Ditch Google: Top Privacy-Friendly Alternatives for Your Website

Google tools are functionally attractive, but can hardly be used in compliance with the law. Data protection laws almost prohibit the use of Google tools. Fortunately, there are alternatives. Many of these solutions are either fully compliant with data protection laws or, in my opinion, far better than Google products.

Search engines

Among the most frequently used Google tools is especially the search engine under google.de or google.com. As is well known, the Google Corporation does not belong to the companies that consider data protection as the highest good. Only as one of many examples, the 60 million euro fine imposed by the French data protection authority CNIL on the operator of the search engine shall be mentioned.

Good search engines that place a value on data protection are for example:

• Ecosia
• DuckDuckGo (the operator seems to take user privacy very seriously. However, it is an American company. Please note: The search engine is mentioned here, not the browser of the same name)
• Tarnkappe has examined other search engines: Link no longer available, if required the search engines can be found without problems!

These so-called Search Engines deliver very good results from my point of view. When searching for something exotic or finding only a few or no hits for a search query, it often pays off to use several search engines at the same time. Not infrequently I was able to find additional hits through the aforementioned search engines in addition to the Google search.

Browser

Instead of the Chrome Browser by Google there are numerous better alternatives, for example

• Tor Browser
• Mozilla Firefox
• Opera: Removed as a recommendation after noting that the browser has privacy-hostile default settings (even though I think Opera is far better than Chrome)
• Ghostery (even if the provider then possibly receives data – still better than Google, I say. Please note: The browser is mentioned here, not the browser plugin of the same name)

I have not investigated the individual browsers in detail, except for the Tor Browser. I am however convinced that every alternative is better from a data protection perspective than giving Google's data octopus information about one's own surfing behavior.

Browser-Plugins

Not necessarily an alternative to Google products, but a way to reduce data transfers to Google are so-called Blocker Plugins.

To avoid advertising and trackers, uBlock Origin is often mentioned. Especially recommended is the Plugin for Firefox. There is also one for Chrome, but Chrome is from Google and therefore to be considered as a Master-Tracker.

Incidentally, the plugin is also suitable for documenting data protection violations on websites. To do this, open the website and take a screenshot of the plugin's analysis results.

There is also a similar plugin from Ghostery. Some say that the Ghostery Plugin collects data for the advertising industry. I haven't checked this. Nevertheless, I assume that with the Ghostery Plugin, which I find functionally better than uBlock Origin, significantly fewer data of a person are passed on to significantly fewer places than if one would not use such a Tracking Blocker. At least Ghostery offers settings that give hope that privacy is taken seriously:

The setting for exchanging usage analyses is probably preset after installing the plugin, which is not good. Manual deactivation solves this problem for the informed user. It is also possible that the second checkmark is pre-selected, but I have not investigated this further. Please take a look for yourself if you use the plugin or would like to give it a chance.

Tools for websites

These tools in particular are frequently used by Google for websites:

• Google Maps
• Google reCAPTCHA
• Google Analytics (now declared non-compliant by several European data protection authorities)
• Google Tag Manager
• Google Fonts

Clicking on the names of the tools leads to the article on the respective tool, in which the data protection problems with the service are explained.

Those interested in the precise legal conditions for Google Tools should look at the Google Terms of Service.

There are specific alternatives for each of the tools just mentioned:

Google Maps

Often no map is needed at all. Instead, use an attractive, specific image with a suitable map of the surrounding area. The image does not have to show the Müller butcher's shop if your own business is to be in the foreground.

A button labeled "Route planner" is ideal for route planning. A link to an online route planner will take you to your destination, especially if the destination address has already been entered. If you still need an interactive map, you will also find what you are looking for.

The most well-known alternative is OpenStreetMap. Here it should be noted that the provider of OpenStreetMap comes from the European Union, preferably from Germany. Therefore, the direct use of OpenStreetMap is not recommended, because the OpenStreetMap Foundation is a somewhat vague entity (imprint and data protection declaration are not consistently given).

Optimal is a self-contained OpenStreetMap Map Server. The installation, however, is not quite straightforward.

My own solution is ideal in terms of data protection. You can use it free of charge. Here you can see a screenshot of my solution:

The solution is fully GDPR-compliant. My solution is free of charge and available online.

