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(nieuw venster) (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(nieuw venster) (France): A privacy-first search engine that doesn’t track users; currently based on Bing, Qwant and Ecosia(nieuw venster) have teamed up to build a European search index
- Ecosia(nieuw venster) (Germany): Privacy-focused search engine that funds tree planting with ad revenue
- Mojeek(nieuw venster) (UK): Independent search index with strict privacy policies
Web browsers
Chrome is notorious for tracking browsing behavior(nieuw venster). Switch to these alternatives:
- Vivaldi(nieuw venster) (Norway): Customizable browser with strong privacy features
- LibreWolf(nieuw venster) (EU): Firefox-based browser focused on security and privacy
- Waterfox(nieuw venster) (UK): Strips out Firefox’s telemetry and tracking
Messaging apps
WhatsApp (owned by Meta) collects metadata on every message you send. Consider:
- Threema(nieuw venster) (Switzerland): End-to-end encrypted, metadata-minimizing chat
- Olvid(nieuw venster) (France): No phone number required, highly secure
- Session(nieuw venster) (EU): Decentralized, anonymous chat
- Delta(nieuw venster) Chat(nieuw venster) (EU): Uses standard email for encrypted messaging
- Element (Matrix)(nieuw venster) (EU): Open-source, federated messaging
- Wire(nieuw venster) (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(nieuw venster) (EU): Open-source maps with offline navigation
- Organic Maps(nieuw venster) (EU): No tracking, minimal battery usage
- Magic Earth(nieuw venster) (Netherlands): AI-powered maps without data harvesting
- HERE WeGo(nieuw venster) (Germany): Major competitor to Google Maps
Web hosting
Move your website or server to a privacy-friendly host:
- OVHcloud(nieuw venster) (France): Large EU host with a range of cloud and server options
- Infomaniak(nieuw venster) (Switzerland): Swiss-based hosting with strong privacy protections
- Hetzner(nieuw venster) (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(nieuw venster) (France): Alternative to Apple Music
- Qobuz(nieuw venster) (France): High-resolution music streaming
- SoundCloud(nieuw venster) (Germany): Independent artist platform
- Spotify(nieuw venster) (Sweden): Popular music streaming platform with a massive global catalog
- PeerTube(nieuw venster) (EU): Decentralized YouTube alternative
- DailyMotion(nieuw venster) (France): YouTube competitor with privacy focus
Note-taking
- Standard Notes(nieuw venster) (Switzerland): Encrypted note-taking alternative to Google Docs
- CryptPad(nieuw venster) (France): Secure, collaborative Google Docs alternative
Social media
- Mastodon(nieuw venster) (Germany): Decentralized alternative to Twitter/X
- Lemmy(nieuw venster) (EU): Federated Reddit-style platform
- Friendica(nieuw venster) (EU): Alternative to Facebook
Translation services
- DeepL(nieuw venster) (Germany): High-quality translation alternative to Google Translate
- Reverso(nieuw venster) (France): AI-powered translation tool
- ModernMT(nieuw venster) (Italy): Business-grade translation service
Video calling and conferencing
- Jitsi(nieuw venster) (EU): Open-source Google Meet alternative
- Whereby(nieuw venster) (Norway): Privacy-focused video conferencing
Operating systems
- /e/ OS(nieuw venster) (France): DeGoogled Android alternative
- SailfishOS(nieuw venster) (Finland): Secure mobile OS
- Ubuntu(nieuw venster) (UK): Popular Linux-based desktop OS
- Linux Mint(nieuw venster) (EU): Windows/Mac alternative
Developer tools
- Codeberg(nieuw venster) (EU): Alternative to GitHub
- JetBrains(nieuw venster) (Czech Republic): IDE competitor to Visual Studio
- SonarQube(nieuw venster) (Switzerland): Code analysis tools
Design tools
- Blender(nieuw venster) (Netherlands): Free, open-source 3D animation tool used to create Flow, the Latvian film that beat Disney at the Oscars
- Affinity(nieuw venster) (UK): Alternative to Adobe tools
- Sketch(nieuw venster) (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.
