A privacy-first search engine that doesn’t track users; currently based on Bing, Qwant and Ecosia(new window) have teamed up to build a European search index
• Ecosia(new window) (Germany): Privacy-focused search engine that funds tree planting with ad revenue
• Mojeek(new window) (UK): Independent search index with strict privacy policies

• Vivaldi(new window) (Norway): Customizable browser with strong privacy features
• LibreWolf(new window) (EU): Firefox-based browser focused on security and privacy
• Waterfox(new window) (UK): Strips out Firefox’s telemetry and tracking

• Threema(new window) (Switzerland): End-to-end encrypted, metadata-minimizing chat
• Olvid(new window) (France): No phone number required, highly secure
• Session(new window) (EU): Decentralized, anonymous chat
• Delta(new window) Chat(new window) (EU): Uses standard email for encrypted messaging
• Element (Matrix)(new window) (EU): Open-source, federated messaging
• Wire(new window) (Switzerland): Secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging for personal and business use

• OsmAnd(new window) (EU): Open-source maps with offline navigation
• Organic Maps(new window) (EU): No tracking, minimal battery usage
• Magic Earth(new window) (Netherlands): AI-powered maps without data harvesting
• HERE WeGo(new window) (Germany): Major competitor to Google Maps

• OVHcloud(new window) (France): Large EU host with a range of cloud and server options
• Infomaniak(new window) (Switzerland): Swiss-based hosting with strong privacy protections
• Hetzner(new window) (Germany): Affordable, high-performance hosting based in the EU

• Deezer(new window) (France): Alternative to Apple Music
• Qobuz(new window) (France): High-resolution music streaming
• SoundCloud(new window) (Germany): Independent artist platform
• Spotify(new window) (Sweden): Popular music streaming platform with a massive global catalog
• PeerTube(new window) (EU): Decentralized YouTube alternative
• DailyMotion(new window) (France): YouTube competitor with privacy focus

• Standard Notes(new window) (Switzerland): Encrypted note-taking alternative to Google Docs
• CryptPad(new window) (France): Secure, collaborative Google Docs alternative

• Mastodon(new window) (Germany): Decentralized alternative to Twitter/X
• Lemmy(new window) (EU): Federated Reddit-style platform
• Friendica(new window) (EU): Alternative to Facebook

• DeepL(new window) (Germany): High-quality translation alternative to Google Translate
• Reverso(new window) (France): AI-powered translation tool
• ModernMT(new window) (Italy): Business-grade translation service

• Jitsi(new window) (EU): Open-source Google Meet alternative
• Whereby(new window) (Norway): Privacy-focused video conferencing

• /e/ OS(new window) (France): DeGoogled Android alternative
• SailfishOS(new window) (Finland): Secure mobile OS
• Ubuntu(new window) (UK): Popular Linux-based desktop OS
• Linux Mint(new window) (EU): Windows/Mac alternative

• Codeberg(new window) (EU): Alternative to GitHub
• JetBrains(new window) (Czech Republic): IDE competitor to Visual Studio
• SonarQube(new window) (Switzerland): Code analysis tools

• Blender(new window) (Netherlands): Free, open-source 3D animation tool used to create Flow, the Latvian film that beat Disney at the Oscars
• Affinity(new window) (UK): Alternative to Adobe tools
• Sketch(new window) (Netherlands): Alternative to Figma

As governments expand their reach, often with the help of Big Tech, control over our lives online is at risk of slipping away. But you are not powerless. You can still choose services that put privacy first — where your messages, files, and personal details aren’t collected, stored, or shared.

European alternatives to Big Tech: Privacy guide (2026) | Proton

 

[badboy]

A great and useful list. THANK YOU.

But it is important to look at the people running the company and know who owns it.

 

[Marko :)]

I don't like Proton and their services. First of all, they had scandals with data being disclosed to authorities which is kind of a big deal when you're playing on privacy card. Second, their services are literal bait. They tend to offer everything for free or cheap, and then gradually remove features from free/cheap plans and move them to more expensive plans.

So... no thank you!

The only worthy European alternative to Google services is Infomaniak's my kSuite. You get free e-mail without any ads or trackers, with 20 GB of storage and additional 15 GB of storage on their cloud service kDrive. The only downside... their free services aren't available everywhere, only in selected EU countries (mine missing from the list).

 

[badboy]

The only downside... their free services aren't available everywhere, only in selected EU countries (mine missing from the list).

But you can use VPN for registration free account, doesn't?

 

[Marko :)]

But you can use VPN for registration free account, doesn't?

