European Technology Alternatives

Your guide to European technology alternatives across communication, search, navigation, artificial intelligence and computing, including open-source solutions supporting digital independence. Coverage includes the EU, UK, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Recently added: Waterfox web browser, eM Client, Office EU, WALLIX Sovereign Identity Access, UptimeRobot & bunny.net

My Personal Tech Stack: The UK and European technologies I use as alternatives to American services. 

Search, Browsers & Navigation

Waterfox

Waterfox is a British-developed, privacy-focused web browser based on Firefox. It offers an alternative to Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, with reduced telemetry, extensive customisation and support for Firefox extensions. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, Waterfox provides a familiar browsing experience whilst giving users greater control over their privacy and personal data.

Vivaldi

A customisable browser from an independent company based in Norway and Iceland. Vivaldi offers extensive tab management and built-in tools, while using the Chromium browser engine. A native Ubuntu browser is available, alongside an Android APK suitable for compatible /e/OS devices.

Mojeek

A British independent search engine offering a privacy-focused alternative to Google and Bing. Unlike many competing services, Mojeek operates its own web crawler, search index and ranking technology without relying on American search providers. Its independently managed infrastructure is hosted in a UK data centre, supporting greater technological independence and user privacy.

Ecosia

Ecosia is a German search engine and web browser that uses its profits to support ecological restoration. Its browser is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, with built-in privacy controls and energy-saving features. To reduce American technology dependence, use Ecosia as your default search engine and disable unnecessary integrations. 

Qwant

A search engine developed in France with a focus on privacy. It provides a European option for everyday web searches.

HERE WeGo

A mapping and navigation service from HERE Technologies. It provides an alternative for route planning and navigation, with offline maps available through its mobile app.

Organic Maps

A free, open-source maps and navigation app developed by an Estonia-registered company and an international contributor community. It uses OpenStreetMap data and supports offline search and navigation for walking, cycling and driving. Downloaded maps work without an internet connection, and the app has no advertising or tracking. Available through F-Droid, with offline navigation suitable for compatible /e/OS devices.

Sygic GPS Navigation

Sygic GPS Navigation is a European GPS navigation app based in Slovakia, offering offline maps, turn-by-turn directions, voice guidance, and traffic information. It's available on Android and iOS, with additional premium features available as in-app purchases.

Messaging & Social Networks

Olvid

A French messaging service designed around secure communication. It offers an alternative for private conversations and group messaging. Desktop and Android applications are available, with Linux and F-Droid support.

Skred Messenger

A French privacy-focused messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted messages, voice and video calls without requiring a phone number or email address. Skred uses peer-to-peer communication and allows users to create separate identities for different contacts. Its source code is being progressively released as open-source software.

SimpleX Chat

A privacy-focused, open-source messaging platform with UK origins and an international corporate presence. SimpleX provides end-to-end encrypted communication without phone numbers or permanent user identifiers. Its decentralised architecture allows users to choose independent messaging servers or self-host using European infrastructure, reducing reliance on US-based services.

Element

A messaging and collaboration platform from a company headquartered in the UK. Built on the open Matrix network, Element supports encrypted conversations and communication across compatible services. Server location and control over data depend on the hosting provider or installation chosen. A native Ubuntu desktop application is available, alongside Android and iOS apps.

Threema

A Switzerland-based messaging app focused on privacy. Threema offers end-to-end encrypted messages, group chats, file sharing, and voice and video calls. It can be used without providing a phone number or email address. Android and iOS applications are available, with desktop access through Threema's supported clients.

WSocial.EU

A European social network operated by Sweden-based W Social AB. Built on the AT Protocol, it emphasises verified human accounts and connections across the open social web.

EuroSky

European social infrastructure operated by a nonprofit foundation in the Netherlands. EuroSky provides EU-hosted AT Protocol accounts compatible with decentralised social applications.

Its servers use EU-based hosting providers, although public content circulates internationally and some Bluesky infrastructure dependencies remain during its transition to independent services.

Monnett

Monnett is a Luxembourg-based social platform for sharing posts and keeping in touch with friends. It offers a European alternative for people seeking a social network focused on personal connections and real-world social life.

