Introduction: I don’t care, why would Google want to spy on me?

Hi ! My name is Paul Lardet and I am an engineering student. I have always been interested in IT and feel lucky enough to grow up during its expansion. More recently, having heard about the awareness of the massive data collection that GAFAM was organizing on our devices, I started to take an interest in the ethics of computing. A lot of enlightening reports have already been done on the subject, and I will only mention two works that radically changed my view and that I do recommend to you: The social dilemma by Jeff Orlowski-Yang and Ten arguments for deleting your social media accounts right now by Jaron Lanier.

Ever since I saw and/or read these numerous works, I have realized that we are constantly being spied on. Especially on our phone, which is a fantastic tool to spy, having a camera, a microphone, a location sensor... 

I discovered how Google tracks our locations and habits, and what a danger this represents. That is why I have been using a phone without any Google services for over two years now.

My goal in this article is to prove that it is completely possible, while listing the drawbacks (which, however, do not convince me to go back to the way things were), to live without any Google service on our phones!

A little vocabulary for a lot of solutions

On any normal Android device, you will quickly notice that it is impossible to uninstall certain applications (known as “bloatware”), such as Google Chrome. This is normal, as it is a protection imposed by the Android operating system to prevent tampering. But of course, this can be an obstacle when you’re trying to move away from Google services.

There are thus two possible solutions: the first one aims at trying to minimise your interactions with Google services, but stay with the default operating system (not ideal, but better than nothing). Or you can change the ROM (Android operating system) with a bit more computer skill (the better solution, which is also the one I chose).

Although the first solution doesn’t really get you away from Google services, just around them, I’m going to try to develop these two solutions as clearly as possible.

Stock firmware

The possibilities are greatly reduced…

The best you can do with your Google apps while staying on your default system is disabling them and removing their permissions. To do so, press and hold the application icon and tap the “i” icon as shown below:

“Application info” button

Then you will be able to see the “disable” button. Just click it and repeat the same process for other apps you want to disable.

Note that you will still be able to re-enable them if you ever need them again (you just have to hit your settings app, go to the “applications” section and find your app).

And sadly… yes, this is the only thing you can do if you want to stay on your default ROM. Unless you would be ready to take some risks and try to uninstall stock apps with adb (using a computer). This works, but can cause issues as some other apps rely on Google Play Services: https://www.reddit.com/r/degoogle/comments/jqxe1u/tutorial_how_to_degoogle_any_android_phone/

But I still want to check my mails and browse the web!

Now, you might ask: how am I going to dive in my favorite websites now that I do not have Google anymore? If you are sure you will never ever install a custom, you can move on the section “Open-source alternatives to replace Google apps” below. Otherwise, do not miss the next section!

Custom ROMs

What do I need to know about custom ROMs?

First, you need a well understanding of what a custom ROM is. The answer is simple: it is a whole alternative system to your default one, which means that its user interface, stock apps, etc. are probably different from what your current system provides. Some still provide Google Services, but some others focus on security and thus include deeply de-googled firmware.

There are a few things you need to know about changing your ROM:

• This will void your guarantee
• You will loose all your data on your phone (so you need to backup all of it before doing anything)
• You need a computer, some patience (because it does not always work on the first attempt) and some basic knowledge about what is a bootloader, how to access Android recovery mode etc. (note that this is not a complicated topic, but things need to be clear for you before you start to do anything).
• ⚠️ There are still some risks (however small) of breaking your device, SO THIS CHOICE IS YOURS AND DIVING IN THIS PROCESS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK! I cannot be held responsible for breaking your device by encouraging you to install a custom ROM.

If it is that risky and that complicated, why would I switch to a custom ROM?