Instead of embedding a Google Maps, one can also think about why the map is embedded in the first place. In many cases, the map has no benefit and can simply be omitted.

If a map is to be used for route planning, then so can a button with the caption Route planen also be used. The button links to the Google Maps website in a new window. Pre-filling the destination address is simply possible by adding the address to the URL when calling up the map. Here's an example:

The link https://www.google.de/maps/dir//Paul-Löbe-Allee,+Berlin/ leads directly to a route planner and marks the address Paul-Löbe Allee in Berlin (Germany) as such.

A map is often used for local businesses to simplify directions and the search for a parking space. A special image of the region around the store is better suited for this than a generic map view. It should even be possible to draw it yourself … After all, simple geometric shapes (stylized map) will also do.

Google Fonts

The Munich Regional Court ruled on 20.01.2022 that external Google fonts may not be integrated into websites. The plaintiff was even awarded 100 euros in damages.

Google fonts can be used further. However, all font files should be downloaded first. Then the files can be embedded locally on the website afterwards. Done. Not even privacy texts will then be needed anymore. One can definitely disprove any legitimate interest in external Google Fonts altogether. Just take the loading time argument as an example: Whoever is dependent on a few milliseconds of speedup should please use their own CDN. Such a thing is also called File Server and is one of the simplest things you can imagine as a server. Whoever doesn't manage that, should please use a data protection compliant CDN from a third-party provider.

Google Analytics

This Tracking Tool is hardly controllable legally. Most webmasters do not need such a deep analysis in my experience or do not know what they should do with all the data.

As a very good alternative Matomo has established itself. This analysis tool is free of charge and can be installed locally. For WordPress there is a separate plugin. Properly configured, Matomo does not even require consent.

For WordPress there are still WP Statistics, a very user-friendly, but powerful tool. From a data protection point of view usable without significant risks.

Google reCAPTCHA

For WordPress there is the plugin Contact Form 7 Image Captcha, which I also use myself and am very satisfied with.

If you don't use WordPress, you should take a look at the available PHP solutions. PHP is actually supported by any server that can be rented today. For example Securimage, which is offered as a standalone tool but also as a WordPress plugin.

I am currently working on my own solution that is easy to use and integrate. If you're interested, I recommend signing up for my Newsletter. As soon as the solution is available, you will receive an information.

Google Tag Manager

Before the Tag Manager can be loaded, the user must be asked for permission. I therefore recommend loading the tools to be loaded directly. It is best to ensure that you only use tools that do not require permission.

It often makes sense to simply stop using certain services. It is not uncommon for these services to simply still be there from before or the benefit was never really recognizable.

My solution named UnTagManager replaces the tag manager when it comes to pure reloading of scripts.

Conclusion

There is a good or very good alternative for almost every Google tool. If there is no good alternative, this does not change the legal situation. In this case, I recommend comparing the actual benefits with the legal risks.

If you are stuck or use tools other than those listed, please write to me. I will be happy to add to the overview.

If you still own a smartphone that constantly sends data to Google, you should take a look at the Fairphone . It contains an un-Google-ed Android operating system and is practical in use. Even the environmental aspect is taken into account. Nevertheless, the smartphone is not expensive.

I have noticed on several occasions that some data protection-friendly solutions have problems with formalities. So, an imprint or a data protection statement is often missing or not easily accessible. The imprint must be provided almost always (either due to commercial operation of the website or due to opinions that are almost always found). The data protection statement must be provided for all websites that represent an offer in the further sense, because network addresses as personal data are collected on each website. Often, statements about suitable guarantees (AVV, TOM's etc.) are also missing.

As a result, some privacy-friendly products cannot be recommended without reservation. For example, I was made aware of Searx, a supposedly privacy-friendly search engine. First of all, I do not dispute that the operators of Searx take data protection seriously. However, one instance of a German operator lacks both an imprint and a privacy policy. There is also no email address to draw the operator's attention to this. This makes such a product unnecessarily irrelevant for many.

Related articles

• Google Analytics banned: These are the alternatives
• Using Google Fonts correctly
• Consent requirement for selected website tools: Legal situation
• Terms of use of Google Tools
• Terms of use of selected tools