Posts

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  Alternatives to the US Tech Giants
  K Kichae

  Off-Topic Discussion

  Just so everyone is aware of who owns what, and what alternatives exist:

  What US Tech Giants Own

  Meta	Alphabet	Microsoft	Amazon	SpaceX & Tesla
  Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads	Google, Gmail, Gemini, Android	Activision/Blizzard, Xbox, LinkedIn	Amazon, AWS, Whole Foods	Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, X (Twitter)
  Oculus, Giphy, Confirm.io, Friend.ly, Karma	Chrome/OS, Google Photos, Pixel	GitHub, Skype, Azure, MS Office, Windows	Audible, Goodreads, Twitch, MGM, IMDB	SolarCity, xAI, Grok, Cursor
  	Fitbit, Nest, Waze, reCaptcha		iRobot, Ring, Wag, Blink, Kuiper
  	Kaggle, Looker, Tenor, Blogger, YouTube
  More Meta	More Google	More MS	More Amazon	More X/Tesla

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  Alternatives to Big Tech

  Maps

  • OpenStreetMap (OSM): Free, crowdsourced, open-source alternative powering many independent apps. Not controlled by tech giants.
  • Organic Maps: Open-source mobile app using OSM data. Excellent for offline navigation without a cellular data plan.
  • Note on MapQuest: MapQuest is owned by System1 (a US ad-tech broker that also owns Startpage). Their ToS explicitly tracks behavioral data across third-party sites—they’re just an ad broker trying to stay relevant, not an anti-monopoly alternative.

  Cloud Storage

  • Nextcloud: Open-source platform for files, calendars, and contacts. Host it yourself or use independent Swiss/EU-hosted providers.
  • Proton Drive: Swiss-based, end-to-end encrypted cloud file storage.
  • Tresorit: Swiss/Hungarian zero-knowledge encrypted cloud storage designed for high-privacy sharing.

  Office Suite

  • LibreOffice: Free and open-source. Highly improved in recent years, and good for general daily use.

  Email

  • Proton Mail: EU-based, privacy-focused email with a free tier. Supports custom domain hosting, too, AFAIK.
  • Tuta: German-based, open-source, fully encrypted email service.

  Password Managers

  • 1Password: Canada-based cross-platform password manager. Proprietary, but highly secure and well-regarded.
  • Bitwarden: Open-source, end-to-end encrypted password manager. Offers free cloud sync across platforms and can also be self-hosted.
  • KeePassXC: Completely open-source and offline. Password vault stays stored locally on your device, but does not have native sync.

  Web Browsers

  • Firefox (and forks like LibreWolf, Waterfox, Zen, Floorp): The only major browser engine not controlled by Google or Apple. Recommended add-ons: uBlock Origin, SponsorBlock, LocalCDN, and Facebook Container.
  • Avoid Chromium-based forks: Brave and Vivaldi use Google’s engine (limiting privacy ad-blockers under Manifest V3). Brave also has a history of crypto-mining/affiliate link controversies and questionable leadership. Use Vivaldi for when you need a Chrome-based browser.

  YouTube Clients

  • Android: PipePipe, NewPipe, and Grayjay allow channel following, ad-blocking, and SponsorBlock skipping without a Google account.
  • Linux/Desktop: FreeTube and NewPipe.

  Search Engines

  • DuckDuckGo & Ecosia: Privacy-focused portals (powered by Bing; Ecosia plants trees) that provide cleaner results than Google.
  • Mojeek: UK-based search engine with its own independent web index (completely independent of Google and Bing).
  • Qwant: French search engine hosted in Europe adhering strictly to EU privacy law.
  • Kagi: A paid, ad-free alternative. US-based, but it being a small, paid, privacy-focused service means user data isn’t monetized or tracked.

  Social Media

  Open-source, federated social sites based in Canada:

  • Reddit Alternatives: lemmy.ca, sh.itjust.works, and piefed.ca (operated by Fedecan, a Canadian non-profit).
  • Instagram Alternative: pixelfed.ca (photo sharing run by Fedecan).
  • Twitter/Microblogging (Mastodon): Free Canadian hubs include thecanadian.social, ottawa.place, and oceanplayground.social. Paid/co-op options include cosocial.ca and tenforward.social.
  • Forums: NodeBB is Canadian open-source forum software that networks via ActivityPub. (I also host a federated TTRPG forum if anyone wants an invite!).
  • Yellow Flag on Bluesky: AT Proto/Bluesky funnels traffic through US-based systems backed by the same VC investors funding major technocrats.