Installing a custom ROM on your device is rather easy once you have documented yourself and do not dive in things too quickly, without the basic knowledge you need to have. Plus, it gives so many advantages to your Android experience:

• For a faster device that lasts longer and isn’t overloaded with applications you don’t need!
  Generally speaking, a custom ROM is much lighter than your default system, since it has had a number of services removed that weigh it down. This means that your device will be far more smoother, animations will rarely be lagging, and the battery will last much longer!
• No more obsolescence! Your device will never look old!
  Custom ROMs are generally built by independent developers in their own time, who generally own the same device as you. This means that the ROM you install is generally optimized for your model of phone/tablet and, above all, will be updated for a long time, unlike stock versions of Android, which don’t allow you endless updates. 
  One of the best examples of this is my Samsung Galaxy Tab A6 tablet, which was manufactured in 2016, was supposed to have no more updates beyond Android 8, and yet is now running the latest version of Android (Android 13)!
• The world of custom ROMs is vast, and as a result you will almost always find a system to your liking in those that developers have designed for your model. Speaking of de-googlized ROMs, here too there is a vast choice, as changing ROMs is often a choice made by users in the interests of greater confidentiality.
• You will (always) be able to reinstall the stock firmware! 
  Indeed, you can download your stock firmware on many websites (with a precise search… for example, what I would search for my phone is the exact reference “SAMSUNG Galaxy A505AGN stock firmware download” because flashing a non-compatible firmware could cause a lot of issues)

So many advantages! But where to start…?

Start by doing some research about your phone model. If you are more comfortable with video tutorials, you may find lots of online by simply searching: “[your phone model] custom ROM Android [version you want to install]”.

Your choice of a custom ROM will really depend on your needs and tastes. I cannot list every solution that is available here, but here are some popular ROMs with the common reasons why they are choosen:

• /e/ OS: world-known ROM for its beautiful interface and very relevant range of pre-installed apps. If you like iOS user interface, you might be interested in this ROM. However, the list of compatible devices is not that tall, and its releases are not based on the latest versions of Android (if you need/want to run the latest version of Android, this is definitely a ROM I do not recommend to you).
• LineageOS/Evolution X/crDroid/SparkOS… these are all lightweight and minimalist ROMs focused on privacy and simplicity. They are great if you want to speed up your phone/tablet and customize your experience. On another side, they do not offer a lot of improvements to the ASOP (Android OpenSource Project, the default Android system) in terms of user interface and additional features. 
  Nb. My personal choice is CrDroid, which I love for its being very lightweight and simple.
• Havoc OS/Xtended/Project Elixir are the best ones to choose if you are looking for an improved experience, including additional features and UI customizations.

📌 Samsung users: note that if you have a Samsung device, you may be interested in a famous custom ROM named “Snake OS”, which uses OneUI as its default UX, which means you will still get access to your favorite Samsung apps (messages, gallery, user interface…). Anyway, I do not recommend sticking with Samsung services if you already try to escape Google’s… Samsung does also collect a lot of data just as Google, Xiaomi and many other mobile devices manufacturers do.

Open-source alternatives to replace Google apps

Now that you have got to see a bit more clearly about systems and ROMs, and now that you have gotten rid of the Google apps that were invading your phone (hooray! 👏), let us discuss the solutions you need to consider to replace them. Because yes, like you, the designers of custom ROMs wanted to be able to continue checking e-mail, surfing the web and so on…

What is open-source and why choose it?

Opensource/Open-source is a computer science concept whereby part of the program/application/system code is made available to the public. This brings much greater transparency to an application or system, and therefore greater security. The ROMs we talked about before are all opensource, so it’s only natural to install opensource applications to continue this confidentiality dynamic. If you would like to learn more about the principle of Open-source, please check the link below:

https://opensource.org/

Here is a list of my favorite opensource apps (that I do love) to use instead of Google services. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and therefore does not include all possible solutions. It is a personal list that is probably missing a lot of great solutions. By the way do not hesitate to mention your favorite opensource apps in the comments!

App Store: alternatives to Google Play Store

Where to find and download all my alternative apps?

• Aurora Store: a wonderful alternative to the Play Store. Aurora Store is a client for Google Play Store, which means it has the same app catalogue as Google Play Store. What is the difference between Aurora and Play Store, then ? you might ask. It has a wonderful interface, is opensource, and works without any Google account needed!
• F-Droid: unlike Aurora Store, this store does not have the same catalogue as Play Store. Here you can only find opensource solutions, which is great if you do look for a privacy-focused experience. The store is also opensource itself.

