What do I use instead of Google products?

Don't like being tracked online? Hate stupid ads? Then maybe you should stop using Google products.

Here are my favourite alternatives to Google products if you'd like to give it a try.

Google Search

Use Duckduckgo. No tracking, clean results and comes built-in on all major browsers. An effortless switch.

Startpage serves Google results without the trackers and personalization. Unfortunately, it seems a bit too sensitive for certain IP addresses, such as IPs reserved for VPNs or Tor.

Ecosia is another good alternative. They plant trees with advertising money. Sometimes not providing great search results though.

Youtube

Ever heard of invidious? It is an alternative Youtube frontend. It's free, has NO ads, trackers or Javascript dependency to play videos.

Piped is also a very good alternative Youtube frontend.

On Android, I use Newpipe instead of the official Youtube app.

Google Maps

If you are only looking for an address, or maps in general, Open Street Map should be more than enough.

On Android, Organic Maps wraps Open Street Map very nicely.

Google Translator

DeepL does a much better job compared to Google Translate. Be aware that the free version DOES track your input, so head to LibreTranslate if you don't like that.

Google Drive

I have recently switched to Filen for storing photos, files and notes. Filen offers 10GB storage for free and it's end-to-end encrypted.

Nextcloud is another good alternative and it can be self hosted.

Google Chrome

This one is easy, use Firefox. If a website is not looking good on Firefox, then Ungoogled Chromium is the way to go.

You can also use Librewolf, a custom version of Firefox, focused on privacy and security.

There's also Tor Browser when an improved anonymity is desired.

On Android I prefer Bromite, which is a secure and ungoogled fork of Chromium.

Gmail

Tutanota is my main email provider. Based in Germany, free tier up to 1GB. I also have a Protonmail account to act as a recovery email.

Android & Google Play Services

I use LineageOS for MicroG on my mobile. It nicely hosts MicroG on top of LineageOS which gives me almost a completely Google-free (and Google-Play-free) experience.

To install and update apps I use Aurora Store and Droidify.

See also

Surveillance capitalism (Wikipedia article)

Privacy Guides: The guide to restoring your online privacy

How to leave Google behind (by Tutanota team)

switching.software

Alternatives to Google Products — The Big List

Degoogle sub-reddit

Cutting Google out of your life

No More Google

Summary

Below is a table with the alternatives mentioned above, and some more:

Service/App Alternative
Google Search Duckduckgo, Startpage, Ecosia, Qwant
Youtube Invidious, Piped, Newpipe(Android)
Google Maps Open Street Map, Here Maps, Qwant Maps
Google Translate DeepL, LibreTranslate
Google Drive Filen, Nextcloud, Syncthing, Owncloud
Google Chrome Firefox, Librewolf, Tor Browser, Ungoogled Chromium, Bromite(Android), Firefox Focus (Android & iOS)
Gmail Tutanota, Proton Mail, StartMail, Mailfence
Google Play Store Droidify, Aurora Store, Fdroid
Android LineageOS, LineageOS for MicroG