Dailymotion

A French alternative to YouTube, founded in 2005 and owned by Canal+. Dailymotion allows users to watch, upload and share videos, supporting independent creators and professional publishers across its international platform.

Video Conferencing

Wire

Wire is a European-owned, open-source communications platform offering end-to-end encrypted messaging, video conferencing, voice calls and file sharing. Developed in Germany, with European-hosted infrastructure, it supports secure collaboration without requiring a telephone number. Its dedicated government version is used by German federal authorities and approved for restricted official communications.

Whereby

Whereby is a Norwegian-founded video conferencing service for online meetings and remote collaboration. Participants can join through a meeting link in their browser without downloading an app. It supports screen sharing and offers a straightforward option for personal conversations, client meetings and team discussions.

alfaview

alfaview is a German video conferencing platform for online meetings, training and virtual events. It offers video calls, screen sharing and collaboration tools, with its headquarters in Karlsruhe and hosting in German data centres. Participants can use its dedicated app and join meetings as guests without creating an account.

Artificial Intelligence & Translation

DeepL

A Germany-based provider of AI translation and writing tools. DeepL helps individuals and organisations translate text and communicate across languages.

Mistral Vibe

An AI assistant from France-based Mistral AI for research, writing, analysis and coding. Formerly called Le Chat, it provides a European option for conversational AI and related tools. In October 2026, Mistral introduced Large 4, a new multimodal AI model designed for advanced reasoning, coding and complex tasks. Released initially as a public preview, with downloadable model weights planned for later in October, it represents a significant development in European AI. Independent benchmarking indicates competitive performance, although it does not establish overall parity with the world's leading AI models.

Proton Lumo

Lumo is a privacy-focused European AI assistant developed by Switzerland’s Proton. It offers encrypted conversations without logging chats or using them to train AI models. An October 2026 update introduced a creative workspace for producing and editing documents, code and interactive web pages, with version history and Proton Drive integration. Lumo operates on Proton-controlled European servers, offering an alternative to US AI services.

ChatMinerva

An Italian AI assistant developed from the Minerva language model family, originating at Sapienza University of Rome. Supports conversations, document analysis, image understanding and live web searches. Available as a hosted service without requiring self-hosting.

Aleph Alpha — PhariaAI & Kolibri

A German AI company developing sovereign artificial intelligence for businesses, government and regulated industries. Its PhariaAI platform supports secure enterprise AI deployment, while Kolibri is an open-weight language model specialising in German and English. Cloud and private deployment options are available, although running Kolibri independently requires specialist hardware.

European Open-Weight AI Models

Open-weight AI models can be downloaded and run on your own computer or through an online provider. Unlike ready-to-use AI assistants, they often require technical knowledge and powerful hardware. Although running them yourself (self hosting) offers greater control and privacy, AI subscriptions costing around £10–£25 per month are often cheaper and easier for everyday users.

EuroLLM 9B 

A European-developed, open-weight language model designed to support all 24 official EU languages and additional languages. Developed through a European research collaboration to strengthen multilingual AI capabilities and technological independence. Available for download and deployment, although it is primarily intended for developers and researchers rather than as a ready-to-use consumer assistant.

Velvet AI

An Italian family of open-weight language models developed by Almawave and trained using the Leonardo supercomputer in Bologna. Available in 2-billion and 14-billion parameter versions, supporting multilingual text generation, reasoning, translation and document analysis. Designed primarily for developers and organisations, with local or cloud deployment options rather than a conventional consumer subscription.

BLOOM

A multilingual, open-weight language model developed by the international BigScience research collaboration and trained using France's Jean Zay supercomputer. Released in 2022, BLOOM supports 46 natural languages and 13 programming languages. It's primarily intended for researchers and developers rather than everyday consumer use.

Email & Cloud Storage

Proton is based in Switzerland and offers a range of privacy-focused services.

Proton Mail

An email service with encryption features designed to protect messages and stored email. It provides an alternative to services such as Gmail.