Browsers: alternatives to Google Chrome

• Kiwi Browser: a marvelous alternative to Google Chrome. Kiwi looks a lot like Chrome, as being based on Chromium. Plus, it is opensource and provides awesome features: you can customize the appearance to make it look like you want (for example, you can set the tabs to look like they do on a computer (see the image below)), and also download as much Chrome extensions as you want, which is a big plus.

• Firefox for mobile: if you use Mozilla Firefox on your computer, do not forget that it has a great mobile browser! Plus, it provides a few extensions (just a few, sadly) that may fit your needs.
• Bromite is yet another opensource mobile browser based on Chromium. It is fast, efficient, and does respect your privacy. Unfortunately, you cannot install Chrome extensions on it…

Email client: an alternative to Gmail client/Samsung Mail client

K9 mail is a great email client if you want to centralize your mailboxes (MS Outlook, Gmail etc.). It works great, has a great user interface and is, of course, opensource.

Keep your photos safe! alternatives to Google Photos

As I think that this is very dangerous to store your photos online, I will only focus on offline Gallery alternatives.

• Default Gallery app: the default gallery app installed on the ROM you chose might fit to your needs. The stock app generally includes a photo editor and enough features if you just want to keep memories.
• Camera Roll: despite its being a discontinued project, Camera Roll is a great gallery application for Android. It has a built-in file manager, and provides many user interfaces.

Office: an alternative to Google Docs/Sheets/Slides/Forms

OnlyOffice is an awesome opensource alternative to Google Docs/Sheets/Slides/Forms, also available on your computer. It provides all the features you expect from it. Note that this office suite also supports Microsoft extensions (.docx, .pptx, etc.)

Opensource alternatives to replace Google Services

Email: an alternative to Gmail service

• Tutanota: great email service based in Germany and exclusively powered by green energy. All Tutanota clients are opensource and this is one of the most private email services online. Note that the free version only provides 1 Go of storage.
• Protonmail: another great email service based in Switzerland. It is highly secure and well-designed.

Tasks: an alternative to Google Tasks

Tasks.org is such an awesome alternative. It provides syncing solutions across your devices (although it does not provide any client for desktop) and its design and usability are brilliant. The widget it provides looks very nice and is so useful.

Send your files wirelessly: an alternative to Google Wireless Sharing

You should consider using LocalSend on all your devices. Lightweight and compatible with all operating systems, beautifully designed, it runs like a charm, is really easy to set and offers high transfer speeds. Send files, folders, URLs, even apps in only three clicks!

Notes: an alternative to Google Keep

The brand new “everything-app” called Anytype is a huge recommendation. Its design is awesome (it looks a lot like an iOS app) and is syncable across your devices. Not only can you organize your notes in folders and inside other pages (just as Notion (not opensource 😜) does) but you are also able to export them in many different formats.

Authentificator: an alternative to Google Authentificator

ente Auth is a great authentification solution. Very simple and lightweight, it does not monitors your connections as Google’s service does…

Video streaming: an alternative to YouTube

Invidious gathers all YouTube catalogue but without any tracker! Just select your instance, according to the place where you live in the world, and you are good to go! The wonderful opensource client for Android called Clipious based on Invidious is an awesome anonymous alternative to YouTube. It is also worth mentioning Libretube, an amazing and rich-featured Youtube client.

Online messaging: an alternative to Google messages

Signal caused quite a stir when it came out. It’s a wonderful, secure alternative to Google Messages, Whatsapp… The only downside is getting your colleagues to switch to Signal too!

Online conferencing: an alternative to Google Meet

• Jitsi meet: a great Video Conferencing solution, private and easy to use
• Element: with a discord-like user interface, it provides both a messaging solution and a video-conferencing system. Very powerful, beautiful and easy.

Note that both services provide their own opensource Android client.

That is basically all the applications and services I live with everyday. I try to use only opensource applications, which I know is not always possible (when your colleagues only WhatsApp, or Google Docs for example…) and my conclusion is that we can easily replace all Google Services by other solutions. At least, I am the living proof that this is possible. I am personally still using proprietary apps such as Spotify for artists to manage my music profile, which cannot be replaced in any way.

Critical points you need to be aware of

Anyway, there are still limitations that we face as custom ROM’s users. I will try to list some below.

