Degoogle FAQs
Quick answers to your degoogling questions
Getting Started Questions:
Where do I even begin degoogling?
Start with the How To Use This Site page and then check out our Degoogle Light Checklist for an overview of how to get started. If you’re ready for more after that, this site has you covered.
What’s the easiest first step to take?
Change your browser and/or your search engine.
How long does the whole process take?
For the easiest level of degoogling (Degoogle Light), you can be done in a day.
For a full degoogle, it can take anywhere from 2-6 months or longer depending on how many devices and apps you are looking to replace.
What’s the best Gmail alternative for beginners?
See my 5 reasons article for some input on how to find a good replacement or check out this article that compares various privacy-respecting alternatives.
Search & Browser:
Is DuckDuckGo really as good as Google Search?
No. But it is probably good enough in most cases. See the search engine alternatives post for more on your range of choices.
Which browser should I use instead of Chrome?
Here are the browser alternatives I would recommend.
How do I import my bookmarks and passwords?
Easy peasy. When installing a new browser, it will ask you if you want to import them. Click on the appropriate boxes and you should be good to go. For more on how to install a new browser, go here.
Why are my search results worse on DuckDuckGo?
There are lots of potential reasons for this, but one key reason is that DDG doesn’t know who is doing the searching and so it can’t tailor the results to you. More privacy = less personalized results in many cases. However, various search engines are working on ways to solve this issue.
Stay in the Loop
Get updates on new guides, tools, and tips to help you degoogle your life.
Email & Encryption:
What are the best alternatives to Gmail?
I provide a list of seven solid alternatives in the alternatives to Gmail article. The seven I list are (in no particular order): StartMail, Posteo, Tuta, Mailbox, Proton, Mailfence and Infomaniak. All of these are privacy-oriented provders based in the EU or Switzerland.
How do I move my emails to a new provider?
The process varies depending on the provider you choose. In the article mentioned above, I link to each providers migration instructions in the “Migration” section of the article. The process ranges from dead-easy to somewhat involved – but none of them are impossibly difficult for the average user.
Why do people mainly recommend Tuta & Proton for private email?
Tuta and Proton get recommended rather often because they offer what is generally considered to be the best or highest level of encryption possible with their services. However, the topic of encryption is more complex than that statement can do justice, so I highly recommend reading my encryption explainer if you are at all interested in the topic.
What’s the difference between end-to-end encryption and standard email encryption?
I answer this question with easy-to-follow examples in my encryption article. Very briefly: End-to-end encryption means that the message is encrypted from the sender’s device all the way through to the recipient’s device. No one else in-between (i.e. email providers) can read the email’s contents.
If my mail is encrypted, does that mean no one can read it?
Yes…and no. If anything is encrypted, it is by definition unintelligible until it is decrypted (made readable again). When it comes to email, encryption is usually done with so-called keys. If the provider holds or controls the keys, they can decrypt your emails. For a more detailed answer, see my encryption explainer.
Why should I care where my email provider is located?
Different countries have different laws that apply to the businesses that operate in them. The EU and Switzerland have some of the strongest data protection laws in the world. When combined with a company policy that is privacy-oriented, this gives you a solid foundation for data protection and privacy.
Do I need to pay for a private email service?
Not necessarily. Many providers offer free tiers or trials. These are often somewhat feature-limited, but may suffice for light users. The business model for privacy-oriented users is NOT like those of Gmail, Outlook and co. which happy to supply their services in return for your data.
Android/Phone Related:
What phone is best for degoogling?
Ironically, Pixel phones are one of the best choices. If you want to use a degoogled OS, Graphene OS is considered by many to be the most secure choice. However, this OS currently only supports Pixel phones, due to their unique security features at the hardware and software level.
Can I degoogle any Android phone?
To an extent, yes. You may not be able to remove every Google app or use a custom degoogled OS on any phone, but you can get most things Google off of any phone.
How do I degoogle my Android phone without breaking it?
Most steps in the degoogling process will not involve any risk of breaking your phone. Any steps that could cause problems will be clearly highlighted and are in the Degoogle Pro level.
Can I use Android without Google Play Services?
Yes, but some apps can require access to Google Play Services. These are often apps that require higher levels of security, such as banking apps. The majority of apps however do not require Google Play Services.
Will my banking apps still work on a degoogled phone?
The short answer is: maybe. It depends on what is meant by degoogled (Play Services available? Custom ROM?) and which bank app you use. Every banking app is different.
How do I install apps without Google Play Store?
Use alternative app stores such as F-Droid, Aurora Store, APKmirror, Aptoide, Uptodown, Accrescent and more.
Concern-Based Questions:
Will I be able to function normally without Google?
For the most part, yes. It really depends on what you plan to change and what you used before. Check out the How To Use This Site page to see the different levels of degoogling for a better idea on what plan suits you best.
Is this all really necessary for regular people?
That depends on what you mean. For some good reasons to degoogle your life, see this article.
How do I know if these alternatives are actually safer?
Again, it depends on what is meant by “safer”, but in general, non-Big Tech software will be better for your data privacy. But security is only as strong as the weakest link, and that often comes down to user practices.
Will I be isolated from friends still using Google services?
Possibly to a certain degree. Contact is always possible, but it may take a different form than it has in the past. But it all depends on your personal degoogle goals and what compromises you are willing to make.
You’re an affiliate of some of these companies. How do I know you aren’t just shilling for the highest bidder?
I have an article for that too. But real quick: Affiliate links represent the closest thing to a win-win for all involved. I can earn money if people make purchases using my links. My readers benefit from otherwise free information – and when they do make a purchase it costs them nothing extra (and sometimes comes with special deals).
Further Reading
Here are some further articles that can help you find your way around the site and understand why degoogling might be for you.