Proton Drive

Cloud storage with end-to-end encryption for files and photos. It offers an alternative for storing, accessing and sharing documents online.

eM Client

eM Client is a Czech-developed alternative to Microsoft Outlook, combining email, calendars, contacts and tasks. To maintain European digital independence, users can connect it to European email providers such as Proton mail or posteo.de instead of Gmail or Outlook. Disabling optional AI features that rely on non-European services further reduces dependence on American technology. Available for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Nextcloud

An open-source collaboration platform from Germany, combining file storage, document editing, calendars and communication tools. It can run on your own server or through a hosting provider, giving individuals and organisations more control over their data. Server location depends on the installation or provider chosen. Native Ubuntu desktop and F-Droid Android applications are available, with support for compatible /e/OS devices.

Murena Workspace

Murena Workspace (formerly eCloud) is a European privacy-focused alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, combining email, cloud storage, calendars, contacts and online office tools. Built on open-source technology, with servers in Finland, it integrates directly with /e/OS and is accessible on Ubuntu and other platforms.

Infomaniak kDrive

A cloud storage and collaboration service developed and hosted in Switzerland. kDrive supports file synchronisation, sharing and online document editing, providing another European option alongside services such as Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. A native file synchronisation application supports Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and later, alongside Windows, macOS and mobile apps.

pCloud

A Switzerland-based cloud storage service for storing, accessing and sharing files across devices. Users can choose to store their data in the European Union or the United States. Client-side encryption is available through the optional pCloud Encryption feature for files placed in its Crypto folder, rather than being enabled for all files by default. A native Ubuntu desktop application is available, alongside Android and iOS apps.

Tuta

A Germany-based email and calendar service focused on privacy, with encrypted data stored in Germany. Tuta supports end-to-end encrypted messages between its users and password-protected encrypted messages to external recipients. Free and paid plans are available.

In October 2026, Tuta introduced a Nextcloud integration, making its encrypted email service accessible within the European open-source collaboration ecosystem. Native Ubuntu desktop and F-Droid Android applications are available, including for compatible /e/OS devices.

Posteo

An independent German email provider focused on privacy, security and sustainability. Posteo offers advertising-free email, calendars and address books, with encryption features designed to protect personal information. Operating from Germany, it provides a European alternative to Gmail and Microsoft Outlook without relying on advertising-based business models. Compatible with Ubuntu email clients and standard IMAP applications on Android.

Filen

Filen is a cloud storage service with its headquarters and servers in Germany. It offers file storage, sharing and synchronisation across devices, with end-to-end encryption applied on your device before files are uploaded.

Its zero-knowledge design means Filen does not hold the keys needed to read your encrypted files. It provides an option for people seeking German-hosted cloud storage with encryption built into the service. A native Ubuntu desktop application is available, alongside Android and iOS apps.

Passwords & Network Security

WALLIX Sovereign Identity Access

French cybersecurity company WALLIX provides European identity and access management software, including multi-factor authentication, single sign-on and secure user access. Its Sovereign Identity Access solution supports cloud and on-premises deployment, helping organisations protect sensitive data, maintain control over authentication systems and reduce dependence on non-European technology providers.

Proton VPN

A virtual private network that encrypts the connection between your device and a VPN server, helping protect traffic on untrusted networks and conceal your IP address from websites. Proton offers free and paid plans, with features varying by plan. Its server network is international. A native Linux application and command-line client are available for Ubuntu.

Proton Authenticator

An open-source app that generates verification codes for two-factor authentication, helping protect accounts with an additional sign-in step. Native Linux and F-Droid applications are available, including for compatible /e/OS devices.

Proton Pass

An open-source password manager from Swiss-based Proton. It stores passwords and passkeys with end-to-end encryption, fills in login details and includes a password generator for creating strong, unique passwords. Free and paid plans are available. A native Ubuntu desktop application is available, alongside Android and iOS apps.

Mullvad VPN

A Sweden-based virtual private network service focused on online privacy. Mullvad encrypts traffic between your device and its VPN servers and helps conceal your IP address from websites. Its international server network provides another European-operated option alongside Proton VPN. A native Linux application supports Ubuntu 24.04 and later.