• Location: this is the most penalizing shortcoming for most users. As you may already know, on stock Android firmware, your location service is provided by Google Play Services (which means that your location is always tracked by Google). That means that as long as you do not have Google Play Services installed, you must have another location service installed, and working, which is hard to find on custom ROMs. I tried several of them using MicroG (which kind of replaces Google Play Services without telemetry, and require root!), and the results are really bad (unusable, actually) on my phone, but very accurate and working very well on my tablet; according to what I could read, this is due to RAMDISK, which I cannot get to enabled on my phone. This implies that I cannot use any Maps service on my device. But this also implies that no one can track my location (I agree this is kind of an extreme point of view 🤓). 
  I think this is one of the critical points of custom ROMs, as many people use GPS today and are quickly limited when a GPS is missing on their phone. But at the same time, it’s so restrictive that I think it’s something that developers will be looking at in the years to come. Not to mention the fact that Google Maps tracking is so worrying that we are going to have to find more privacy-friendly solutions…
• Games. I know (and do not really understand) that a lot of people play games on their phones. If it is your case, you must know that some games do depend on Google Play Services to work. You might thus check if your favorite games depend on Google Play Services before installing a custom ROM on your phone. 
  By the way, I reluctantly mention a solution for those who absolutely need minimal dependencies with Google Play services: Open G-apps. I will not go any further on this, as it is absolutely not the intention of this article.
• Camera quality loss: most of the time, the ROM you will use will not know your Camera hardware very well… This means that if you have several lenses, the camera app will probably not be able to use them all (for example, I cannot use the Wide-angle camera of my Galaxy A50 on CrDroid). I know this can be a real issue if you have a great camera and want to benefit from it. When it comes to professional photography, I think photographers mostly rely on their Hybrid/Reflex cameras rather than on their phones, so after all, do you really need awesome photographs?

This is the main three issues I personally experienced with the use of custom ROMs. I know some people complain about incompatibility issues with their hardware, but this do relates with your choice of the ROM you install. Always remember that you are the only one who chooses what to install on your device…

My conclusion from a user’s perspective

Over the past two years, my two android devices have seen a succession of custom ROMs. My Samsung Galaxy Tab A6 (2016) always ran CrDroid like a charm; while I was stuck with the Samsung firmware on Android version 8, I have found a much faster tablet that is now completely responsive on the Internet despite its 2GB RAM! What’s more, my ROM allows me to benefit from facial recognition, a feature that didn’t even exist on this model with the default firmware!

As for my phone (Galaxy A50 6GB/128GB), I felt an urgent need to change the ROM, knowing that I always take it with me. Furthermore, having never been fond of Google services (in fact, more a hater than a user), I concluded that I could easily function without them. My experience with a custom ROM has been very conclusive for me, and I’m delighted to be able to extend the life of my device for years to come. I have also been lucky enough to come across a relatively popular model for which a number of ROMs are available. I tested many of them, but finally came back to one of the most basic ROMs: CrDroid. A lot of people around me don’t know enough about Google’s data collection on our devices and laugh (nicely, anyway) at my installation. Or they think: “Let them spy on me, I’ve got nothing to hide! These phrases will always make me jump with fear, but either way, I’m afraid we’ll have to wait for even bigger scandals before people react.

As for those who are still reluctant to install a custom ROM on their devices, I can understand this fear, especially in view of the three major drawbacks I listed at the end of this article. I think it is more obvious to make this switch on a tablet than a phone, as GPS is often less useful on these devices. Nevertheless, the choice is yours, and many users have already taken the plunge on their phones! It is also worth noting that some ROMs, such as /e/ OS, offer their own location system, which is absolutely effective.

To conclude this long article, I have to say that, in my eyes, it is essential and fabulous to change ROMs, if only to increase the durability of our devices and be more ecologically aware. But also, of course, in terms of ethics; nobody should let a web giant or even their country’s government infiltrate their phone (because in many countries, governments legally grant themselves the right to interfere in their citizens’ phones. If you did not know about that, please inform yourself and share this information with your family, friends…).

Thanks for having read me! I hope this article was helpful to you. Do not hesitate to get in touch with me (hit the "Contact me" button on this website or click here) if you have any question left, I will be glad to answer.