  Book Reviews

  • Rambling Readers: UK-based Goodreads alternative built on the federated, open-source BookWyrm platform.

  Chat & Messaging

  • Signal: E2E encrypted messaging (requires a phone number for registration).
  • Delta Chat: Decentralized, encrypted messenger using invite codes/QR codes.
  • XMPP: Federated chat network with client flexibility; can be self-hosted.
  • Matrix: Modern, decentralized channel/room-based protocol (like an upgraded IRC with rich mobile/desktop clients).

  Operating Systems

  Linux has matured significantly—even non-technical users and older family members can navigate modern distributions cleanly:

  • Linux Mint: The best desktop transition for Windows users; interface feels very similar to Windows 10.
  • Ubuntu: Popular, widely supported OS with a macOS-like UI. Runs well on older hardware.
  • Kubuntu: Ubuntu base with a familiar Windows-style layout, but slightly more feature-heavy.

  Android App Repositories

  • F-Droid: An open-source “store” focused entirely on free, privacy-friendly, local-first apps.

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  Alternatives to the US Tech Giants
  K Kichae

  Off-Topic Discussion

  Just so everyone is aware of who owns and operates what, and what alternatives exist out there:

  What the US Tech Giants Own

  Meta/Facebook	Alphabet/Google	Microsoft	Amazon	SpaceX & Tesla
  Facebook	Google	Activision / Blizzard	Amazon.com	Tesla
  Instagram	Gmail	XBox	AWS	SpaceX
  WhatsApp	Gemini (AI)	King.com / Candy Crush	Whole Foods	Starlink (satellite internet)
  Threads	Android OS	LinkedIn	Audible	Twitter / “X”
  Oculus	Chrome/OS	GitHub	GoodReads	SolarCity
  Giphy (gifs)	Picasa / Google Photos	Skype	Twitch	xAI
  Confirm.io	Pixel Phones	Azure	MGM Studios	grok (AI)
  Friend.ly	FitBit	MS Office	iRobot (Roomba)	Cursor (AI)
  Karma	Nest	Windows	Ring (doorbells)
  	Waze		IMDB
  	reCaptcha		Wag (pet supplies)
  	Kaggle		Blink
  	Looker		Mama Bear (baby products)
  	Tenor (gifs)		Kuiper Systems (satellite internet)
  	Blogger (yes, it still exists)
  	YouTube
  More…	More…	More…	More…	More…

  Alternatives to Big Tech

  If you’re looking for alternative tech that is not controlled by US oligarchs:

  Maps

  • OpenStreetMaps (OSM) is a great alternative to Google, Bing, and Apple Maps. And even to MapQuest (which is owned by a US-based advertising and data broker company). Its map data is sourced from enthusiasts mapping their own communities and countries, and you can participate yourself if you like! It’s free, it’s not controlled by any tech giants, and its data is used to power open-source websites and mobile apps.
  • Organic Maps is a mobile mapping app that uses OSM data. It’s available on Android and iOS, and it allows you to download maps of cities and regions for offline usage and supports offline navigation features. I’ve used it for years, and it was one of the key reasons I could avoid having a data plan while travelling.
  • Importantly, MapQuest is owned by a US-based digital advertising System1. They also own Startpage-dot-com, and are open in their terms of service that they, quote, “collect information about your online activities over time and across third-party websites or other online services (e.g. behavioral tracking)”. They’re just a would-be Google. They’re not standing up to the White House, they’re just looking for any way to make MapQuest relevant again.

  Office Suite

  • LibreOffice is a free, non-commercial, open-source office suite that competes directly with MS Office and Google Docs. It is rather good (though not as polished as MS Office), and I found the switch to it more or less seamless for my casual usage. If you’ve tried it in the past and bounced off of it (as I did multiple times in the past), try it out again. It’s gotten a lot better.

  Email

  • Proton Mail is an EU-based, privacy(ish) focused email service. It’s well regarded (though apparently not quite as secure as fans like to claim, but nothing is) and lies outside US jurisdiction. IIRC, it lets you bring your own domain, too, if that’s something you’ve wanted to have! (and, IIRC, the .email domains are pretty cheap. At least they were when I got mine)

  YouTube

  • If you are on Android, there are open source YouTube clients that allow you to follow channels, block ads, and skip in-video sponesorships. I’m a big fan of PipePipe, but there’s also NewPipe and GrayJay.
  • If you’re using Linux (or thinking about it!), FreeTube and NewPipe are both solid options.