Quad9 — Secure DNS

A free DNS service operated by a Swiss-based nonprofit foundation, with a worldwide server network. DNS translates website names into internet addresses; Quad9’s threat-blocking service helps prevent connections to known malicious domains.

Quad9 can be configured on individual devices or on a compatible router, allowing devices using that router’s DNS settings to benefit without separate setup. Apps, VPNs or devices using their own DNS settings may bypass the router’s choice.

For Android users, the open-source Quad9 Connect app is available on F-Droid and simplifies setup without manually entering DNS server addresses. It uses Android’s VPN connection slot to handle DNS, so it generally cannot run alongside another VPN app. It is a DNS protection tool rather than a full VPN.

Nitrokey

Nitrokey produces hardware security keys developed and manufactured in Germany, with open-source hardware and software. These physical devices help protect compatible accounts through passkeys and two-factor authentication. Depending on the model, they also support features such as email encryption and secure storage of cryptographic keys.

Support varies between devices and services, so check which Nitrokey model meets your needs.

Cryptomator

Cryptomator is an open-source file encryption tool developed by Germany-based Skymatic. It creates encrypted vaults for your files, protecting their contents and filenames before they are uploaded to a cloud storage service.

Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, it works alongside your chosen storage provider rather than providing cloud storage itself. Some metadata, including file sizes and timestamps, remains visible.

Operating Systems

Ubuntu

A free, open-source Linux operating system published by Canonical, with strong UK connections and a worldwide contributor community. Ubuntu offers an alternative to Windows for everyday computing, development and many professional tasks.

Compatibility with particular applications, games and hardware should be checked before switching.

openSUSE

A free, community-developed Linux operating system supported by the German-founded SUSE ecosystem. Available in stable Leap and continuously updated Tumbleweed editions, offering an open-source alternative to Windows and macOS for desktop computing, development and servers.

/e/OS

An Android-based mobile operating system from the French e Foundation, designed to reduce reliance on Google services. It offers a familiar smartphone experience on supported devices.

Compatible with a wide range of Android applications through its built-in App Lounge, including apps from Google Play and F-Droid. The separate F-Droid store can also be installed, offering access to open-source software without a Google account. Some banking, payment and security-sensitive applications may have compatibility restrictions.

Sailfish OS

A Linux-based mobile operating system developed by Finland’s Jolla. It offers a distinct alternative to Android and iOS, with device support and Android-app compatibility depending on the model and software edition.

Office & Productivity

Office EU

Office EU is a Dutch cloud-based productivity platform designed as a European alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Built on open-source technology and European-hosted infrastructure, it prioritises privacy, GDPR compliance and digital sovereignty. EU Drive cloud storage is already available, while document editing, spreadsheets, presentations, email, calendars and video conferencing are planned. The platform is currently offering early access as its wider productivity suite develops.

Rutba Office

Rutba Office is a free, open-source British productivity suite developed by Tech Style Ltd. It provides applications for documents, spreadsheets, presentations, email and more, with offline functionality and support for Microsoft Office formats. Licensed under AGPL 3.0, the software operates without mandatory accounts or cloud storage. Currently in open beta, it offers a promising UK alternative for desktop productivity, although some advanced features remain unavailable.

Collabora Office

A British-developed, open-source office suite for documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Based on LibreOffice, it supports Microsoft Office formats and offers desktop, mobile and online editing.

openDesk

A German government-backed, open-source-based alternative to Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, developed by the Centre for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS). It combines document editing, email, calendars, cloud storage, messaging, video conferencing and project management. Designed primarily for public administration, openDesk supports German-hosted and self-hosted deployments, reducing dependence on American technology providers.

LibreOffice

A free, open-source office suite supported by The Document Foundation in Germany and a worldwide contributor community. Its tools cover word processing, spreadsheets, presentations and other office tasks.

LibreOffice works with many Microsoft Office file formats, although complex formatting and specialised features may differ. The complete office suite runs natively on Ubuntu and other Linux distributions.

