These ecosystems are extremely convenient, but they can pose security risks.
However, with a little time and effort, you might MacGyver a decent cross-platform system for yourself.
To Googles credit, the company makes it a cinch to leave.
Downloading your Google data archive
To Googles credit, the company makes it a cinch to leave.
Customize what data from which apps you want in your downloadable archive.
We recommend downloading everything, but youre free to pick and choose.
Scroll down and click Next.
Select which format you want for the archive and how you plan to download the files.
Some are email-only services, while others are enterprise-level software suites.
Kolab Now
Kolab Nowwas our first pick in the Best Gmail Alternatives list.
Kolab Nows software is also as easy to operate as Googles suite of apps.
you’re free to even collaboratively (get it?
)edit and share documents.
The only concession is that Kolab Now requires a paid subscription.
Mailfence has similar security measures to Kolab Now, though its servers are based in Belgium rather than Switzerland.
A $4 per user option exists, but doesnt have the full suite or feature set.
YouTube
This one is tricky.
Heres how:
Sign up for an RSS reader such asFeedly,The Old Reader, orInoreader.
Find the YouTube subscriptions .XML file in the Google account archives you previously downloaded.
you’re free to also find this by going toYouTubes subscription manager.
Import/upload the .XML file into your RSS Reader.
The end of the URL will include either channel/[channelID] or user/[UserID].
If you followed the above steps, you now have an off-site, automatically-updating feed of YouTube content.
Some streamers have found success on Facebook andPeriscopeas well, but they are lesser-used platforms.
That said, theyll at least get you away from tech giants.
There are…manyalternatives to YouTube TV, Googles OTT live TV service.
You could even hold out for Apples upcoming TV service in 2019.
Of course, like YouTube TV, these are all paid services.
There isonefree service, however,Pluto TV, but its ad-supported and rather limited in scope.
Surprisingly, there actuallyisan open-source option: using an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to watch free HD TV.
There are even OTA DVR solutions,the best probably being Plex.
If youre interested, check out our Plex tips and tricks to get started.
Before we pick one, however, we need to back up our music files.
Now that youve got your songs backed up, its time to find them a new home.
Unfortunately, while Pocket Casts is third-party, its not open-source and happens to be owned by NPR.
For an open-source app, we would point you towardAntenna Pod.
The other option is to download podcasts directly or listen to them through a web web client.
Theres a downside to this, however.
Fair warning: This is going to take some time.
Its inconvenient and time-consuming, but its part of the process.
1Password costs $3 per month for individual users and $5 per month for a family plan.
There are team, business, and enterprise-level plans available as well.
Another good password manager isLastPass.
Once youve finished this last step, theres no going back.
Well save that until the end of this section, but feel free to skip ahead if youre interested.
Read through this entirely; its actually important.
Once the account is scrubbed clean, simply sign out, and leave it be.
However, before we get into the open-source options, its time we discuss Googles major competitors.
To that end, youve got several viable replacements.
The most obvious areSafari,Edge,Opera, andMozilla Firefox.
Though not quite as robust as Firefox,Operais a totally viable choice.
It boasts a built-in ad-blocker, battery saver, and even a complimentary VPN.
Its also by far the fastest and most efficient net internet ride available on Mac.
Speaking of easy roads, those who use Microsoft first-party devices would do well to giveEdgea shot.
Ironically, Chromes open-source sibling,Chromium, is the best fit.
Its essentially the Chrome online window stripped of Google.
Maybe youre looking for a new dinner recipe.
Dont worryweve been startled by how often we use Google search, too.
Luckily, theres a great solution that isnt Bing or Yahoo: The third-party search engine DuckDuckGo.
DuckDuckGohas been around for years now, and manyGoogle expats around the web sing its praises.
There are even DuckDuckGoiOSandAndroidapps, and browserextensions.
The only downside weve noticed is that Googles image search is still much more powerful.
The first thought some may have is to switch to an iPhonebut not so fast.
Unfortunately, even the best AndroidOS alternatives currently available have shortcomings.
None of them are going to replaceand currently cannot surpassthe average Android user experience with full-Google integration.
That is, of course, unless you just go with iOS or Windows Phone instead.
you’re free to simply skip this step and use the phone without it.
Now youve got a freshly reset phone with no Google account tied to it.
Thats where MicroG comes in.
Its still a limited experience compared to using Googles version of Android, but its promising.
ChromeOS alternatives
Android isnt the only active OS Google distributes.
Luckily, ChromeOSwhich is found on tablets and laptopsis much easier to replace than Android.
Unlike the previous sections in part 2, there are no open-source recommendations we can offer.
Scroll down and selectRemove account.
ClickOKand the account will be deleted.
