Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
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Google’s got products to fill almost every consumer tech niche, from web search to smartphones to connected cameras to office software. For a long time, I liked that about the company; using Google’s services everywhere I could felt like a way to simplify my technological life. I’ve gotten a lot of value out of Google’s big, interconnected ecosystem over the years.
But as the company’s put its weight behind converting Search into a chatbot and adding Gemini-powered features I don’t use to every corner of every app and device, I’ve found myself wishing I wasn’t so invested in its products. I’ve stuck around mostly because of inertia: I’m used to Google, and it’s already got all my data, and moving to competing services seemed like a big undertaking.
Over the past couple of months, though, I’ve finally started making a real effort to diversify my tech diet. It’s been a lot easier than I thought it would.
Have you thought about "deGoogling?" 70 votes I already stopped using all of Google's products and services. 4 % I've stopped using from some Google services, but not all. 49 % Thought about it, but I haven't taken action. 29 % No, I want to continue using Google's products and services. 19 %
The apps and services I’m replacing Google with
Taylor Kerns / Android Authority
I haven’t completely gotten away from Google’s ecosystem, and I’m sure I won’t anytime soon. Some of Google’s services are genuinely irreplaceable in the current market, and I’m committed to making the hardware I already own last as long as I can (the Google Home Max is still a great speaker!). But I don’t feel like my entire online life is mediated by Google anymore.
Search seemed like the easiest service to replace, and maybe the most impactful day-to-day. I started checking out alternatives earlier this summer; after spending a few days each with DuckDuckGo and Startpage, I landed on Kagi.
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