Don't run on defaults.
Most of us use Gmail, Drive, WhatsApp, Chrome without ever picking them. A community catalog of the alternatives, with real pros and cons for each.
Why this is different
- −IMAP access requires the Proton Bridge, which is paid-only
- −Search across encrypted message bodies is limited by design
- −Free tier has tight storage limits
- Works for me 1
- Didn't work 0
Where do you actually stand?
A 2-minute check of your daily apps. Get three things you could change first.
What most of us got handed by default
- Gmail
- Google Drive
- Dropbox
- Apple Notes
- Google Chrome
- Google Maps
- Google Photos
- iCloud
- ChatGPT
What to replace them with
All 16 →And how to do it
All 6 →-
Dual-boot Ubuntu alongside Windows without breaking either
Install Ubuntu 26.04 LTS next to Windows and pick your OS at boot. Windows stays intact. The one risky step is resizing the Windows partition, and a backup makes it boring.
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Move your files off Google Drive, iCloud, OneDrive, or Dropbox
Export your cloud library from Google, Apple, Microsoft, or Dropbox; tidy the dump locally; upload to a privacy-respecting alternative. Most of the work is waiting for the download.
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Switch from Chrome to Firefox in fifteen minutes
Install Firefox, pull your bookmarks and passwords across from Chrome, set it as the system default, and turn on the privacy basics. The whole move is one short coffee.