dont want to use google for my android what can i use

Update (February 2019): The methods beneath will help on older Android versions, simply we've recently revisited this topic. And then if you have a newer Android phone and you lot desire to go rid of Google, head hither.

Information technology seems similar every calendar week there is a new exposé revealing all of the backroom deals companies make to sell their customer's data to the highest bidder. While nosotros generally accept this as a necessary evil to keep our phones cheap and apps free, that doesn't necessarily have to be the just solution.

Google has tried to soften the accident by making it known that their information is collected anonymously, only fifty-fifty anonymity doesn't make the pill easier to swallow. I for i wasn't too fond of having my data collected, so I decided to try to remove as much of Google'south presence on my Android as possible, while still maintaining a fully functioning device.

By post-obit this guide, you'll exist able to supplant simply almost every app that requires you to sign in with your Google account, making information technology so at least one less tech giant has an "anonymous" picture of y'all.

Footstep i: Delete Google from Your Telephone or Tablet

I used a rooted OnePlus One for this guide since it allowed me to wink CyanogenMod, a custom ROM that doesn't come with any Google apps preloaded.

However, if you don't want to root your device, yous can achieve similar results in one of ii ways. First, you can simply delete your Google account from Settings -> Accounts, then become to your Google account and select the option to remove it from the superlative-correct menu.

How to Completely Banish Google from Your Android Experience

The 2nd method is to factory reset your device and not sign in to your Google account during the initial setup. This won't remove Google's apps, merely it will make it easier to prevent them from ever signing in to your business relationship and syncing information to Google's servers.

Manufacturers usually have customized versions of Android on their devices, merely most should take the option to perform a Factory Data Reset in Settings -> Backup & reset. This will erase all data from your internal storage as well, so be sure to back up all your photos and music before proceeding.

Lastly, since the following apps will non be installed from the Google Play Store, be certain that you've enabled installation from "Unknown sources" on your device.

Stride two: Install a Google Play Store Replacement

With your Google business relationship banished, you've probably started to wonder how you'll become apps on your device. To fill the void left by the Play Shop, I decided to go with F-Droid, a free app store with a catalogue of apps that are always free and open source.

Download F-Droid (.apk)

If you observe that you need a specific app that is not hosted on F-Droid, y'all can ever use APKMirror to download virtually apps directly from your Android's browser.

F-Droid comes with its own update system for the apps it maintains, but for all your other apps, you'll need to use something like APKTracker to keep them up to date.

Lastly, you can use the Amazon Appstore, which not only has many of the apps from the Google Play Store, but has a costless paid "App of the Day" download besides as "coins" you lot can earn for paid apps. There's besides app update notifications.

Download the Amazon Appstore (.apk)

Stride 3: Supplant Core Google Apps

About manufacturers send their phones with their ain set of apps that can already replace nigh of Google'due south apps, but if you are using a "naked" ROM like CyanogenMod, you lot will need to start from scratch. Below I have listed some the apps that stood out to me on my search to discover my ideal, costless alternatives.

Google Calendar

Sunrise Agenda is a complete calendar replacement with the ability to link upwardly to but about any agenda you take online, and looks and works much the same way every bit Google Agenda does. The app is so complete and polished that Microsoft actually acquired the company in early 2015.

Download Sunrise Calendar (.apk)

Today Agenda has just as good of an interface as Sunrise, just without all the actress features that cause more clutter on the UI.

Download Today Calendar (.apk)

Google Drive

Google Drive is probably i of the easiest apps to replace since there are plenty of deject services freely available. Still, if your main concern is backing up pictures and videos, then I'd suggest either Dropbox, Mega, Facebook, or Flickr, as each of these has an motorcar-backup selection too as plenty of free storage space.

Download Dropbox (.apk)
Download Facebook (.apk)
Download Mega (.apk)
Download Flickr (.apk)

Dropbox and Facebook offer the aforementioned amount of storage (2 GB), merely if that isn't going to be enough for you, Mega offers 50 GB for complimentary, and Flickr tops them with 1 TB.

Notation that while Facebook will only sync photos, Dropbox, Mega, and Flickr will sync photos and videos.

Google At present Launcher

Launchers are a dime a dozen nowadays, and then finding 1 to meet all of your specific needs shouldn't be too hard. Personally, I utilise Apex Launcher because of all the customization options it offers in its free version.

Download Apex Launcher (.apk) {mirror}

Nova Launcher is also a solid pick since it offers virtually of the same features as Apex. In the end, it's upwardly to your personal preference.