Euro-Office

A European open-source office suite developed by Nextcloud, IONOS and other European partners as an alternative to Microsoft Office and Google Docs. It supports documents, spreadsheets, presentations and PDFs, including Microsoft Office formats. In September 2026, Nextcloud introduced desktop integration through Hub 26 Summer, expanding Euro-Office beyond browser-based editing. Availability and installation options depend on the release and platform.

ONLYOFFICE

An office suite for documents, spreadsheets, presentations and PDFs, offering free, open-source desktop editors alongside online collaboration tools. Developed by an international team, it is owned by Latvia-registered Ascensio System SIA, part of a Singapore-registered holding group. Desktop versions support offline editing on Windows, macOS and Linux. Native Ubuntu desktop applications are available, including DEB, Flatpak and Snap packages.

CryptPad

CryptPad is an open-source online collaboration suite developed by XWiki, a company based in Paris. It lets people work together on documents, spreadsheets, presentations and other shared tools through their browser.

Document content is encrypted in the browser before reaching the server, helping keep it private from the hosting provider. You can use an existing CryptPad service or host your own, with storage limits and available features depending on the service you choose.

OpenProject

OpenProject is an open-source project management platform developed by a company based in Berlin. It helps teams organise tasks, plan schedules and track progress, supporting both traditional and agile ways of working.

Its free Community edition can be hosted on your own server, while paid Enterprise options provide additional features and support. OpenProject also offers managed cloud hosting within the European Union.

Design & Creative Tools

Penpot

Penpot is an open-source design platform developed by Madrid-based Kaleidos. It helps people design website and app interfaces, create interactive prototypes and collaborate with developers through their browser.

Teams can use Penpot’s hosted service or run it on their own infrastructure, giving them a choice over how their design workspace is managed.

Krita

Krita is a free, open-source digital painting program for illustration, concept art and animation. It offers a wide selection of brushes, layers, drawing assistants and animation tools for beginners and experienced artists.

Developed by an international community and supported by the Netherlands-based Krita Foundation, it provides creative tools without a mandatory subscription. Runs natively on Ubuntu, with a separate Android tablet application also available.

Blender

Blender is a free, open-source suite for 3D modelling, animation, rendering and visual effects. It gives individuals and teams tools for creating everything from still images and product visualisations to animated films.

Developed by an international community and coordinated by the Amsterdam-based Blender Foundation, it provides a broad range of creative tools without a mandatory subscription. Runs natively on Ubuntu, with dedicated versions also available for Windows and macOS.

Kdenlive

Kdenlive is a free, open-source video editor for assembling footage, editing sound and adding effects, titles and subtitles. It supports multi-track editing, making it useful for projects ranging from short social videos to longer productions.

Developed by an international community and supported by Germany-based nonprofit KDE e.V., it offers an alternative for people seeking video-editing software without a mandatory subscription. A native Ubuntu video editor is available through AppImage and Flatpak packages.

Game Development

Godot

A free, open-source engine for creating 2D and 3D games. Originally developed in Argentina, Godot is maintained by an international community and supported by a Dutch foundation. An alternative to Unity and Unreal Engine, with no engine royalties.

GameMaker

A game-development tool with a team primarily based in Dundee, Scotland, and owned by Opera. Particularly suited to 2D games, it offers visual programming tools and its own scripting language. Free for non-commercial use, with paid licences for commercial publishing.

CRYENGINE

Developed by Frankfurt-based Crytek, CRYENGINE provides tools for creating detailed 3D games, including realistic graphics, physics and environments. An alternative to Unreal Engine, available under a royalty-based licence.

Defold

A free game engine owned by the Defold Foundation in Stockholm. Designed for lightweight 2D and 3D games across desktop, mobile and web platforms. Its source code is available under a custom licence, and games can be published commercially without engine royalties. A native game development editor supports Ubuntu, Windows and macOS.

Music & Streaming

Spotify

A Swedish music and audio streaming platform offering access to millions of songs, podcasts and audiobooks. Founded in Stockholm, Spotify provides a European alternative to American services such as Apple Music and YouTube Music.