  Mobile App Repositories

  • If you’re on Android, check out F-Droid. It’s an alternative app “store” (everything is free) that hosts open source and/or free apps with a focus on privacy and local-usage. There are some real diamonds to be found there.

  Web Browsers

  • Firefox (and its forks like LibreWolf, Waterfox, Zen Browser, and Floorp) is the only major web browser left that is not controlled, directly or indirectly, by Google or Apple. Brave and Vivaldi are both based on Chrome, and no longer have access to privacy supporting plugins thanks to Google’s bullshit (and Brave is run by a raging homophobe, and folks should look into the affiliate link and crypto-mining incidents associated with Brave). Look into Firefox with uBlock Origin, SponsorBlock for Youtube, LocalCDN, and Facebook Container. Available on Android and iOS, too.

  Social Media

  I would like to highlight the open source social media sites out there. There are a number of federated forums and content aggregators that are open and Canadian operated:

  • lemmy.ca, sh.itjust.works, and piefed.ca are small Reddit-like sites operated by Fedecan, a Canadian non-profit. They’re welcoming spaces, they’re all networked with each other, and they could use the increased network effect of more users!
  • There is also pixelfed.ca, which is an instagram-like photo and image sharing website operated by Fedecan.
  • thecanadian.social, ottawa.place, and oceanplayground.social are Canadian-operated Mastodon-based websites – so a Twitter-like microblogging experience – that has good people on them
  • tenforward.social and cosocial.ca are paid Mastodon-based sites that are operated by Canadians (cosocial is actually operated by a co-op, and all members are shareholders, which is why it’s a paid service).
  • I also have my own networked TTRPG forum that I’ve been setting up, that I’m happy to offer invites to if anyone’s interested, but it’s a weird little roleplay-focused side project of mine. But it connects with Mastodon-based, Lemmy-based, Piefed-based, and Pixelfed-based websites.
  • Which reminds me: NodeBB is Canadian made open-source forum software that networks with other NodeBB- Mastodon-, Lemmy-, Piefed-, Pixelfed-, and Misskey/Sharkey/Catodon-based websites.
  • I’d like to raise a yellow flag about BlueSky and systems that use BlueSky’s “AT Proto”. The ATmosphere overwhelmingly funnels all content through BlueSky-owned systems, and BlueSky is US-based, and backed by VC investors who also backed Elon Musk and other technocrats.

  Book Reviews

  • Rambling Readers is a UK-based GoodReads alternative running on the federated, open source book-reviewing platform BookWyrm

  Chat/Messenger

  • Signal is a privacy focused messenger app. It’s end-to-end encrypted, which can cause some minor hiccups every once in a while, but it’s mostly fine. Last I used it, it required a phone number for signup, though, which can make it kind of annoying for family use.
  • Delta Chat is a decentralized messenger system where you need to provide people with invite links or QR codes in order to add people to your address book. It’s open source, and it’s encrypted.
  • There’s also XMPP, a network of messenger servers that can be used by a small fleet of independent apps. It’s not encrypted by default, but many servers/apps support encryption. If you have your own web server, you can even host your own XMPP server, too.
  • Matrix also exists, and is more chatroom like. Like XMPP, it’s a network of chat servers. It’s like advanced IRC, with modern desktop and mobile apps.

  Search

  • DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search portal (leveraging Bing’s search engine), and Ecosia (also Bing-based) directs its revenues towards tree planting. Both work just as well as Google search now that Google has completely neutered its search engine.

  Operating Systems

  There are a lot of reasons to not us Linux. I know. And I’ve tried multiple times over the years, only to be frustrated. It was a totally different experience recently. I even got my 67 year old Mom using Linux, and she’s found it just fine. I’ve had great luck on multiple laptops.

  Linux comes in different versions, made by different groups, optimized for slightly different experiences:

  • Linux Mint is designed to be a bridge for people coming from Windows. It has been a clean and easy experience, and feels very similar to Windows 10.
  • Ubuntu is a more mainstream version of Linux, and is the dominant flavour out there for average users. Most helpers and instructions put Ubuntu front and centre. Default Ubuntu has an interface that feels somewhat macOS-like. It runs well on older hardware.
  • Kubuntu is a version of Ubuntu that has a more Windows-like interface. It’s a little more resource heavy than the default Ubuntu, most of the online instructions for Ubuntu apply to Kubuntu, too.