In light of significant policy changes in the U.S. and the growing alliance between major tech firms and the Trump administration, many individuals are re-evaluating their reliance on America-based digital services. This shift is partly fueled by a perception that U.S. tech companies pose a threat to digital sovereignty. In response, European companies have begun moving away from U.S. cloud services in favor of local alternatives, with governments in France and Germany even developing their own word processing platforms.
A 2025 consumer poll revealed that 62% of respondents from nine European nations viewed large U.S. tech companies as a threat to their sovereignty. Subsequently, there has been a noticeable uptick in traffic to lists of non-U.S. tech alternatives.
If you’re looking to replace widely-used U.S. tech services—like email, web browsers, and search engines—with privacy-oriented options, there are several alternatives to consider.
Web Browsers
Mullvad
Hailing from Sweden, Mullvad is best known for its VPN but also offers a privacy-focused browser developed in partnership with Tor. This open-source browser, available only on desktop, emphasizes user anonymity and blocks tracking mechanisms by default.
Vivaldi
Based in Norway, Vivaldi offers both desktop and mobile browser options, promoting a no-tracking policy. The company claims that user data remains either locally stored or encrypted, and it adheres to strong data protection laws in Iceland.
Search Engines
Qwant
French search engine Qwant is unique in that it curates its own search index, featuring over 20 billion web pages. Despite using Bing to enhance its results, Qwant doesn’t track user data nor does it employ targeted advertising.
Mojeek
Operating out of the UK, Mojeek claims 100% independence in its search results, using its own web crawler and index. It does not track users and relies solely on its algorithms to rank search results.
Startpage
This Dutch search engine removes user IP addresses and personal data upon query, acting as a privacy-preserving intermediary between users and popular search engines like Google and Bing.
Ecosia
A nonprofit search engine based in Germany, Ecosia contributes part of its revenue to environmental causes while ensuring minimal data collection and no ad personalization based on user searches.
Email Providers
ProtonMail
Located in Switzerland, ProtonMail is recognized for its secure email services and end-to-end encryption, offering various apps that rival major players like Google. It highlights its commitment to protecting user data.
Tuta
This Germany-based service, formerly known as Tutanota, encrypts all aspects of its email content and user data. It also provides options for password-protected communication with non-Tuta accounts.
With the growing inclination towards privacy-focused solutions in the digital landscape, these alternatives present viable options for anyone looking to reduce their dependence on U.S. tech services while maintaining greater control over their personal data.
