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.
Laws like Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allow the US government to demand access to your private data without your knowledge and without a warrant — whether or not you live in the US. Every message, search, and stored file on a US-based platform exists in a system designed to watch, categorize, and sometimes hand over your information with ease to authorities. And because mass surveillance isn’t up for debate, the question is no longer whether your data is being collected, but who controls it.
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.
Let’s start with some of our own. We founded Proton in Switzerland in 2014 specifically to resist mass surveillance and abuse of personal data by US tech companies. Our solution was to place end-to-end encryption at the core of everything we do — by encrypting your data using keys you control, nobody but you and the people you communicate with ever have access to your private information.
- 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(neues Fenster) (VPN alternative to US-based services)
However, the reach of Big Tech extends into every aspect of life online. If you want to fully escape the US surveillance web, here are some privacy-friendly European alternatives across various categories.
Privacy-focused European alternatives
Search engines
Google tracks your searches and builds an extensive profile on you. Try these European services instead:
- Qwant(neues Fenster) (France): A privacy-first search engine that doesn’t track users; currently based on Bing, Qwant and Ecosia(neues Fenster) have teamed up to build a European search index
- Ecosia(neues Fenster) (Germany): Privacy-focused search engine that funds tree planting with ad revenue
- Mojeek(neues Fenster) (UK): Independent search index with strict privacy policies
Web browsers
Chrome is notorious for tracking browsing behavior(neues Fenster). Switch to these alternatives:
- Vivaldi(neues Fenster) (Norway): Customizable browser with strong privacy features
- LibreWolf(neues Fenster) (EU): Firefox-based browser focused on security and privacy
- Waterfox(neues Fenster) (UK): Strips out Firefox’s telemetry and tracking
Messaging apps
WhatsApp (owned by Meta) collects metadata on every message you send. Consider:
- Threema(neues Fenster) (Switzerland): End-to-end encrypted, metadata-minimizing chat
- Olvid(neues Fenster) (France): No phone number required, highly secure
- Session(neues Fenster) (EU): Decentralized, anonymous chat
- Delta(neues Fenster) Chat(neues Fenster) (EU): Uses standard email for encrypted messaging
- Element (Matrix)(neues Fenster) (EU): Open-source, federated messaging
- Wire(neues Fenster) (Switzerland): Secure, end-to-end encrypted messaging for personal and business use
Navigation and maps
Google Maps collects massive amounts of location data. You can try instead:
- OsmAnd(neues Fenster) (EU): Open-source maps with offline navigation
- Organic Maps(neues Fenster) (EU): No tracking, minimal battery usage
- Magic Earth(neues Fenster) (Netherlands): AI-powered maps without data harvesting
- HERE WeGo(neues Fenster) (Germany): Major competitor to Google Maps
Web hosting
Move your website or server to a privacy-friendly host:
- OVHcloud(neues Fenster) (France): Large EU host with a range of cloud and server options
- Infomaniak(neues Fenster) (Switzerland): Swiss-based hosting with strong privacy protections
- Hetzner(neues Fenster) (Germany): Affordable, high-performance hosting based in the EU
More European alternatives to US tech giants
For those looking to completely cut reliance on American tech, here are additional European alternatives across different categories:
Streaming and media
- Deezer(neues Fenster) (France): Alternative to Apple Music
- Qobuz(neues Fenster) (France): High-resolution music streaming
- SoundCloud(neues Fenster) (Germany): Independent artist platform
- Spotify(neues Fenster) (Sweden): Popular music streaming platform with a massive global catalog
- PeerTube(neues Fenster) (EU): Decentralized YouTube alternative
- DailyMotion(neues Fenster) (France): YouTube competitor with privacy focus
Note-taking
- Standard Notes(neues Fenster) (Switzerland): Encrypted note-taking alternative to Google Docs
- CryptPad(neues Fenster) (France): Secure, collaborative Google Docs alternative
Social media
- Mastodon(neues Fenster) (Germany): Decentralized alternative to Twitter/X
- Lemmy(neues Fenster) (EU): Federated Reddit-style platform
- Friendica(neues Fenster) (EU): Alternative to Facebook
Translation services
- DeepL(neues Fenster) (Germany): High-quality translation alternative to Google Translate
- Reverso(neues Fenster) (France): AI-powered translation tool
- ModernMT(neues Fenster) (Italy): Business-grade translation service
Video calling and conferencing
- Jitsi(neues Fenster) (EU): Open-source Google Meet alternative
- Whereby(neues Fenster) (Norway): Privacy-focused video conferencing
Operating systems
- /e/ OS(neues Fenster) (France): DeGoogled Android alternative
- SailfishOS(neues Fenster) (Finland): Secure mobile OS
- Ubuntu(neues Fenster) (UK): Popular Linux-based desktop OS
- Linux Mint(neues Fenster) (EU): Windows/Mac alternative
Developer tools
- Codeberg(neues Fenster) (EU): Alternative to GitHub
- JetBrains(neues Fenster) (Czech Republic): IDE competitor to Visual Studio
- SonarQube(neues Fenster) (Switzerland): Code analysis tools
Design tools
- Blender(neues Fenster) (Netherlands): Free, open-source 3D animation tool used to create Flow, the Latvian film that beat Disney at the Oscars
- Affinity(neues Fenster) (UK): Alternative to Adobe tools
- Sketch(neues Fenster) (Netherlands): Alternative to Figma
Take back control
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.
Proton is based in Switzerland, where strong privacy laws keep your information beyond the reach of mass surveillance. You remain in control, always. And because our services use end-to-end encryption, not even we can access your emails, files, passwords, or calendar — only you can.
But protecting your privacy goes beyond email and storage. From search engines to messaging apps, browsers to cloud storage, other European alternatives can give you the tools to take back control.
Reclaiming your privacy doesn’t mean disconnecting or going into hiding. It means using technology on your terms, and yours alone. It means choosing services that respect you. And it starts with stepping outside the system that profits from watching you and into one that’s built with you as the top priority.
