Tired of Google’s grip on your data? After switching to Linux, I found the right self-hosted app to replace Google Drive, Photo, Calendar, Docks, and more. Here’s how I took control of my privacy and my data.
When I first jumped for Linux, I felt that I had taken a big step towards digital freedom. No more forced updates, no more aggressive telemetry, no more bloated system that does what in the background. But even after switching the operating system, I was still tied deeply with the thing that I was not comfortable: Google.
My email, calendar, photos, documents, and even two-do lists were all closed in Google’s ecosystem. Certainly, I was running Linux now, but Google still had a strangulation on all my data, public and private.
Why did I want to dig google
Products and services are not problems. There is no doubt that Google makes excellent products. They are smooth, convenient, and they all talk to each other as magic. But this feature comes to a cost – your data. Whatever you do is tracked, stored, analyzed, and often used to create a profile for advertising.
In addition, there is an issue of control. If Google decides to stop a service (remember Google Reader? Google Plus?), Then you are out of luck. And let’s not forget the account suspension or data access issues. They are rare, but destructive when they are.
I wanted to do my own data. I wanted a cloud that was really under my control. That’s when I came to NEXTCloud.
Your own personal cloud on your terms
In simple words, NextCloud is a self-hosted, open-source option for Google’s suite of services. It gives you all 100% in file syncing, document editing, photo management, calendar, notes, and a completely more, your control.
I set it on a modest home server running Ubuntu server and installed NextCloud in the form of SNAP package. In less than an hour, I had my personal cloud up and running-no third party server, no data collection, no membership.
But the real magic once happened once I started finding out what NextCloud can really do.
Here is described how I changed almost every Google service with NextCloud and did not look back.
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Google Drive Replacement: Next Cloud Files
NextCloud’s file system acts like Google Drive, which has desktops and mobile apps for automatic sinks. You can create public or private share links, control permissions, and even recover older versions of files. Coding? It is made.
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Google Photo Replacement: Next Cloud Photo + Facial Identification
It was big for me. I have thousands of photos and videos, and I didn’t want them to get stuck on someone else’s server forever.
NextCloud’s photo app is surprisingly solid. It includes thanks to community plugins such as timeline views, albums, tagging, and “identity” or “memories”, even facial identification. This is right, you can auto-tag without sending your pictures to Google’s AI in your own private photo library. It is not quite polish, but it is private, and it works.
And yes, you can auto-upload photos from your phone using Next Cloud App like Google Photos.
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Google Calendar Replacement: Next Cloud Calendar
The built -in calendar app beautifully integrates. It supports webdav, so you can sink it with thunderbird, android (using davx⁵), or your favorite Linux Calendar App. You can share the calendar, set the reminder, and even create public reed-only views. It only works.
Google Docs/Sheet Replacement: Office only
Yes, you can edit the correct documents, spreadsheets and presentations in NextCloud. I only opted for integration. (Using Colabora online is another available option.) I can share, support and work in my browser or with documents with only one desktop app. I can do everything that I used to do with Google’s office app.
It is not quite clever as Google Docs, but it is more than usable and you are not handing over your content to an advertising company.
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Keep Google Replacement: NextCloud notes
If you like taking quick notes or organizing ideas, the notes app is perfect. It supports Markdown, Tagging and Sink in devices. This is a perfect tool to help you keep an eye on the small things you otherwise forget.
For power users, you can also integrate joplin, which gives you a full-feature notes with an encryption and web clipper support. I do not need it (yet), but it is good to know that if I change my mind then it is there.
Google Gmail Replacement: NextCloud Mail + Your Own Domain
If you are running your own email server or using privacy-centered provider like Mailbox.org or Protonmail Bridge, the mail app lets you manage correctly inside the NextCloud. It is a basic webmail client, but is clean and functional.
I am still using a third-party provider for emails, but everything is organized and available in one place due to its access to its access through NextCloud.
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Synchronizing contacts is as simple as enabling the contact app and connecting it to your phone or desktop using Davx⁵. You get a group, tagging, search and clean management of all your contacts without any advertisement, no strange suggestions, and no secret duplicate.
Other benefits of NextCloud
Apart from changing Google in your life, NextCloud also gives you other benefits like:
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Total control over your data backup and storage locations
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Ad-on apps for tasks, bookmarks, chats, RSS, and more load
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Federation support, so you can connect with other NextCloud users
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A modern web ui that does not feel old or climk
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You will learn more about server, hosting and data security
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No concern about account theft, suspension, or other lockout
And negative side?
Okay, it is not all sunlight and rose. The Do-It-Eorcell approach has some cavets-but surprisingly low.
Establishing NextCloud shows a little to know how. If you have installed Linux, you probably will recover. However, you will ever need to be comfortable with troubleshooting, updates updates and perhaps configured configures files.
There is also an issue of hosting. You will need either a home server, a VPS, or a reliable hosting provider. I set everything on an old PC that I was not using anymore. It works fine for my needs, but your mileage may be different.
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Finally, each app is not polished as Google. Sometimes you will remember that clever or spontaneous integration. But if you give importance to privacy and control more than a smooth UI, then it is a small business off.
If you have already jumped for Linux, there is a possibility that you own freedom, transparency and your technology. NextCloud is the next step, and you can start the following NextCloud Instruction Instructions,
This helped me to leave the garden of Google’s walls behind, the feature I was using. I still get synseed photos, shared documents, calendar alert and cloud backup – but now, it’s my data, on my cloud, on my terms.
And once you taste that kind of control, it is difficult to go back.