Honestly, I didn't even try it because they could easily eliminate my account for violating their terms of use.

 

[ForgottenSeer 114717]

I don't like Proton and their services. First of all, they had scandals with data being disclosed to authorities which is kind of a big deal when you're playing on privacy card.

"Privacy" does NOT mean "We will not cooperate with lawful law enforcement and national security service requests."

It is ludicrous that anybody out there in the world expects ANY company to protect users when a lawful request is made. That is not providing "Privacy." That is disobeying the rule of law and imperiling the company with prosecution and failure. Not only can the company be prosecuted - across the entirety of Europe and North America - but also the individual executives - should any government choose to prosecute.

European alternatives to Big Tech: Privacy guide (2026) | Proton

Every single one of these companies will cooperate with their national and local law enforcement agencies and security services when the request is a legitimate investigation. Not one of them is any different than any U.S.-based company. The U.K., in fact, is one of the most surveillance-heavy nations in the world with a long history of compelling companies to cooperate - by threatening to imprison the company owners and/or executives.

No company executive or company owner is going to risk their companies for the sake of providing "Privacy." Privacy does not mean violating laws - which so many people on this forum and outside of it expect companies to do - break the law to protect them. That is the kind of stuff that will eventually lead to all unbreakable encryption from being made illegal across the globe, eventually, and there's nothing nobody can do about it except stop using any digital devices. Go live in the woods and live off berries and rabbits.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

The idea is not to stop privacy invading surveillance because you can't but to make it harder, increase the cost to a point where they struggle to identify and track you and you have sort of won.

 

[misterman2100]

For the more persnickety of us: Ad-Free Privacy Tool/Service Recommendations - Privacy Guides

 

[cartaphilus]

I don't like Proton and their services. First of all, they had scandals with data being disclosed to authorities which is kind of a big deal when you're playing on privacy card. Second, their services are literal bait. They tend to offer everything for free or cheap, and then gradually remove features from free/cheap plans and move them to more expensive plans.

So... no thank you!

The only worthy European alternative to Google services is Infomaniak's my kSuite. You get free e-mail without any ads or trackers, with 20 GB of storage and additional 15 GB of storage on their cloud service kDrive. The only downside... their free services aren't available everywhere, only in selected EU countries (mine missing from the list).

Yeap and I didn't like their recent owner's very right leaning stance but alas that's just me.

As for privacy I practice very secure private life that no one can even locate me via those people search services even though I live in the US, come on just try. I am Hunter Biden.

Besides if a nation state like US is coming after you then you got bigger problems. Anyhow, people invest $$$$$$ for layers and layers of privacy/security etc, make their life very inconvenient in order to keep all of their PII close hold; and then they give all up for a free T-shirt.

And all of those "alternatives" to American companies, I present to you, your freedom of choice (but now replace it with IT companies).

 

[Marko :)]

"Privacy" does NOT mean "We will not cooperate with lawful law enforcement and national security service requests."

It is ludicrous that anybody out there in the world expects ANY company to protect users when a lawful request is made. That is not providing "Privacy." That is disobeying the rule of law and imperiling the company with prosecution and failure. Not only can the company be prosecuted - across the entirety of Europe and North America - but also the individual executives - should any government choose to prosecute.

In one of your previous posts, you explicitly mentioned that companies can protect their users and fight authorities (unless the claim was based in the name of national security). In those cases, where Proton gave authorities personal data of users, national security wasn't even in the question. It was just a typical court order which they can easily fight like Apple and Cloudflare do.

They claim they are a privacy company and brag how they keep no logs, then court order comes and suddenly they have the data and pass it to the court.

The real privacy company would fight in court.

 

[monkeylove]

Aren't several EU members part of the "eyes" nations, e.g., 14 Eyes?

 

[ForgottenSeer 114717]

In one of your previous posts, you explicitly mentioned that companies can protect their users and fight authorities (unless the claim was based in the name of national security). In those cases, where Proton gave authorities personal data of users, national security wasn't even in the question. It was just a typical court order which they can easily fight like Apple and Cloudflare do.

They claim they are a privacy company and brag how they keep no logs, then court order comes and suddenly they have the data and pass it to the court.

The real privacy company would fight in court.

A company cannot "fight" a court order, in the same sense as defending themselves against charges in court. The burden of proof is on the company to prove its innocence or that the court order is invalid. However, most companies don't do that - because they have no intention of cooperating in the first place - which is contempt. They must comply. If they do not comply, then they can be found in contempt of court. If found in contempt, anything from serious fines to the imprisonment of a executives can happen. It is up to the judge to decide, based upon the arguments and pressure applied by plaintiff's counsel or prosecutors. There is no such thing as anybody or any company "fighting a court order" when there is clear evidence or probable cause to support the judge's decision to issue the court order.