SoundCloud

A Berlin-based music streaming and audio-sharing platform founded in 2007. SoundCloud enables users to discover music, upload recordings and connect with independent artists, providing a European alternative to American audio streaming and creator platforms.

Deezer

Deezer is a music streaming service founded in Paris. It lets listeners explore music, create playlists and discover artists through personalised recommendations, with apps for listening across supported devices.

Features, subscription options and availability vary by country and plan.

Qobuz

Qobuz is a French music service offering streaming and a download store, with a focus on high-quality audio. Listeners can stream music through its apps or purchase albums and tracks to download and keep.

High-resolution audio is available for supported recordings, with playback quality depending on your device and audio equipment. Streaming requires a subscription, while downloads can be purchased separately.

Cloud Infrastructure & Data Analysis

OVHcloud

A French cloud and hosting provider offering services for websites, servers, storage and computing. It provides an alternative for organisations exploring European cloud suppliers, with service capabilities and data-centre locations varying by product.

ChapsVision Argonos

A data and AI platform from France’s ChapsVision, designed to bring together and analyse information from multiple sources. It is a specialist platform for businesses and public institutions, relevant to comparisons with enterprise data-analysis systems such as Palantir.

Plausible Analytics

An independent Estonian website analytics platform offering a privacy-focused alternative to Google Analytics. Plausible measures website traffic without invasive tracking or advertising profiles. Its open-source software and European-hosted visitor data provide an alternative for organisations seeking greater control over their analytics and reduced dependence on American technology providers.

UptimeRobot

A European website monitoring service that checks website availability, server performance and SSL certificates. It alerts users when problems occur, helping businesses and individuals identify outages quickly. Offers free and paid monitoring plans.

bunny.net

A European cloud infrastructure provider offering content delivery, cloud storage, video streaming and website acceleration. Its global network helps websites load faster, improve reliability and deliver content efficiently. An alternative to major US-based cloud services.

IONOS Cloud

A Germany-based provider of cloud infrastructure, including virtual servers, storage, databases and domain-name services. IONOS offers European data-centre locations alongside international options, so users should check the hosting region selected for their service.

Hetzner

A Germany-based provider of cloud servers, dedicated servers, web hosting and storage. Hetzner operates its own data-centre parks in Germany and Finland, alongside cloud locations in the United States and Singapore. Users seeking European hosting should select a European location for their service.

Scaleway

A France-based cloud provider and subsidiary of the iliad Group. Scaleway offers cloud computing, storage, managed databases and AI infrastructure, with services hosted across European regions. It provides infrastructure for running websites, applications and data-processing workloads, with product availability varying by region.

Open-Source & Privacy Tools

These additional tools support software choice and privacy. 

F-Droid

An international open-source project with UK organisational roots. F-Droid provides a catalogue and installer for free, open-source Android apps, offering another way to discover software beyond Google Play.

App listings include source-code links and notices about potentially unwanted features, such as advertising, tracking or dependence on proprietary services.

Link Clear

An open-source Android app that removes recognised tracking parameters from links before you open or share them. It works offline by default using ClearURLs rules.

Link Clear reduces tracking information carried in web addresses; it does not block every form of tracking on the websites you visit.

Notes & Research Organisation

Joplin

An open-source app for organising notes, research material and to-do lists. The project has a France-based company and an international contributor community. It supports optional end-to-end encrypted synchronisation through Joplin Cloud and other compatible services. Native Ubuntu and F-Droid applications are available, with Android support for compatible /e/OS devices.

Zettlr 

Zettlr is a free, open-source writing and research application developed by a team across Europe. It helps users organise notes and longer writing projects, with support for citations and bibliographies.

It uses Markdown, a plain-text writing format, and is particularly useful for research papers, articles and book manuscripts. A native Ubuntu application is available through DEB packages and an official APT repository.

Anytype

Anytype is a Switzerland-based workspace for organising notes, documents, tasks and linked information. Users can connect related material to build a personal knowledge base, helping keep research topics and ideas organised.

Its local-first design keeps information on your device and supports offline working, with encryption built into the system.