@parismarx Thanks for putting together this list! I recommend removing Opera browser. They're known to have done a lot of shady stuff (and probably do even more since it's closed source): https://www.spacebar.news/stop-using-opera-browser/

@parismarx And in that whole article, you totally avoided the elephant in the room: the OS itself. Nice...

There are several really good choices for Linux distribution for folk migrating from macOS or Windows (which, y'know, that's two major U.S. products right there).

Linux Mint
Ubuntu
openSUSE
Pop!_OS
Elementary OS

There... Five options. You're welcome.

@parismarx I'm looking for AI chat even tough I use mainly local models. The non US services I know are: Mistral, Deepseek, Qwen, PublicAI (swiss), Ecosia Chat.

@parismarx It'll be interesting to follow the BBC v trump closely re iplayer servers. If trump gets arsey will the BBC have to host somewhere else? I think they're AWS & Google ATM.

@parismarx I can also recommend @penpot. It's a very successful open source alternative to Figma, primarily developed by a Spanish company.

@parismarx I realize this piece is focus on migration. Your moving a lot of services to another single provider - Proton. That’s all fine. Have you considered privacy ramifications with the new Swiss laws? https://tuta.com/blog/switzerland-surveillance-plan. I like the article and many of your choices. Given your messaging choices revolving around privacy, it would be good to see that factored into the other products. Keep up the good work.

@parismarx Also check out Jolla and #SailfishOS.

Cc'ing @alt_in_uk

@parismarx great article, thanks. I like that you've included Australian content.

@parismarx I'm all for getting of US tech or at least spreading around my uses of it. Firefox as main browser in my Windows based machine. Stuck with Chrome on Chromebook. Prefer Startpage as first option. Increasingly going to AI search but there too we're tied to US tech. I pay for Evernote for cloud storage as it reads almost everything and copy/pastes clean. Deserves what it costs me.

@parismarx

If the bank uses SMS or Phone Calls
This is the "phone as 2 step" method most banks still use. Unfortunately, Proton Authenticator cannot receive SMS codes. * The Conflict: These codes are sent over the cellular network, whereas Proton Authenticator generates codes locally on your device using a mathematical algorithm.

@parismarx Graphic Design: Affinity has been bought - that's Canva now.

I am dearly missing in your list DNS filtering for home networks, e. g. Pi-hole with extensive blocklists, as an effective tool to fight tracking and targeted advertising on the network level, which also protects home appliances w/o a user interface to install AdBlockers (Smart TV, media boxes).

Messengers: Howe about Signal? Bigger user base than Element/Matrix

Browsers: Take a look at Ungoogled Chromium, a very useful fork of Chromium, which combines speed and good functionality for Video Conferencing, and complete deactivation of the Chromium built-in Google services.

@parismarx can I suggest HMD as a Finnish mobile phone manufacturer? https://www.hmd.com/

@parismarx cool guide!
Since it's missing photo&video cloud storage and sharing services, may we recommend ourselves :D

https://zeitkapsl.eu/en/

@parismarx Interesting list. I already use Vivaldi and am happy with it. Have just about replaced Google Docs and Gmail in part with Infomaniak - a Swiss service with a generous free tier. Moved from Spotify to Tidal even if it is a Norwegian American operation - might change to Deezer. Hardware is an issue. Fully de-USing isn’t easy depending on your needs.

@parismarx Awesome. Thank you. I’m in the US but try. I resist some that you named (resist = don’t use what can avoid such as my own gmail but have difficulty avoiding all). I could improve some more. But still, I’m connecting from here.

What do you know about GMX.com for email (and anything else they may offer)? What about DuckDuckGo for browser (available as browser on some devices, not sure about all)?

I use proton, btw. Love it.

@parismarx thanks for this! Collabora looks nice as a Google Docs alternative, although we don't have the capacity to run the infrastructure ourselves (even if we have the know-how).

https://www.collaboraonline.com/collabora-online/

Looks like they partner with some infrastructure providers...

@parismarx For weather I have been using Foreca, a Finnish weather app/company for many years. I did use it specifically for being European at first, but because it provided much more accurate forecasting than other apps. I still think it works really well, like if it says it starts raining at 15:35 it pretty much always does 😃

@parismarx https://codeberg.org/Linux-Is-Best

@parismarx https://codeberg.org/Linux-Is-Best/The_Fediverse_Outside_United_States/src/branch/main/Mastodon.md

@parismarx https://privacyguides.org/en

@parismarx Adding visibility to your post via #Didit

Thanks Paris for this great article. I wouldn't recommend Dailymotion which is owned by Vincent Bolloré who is a strong supporter to far right outlets and ideas. That being said, Peertube is fantastic.

@parismarx thanks Paris! I’m not a tech guy but not a neophyte either. Just sick of feeling powerless

#Vivaldi, #Proton #anytimeplayer #qwant are tools that work just fine for my needs and there really hasn’t been anything difficult to understand in the transition. Having issues with Vivaldi RSS but it’s just me, have never used one before but would love to get off #apple news.

@parismarx incredible guide! Thanks for putting it together.
We are a Danish e-sign alternative to Docusign, Adobesign and others - makes us so happy whenever i read articles like this.

@parismarx @dangillmor Why bother switching from Apple Notes to Bear when Bear syncs exclusively via iCloud?

@parismarx I find it hard to recommend Vivaldi. I have some appreciation for what they are doing, but ultimately they believe ad-support is fundamental to the internet. Ads aren't inherently bad, but I will block and avoid until they don't stop ruining the internet.

Additionally, Opera collects a ton of data, by default.

Getting off US platforms and services is great, but this is where we need to balance it. It doesn't do a lot of good if you switch to something worse for your privacy.

@parismarx Doesn't wise use Mastercard it visa payment service? Also picking a non US phone is fairly easy, the problem starts with the OS.

@parismarx Odd, Proton, proton, zoho, zoho, and more. Like, these are the only ones ever there!!!