There are two types of contempt: civil and criminal.

It is up to the prosecutor or plaintiff to decide if they want to spend the time, effort, and money to pursue further sanctions against anybody or any company that does not cooperate with a court order. To go through the process - which can be very expensive - to ultimately get the judge to severely punish the entity that ignores or does not cooperate. This is how it works in the U.S. and all British Commonwealth nations, and generally in all European, Australian, and Japanese legal systems. The court order cooperation process is very generous and allows the party required to comply with the court order many opportunities to do so. Where the system fails in many nations is that the plaintiff or the prosecutors just allow the party in contempt to get away with it. It isn't non-enforcement. It is non-pursuit.

Providing "privacy" does not mean breaking laws to protect user data. Proton has always been presented with legal requests for user data issued by the Swiss legal systems (judges) or completely legitimate legal investigative requests made by the Swiss government, its security services, or Swiss federal or local law enforcement.

There has never been a "fishing expedition" request made to ANY VPN in the world. They have all been legal and above board, created and submitted properly through national legal systems. It is not the duty of any company to violate any law or ignore any court order or other legal request "to protect users." Nor will any company owner or executive spend millions of Euros to safeguard "User Privacy."

"Privacy" that is marketed by any company is notional and never meant, intended, or designed to risk or imperil the company itself or its employees. "Privacy" marketed by companies does not mean that they will go to any lengths to keep any user anonymous, nor should any user ever expect them to.

You are just one of those types of people that thinks you should be able to steal content, pirate software, and expect companies to not cooperate with law enforcement when it makes a request to unmask you for your criminal activities. You've publicly stated as much multiple times here on this forum.

What you want VPNs and other companies to do is the type of under-handed activities of services offered on the Dark Web - of being unwilling to cooperate with lawful requests of user data. A lawful request is a lawful request. It does not matter if you disagree with it. If you are law-abiding, then you comply. If you do not comply, then you're a criminal.

 

[ForgottenSeer 114717]

Aren't several EU members part of the "eyes" nations, e.g., 14 Eyes?

Yes, but being a member of "14 Eyes" is not the issue. No nation is out there running a dragnet collecting everybody's data just because they can, for no legitimate reason.

"We provide privacy..." does not mean that the company should or would sacrifice itself to protect users when they are presented with a legitimate legal request to provide user data. Defying a court or the security services would be stupid.

Most people are using VPN to steal copyrighted content, which in and of itself is a serious crime in many countries. But they are not targeted for investigation. They should be, but they aren't. If they are, then the VPN will cooperate. What choice does it have? Fire all the employees and shut down the company? Or spend tens of millions of Euros "fighting" a request? LOL. No. Just no. CEOs are not going to destroy a company for the sake of protecting its criminal users.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Most people are using VPN to steal copyrighted content, which in and of itself is a serious crime in many countries. But they are not targeted for investigation. They should be, but they aren't. If they are, then the VPN will cooperate.

What the hell are you talking about? VPNs don't cooperate on piracy, that's one thing where they all stand up and do well at is defeating copy write trolls.

And while your right that some people still use VPNs for torrents, things have changed (streaming!!?!?!?) and most people use VPNs these days for privacy and hiding from ISP/Government.

 

[cartaphilus]

What the hell are you talking about? VPNs don't cooperate on piracy, that's one thing where they all stand up and do well at is defeating copy write trolls.

And while your right that some people still use VPNs for torrents, things have changed (streaming!!?!?!?) and most people use VPNs these days for privacy and hiding from ISP/Government.

Why VPN when you can debrid

 

[monkeylove]

Yes, but being a member of "14 Eyes" is not the issue. No nation is out there running a dragnet collecting everybody's data just because they can, for no legitimate reason.

"We provide privacy..." does not mean that the company should or would sacrifice itself to protect users when they are presented with a legitimate legal request to provide user data. Defying a court or the security services would be stupid.

Most people are using VPN to steal copyrighted content, which in and of itself is a serious crime in many countries. But they are not targeted for investigation. They should be, but they aren't. If they are, then the VPN will cooperate. What choice does it have? Fire all the employees and shut down the company? Or spend tens of millions of Euros "fighting" a request? LOL. No. Just no. CEOs are not going to destroy a company for the sake of protecting its criminal users.

From what I know, the "eyes nation" phenomenon involves surveillance via covert activity, so they don't look for "legitimate" reasons or inform you, and there are no court orders involved.