Download Nova Launcher (.apk) {mirror}

Others y'all can play around with include HTC'south BlinkFeed, LG's G3 Home Launcher, Nokia's Z Launcher, Menstruation Home, and Sony'southward Xperia Launcher.

Google Maps

Waze may have been purchased by Google a few years ago, simply they accept done a good job of keeping their new possessor's presence absent from the app. Withal, if yous are still worried nearly your data passing through Google'due south servers, you may want to avert creating a Waze account.

Download Waze (.apk)

Nokia's HERE Maps comes with all the same traffic, GPS, and vocalisation navigation features as Waze, along with an "Offline" mode for when y'all don't have service.

Download HERE Maps (.apk)

Google Search

To replace the Google Search bar at the top of your launcher, you may want to consider DuckDuckGo's app and search widget. The app itself offers the same news and instant search features as the regular Google Search app, but with none of that data tracking Google is known for.

Download DuckDuckGo (.apk) {mirror}

Chrome Browser

Finding a replacement browser depends on what features yous are looking for. If you lot're all the same clinging to Flash and can't live without the choice of additional add together-ons, and so you should stick with Dolphin Browser.

Download Dolphin Browser (.apk)

Merely if y'all want all of the add-ons and the ability to sync all your data to a desktop browser, then I'd say go for FireFox.

Download Firefox Browser (.apk)

On the other hand, if you value speed over plugins, then install Opera and activate the Turbo feature.

Download Opera (.apk)

Google Now Phonation Assistant

Replacing "OK, Google" was probably the hardest office of this conversion, since it is a universal hot word that tin be activated from whatever screen. While Evi cannot be activated on any screen, it can be activated through a domicile screen widget the same mode the Google search bar works on the Google At present launcher, and it even replaces the usual robotic female voice with a sexy British accent.

Download Evi from the Amazon Appstore {mirror}

But if yous are the blazon of person who likes to try the newest apps out at that place, yous may want to check out our guide on activating Hound on your Android without an invite. Unfortunately, Hound does not come up with a home screen widget, so you will need to open the app in society to perform any searches.

Download Hound (.apk)

Microsoft also plans to release its own voice assistant app, Cortana, as a beta in July, so be certain to keep an eye out for that.

Gmail

You could alway check your electronic mail through a spider web browser, but if you'd rather apply a standalone app on your Google-costless Android, you may want to consider K-9 Mail. This open-source app is merely similar the Gmail app that ships with Android, merely with its community-driven squad behind it, there are few bugs that slip through the cracks.

Downoad Chiliad-9 Mail from the Amazon Appstore {mirror ane, mirror 2}

You can also get with the original AOSP Email app, but know that information technology is however maintained by Google.

Download AOSP Email (.apk)

Dropbox also has an alternative mail app, Mailbox, which works in similar manner to Google Inbox if you've grown used to that type of feel.

Download Mailbox (.apk)

Google Keep

Notes can exist taken in whatever text app, but if y'all'd similar to keep them synced like Google Go on, you'll need to employ a service similar Evernote or Centrallo.

Download Evernote (.apk)
Download Centrallo (.apk)

Both services offer iOS and Android apps, so you'll be able to view your notes anywhere, just only Centrallo allows you to view your all of your notes while you are offline. Evernote requires a premium membership in order to relieve notes that were non recently created or viewed offline.

Step 4: Supplant Photograph/Camera Apps

Google may non keep rail of how often y'all utilize your camera, merely if you lot'd rather not take whatever trace of them on your Android, you can use these apps to supplant your usual mobile camera experience.

Google Photos

Picking a gallery app depends on which type of experience yous want. If you'd like to take a gallery that tin can human activity as a hub to all of your online photograph storage sites, and so I'd say become with QuickPic.

Download QuickPic (.apk) {mirror}

For those of you who only need a lightweight app that allows you to sort and tag your local photos, and don't plan on managing any online collections, then Focus is for you.

Download Focus (.apk)

Google Camera

I have covered both CameraNext and the ColorOS Camera in previous guides, so for a breakdown of all their specific features, be sure to check those out.

More info on CameraNext
More info on ColorOS Camera

Personally, I use the ColorOS Photographic camera on all my Android devices because of the vast plugin choices, just if you'd rather accept a simple point-and-shoot experience that gives like results, go with the modded CameraNext APK.

With some of these apps, you lot'll be switching from i big company to some other, so your information may even so be tracked, but at least at present you lot volition not have to worry nearly Google'south extensive prying eyes.

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