Uninterested in Google’s grip in your knowledge? After switching to Linux, I discovered the proper self-hosted app to exchange Google Drive, Pictures, Calendar, Docs, and extra, all on my phrases. This is how I took again management of my privateness and my knowledge.
After I first made the bounce to Linux, I felt like I’d taken an enormous step towards digital independence. No extra compelled updates, no extra invasive telemetry, no extra bloated techniques doing who-knows-what within the background. However even after switching working techniques, I used to be nonetheless deeply tied to one thing I wasn’t comfy with: Google.
My emails, calendar, images, paperwork, and even to-do lists had been all locked into Google’s ecosystem. Certain, I used to be working Linux now, however Google nonetheless had a stranglehold on all of my knowledge, private and non-private.
Why I Wished to Ditch Google
The services and products should not the issue. There is not any doubt that Google makes wonderful merchandise. They’re easy, handy, and so they all speak to one another like magic. However that comfort comes at a value—your knowledge. All the things you do is tracked, saved, analyzed, and sometimes used to construct a profile for promoting.
Plus, there’s the problem of management. If Google decides to close down a service (keep in mind Google Reader? Google Plus?), you’re out of luck. And let’s not overlook account suspensions or knowledge entry points. They’re uncommon, however devastating after they occur.
I needed to personal my knowledge. I needed a cloud that was really beneath my management. That’s once I came across Nextcloud.
Your Personal Private Cloud on Your Phrases
In easy phrases, Nextcloud is a self-hosted, open-source various to Google’s suite of companies. It offers you file syncing, doc modifying, photograph administration, calendars, notes, and an entire lot extra, all 100% beneath your management.
I set it up on a modest dwelling server working Ubuntu Server and put in Nextcloud as a Snap package. In lower than an hour, I had my very own private cloud up and working—no third-party servers, no knowledge assortment, no subscriptions.
However the true magic occurred as soon as I began exploring what Nextcloud might really do.
Right here’s how I changed practically each Google service with Nextcloud and didn’t look again.
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Google Drive Substitute: Nextcloud Recordsdata
Nextcloud’s file system works similar to Google Drive, with desktop and cell apps for computerized sync. You possibly can create public or non-public share hyperlinks, management permissions, and even recuperate older variations of recordsdata. Encryption? It’s inbuilt.
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Google Pictures Substitute: Nextcloud Pictures + Facial Recognition
This was the massive one for me. I’ve hundreds of images and movies, and I didn’t need them caught on another person’s server ceaselessly.
Nextcloud’s Pictures app is surprisingly strong. It has timeline views, albums, tagging, and because of neighborhood plugins like “Acknowledge” or “Recollections”, even facial recognition. That’s proper, you may auto-tag faces in your individual non-public photograph library with out ever sending your photos to Google’s AI. It’s not fairly as polished, but it surely’s non-public, and it really works.
And sure, you may auto-upload images out of your telephone utilizing the Nextcloud app similar to Google Pictures.
Google Calendar Substitute: Nextcloud Calendar
The built-in calendar app integrates superbly. It helps WebDAV, so you may sync it with Thunderbird, Android (utilizing DAVx⁵), or your favourite Linux calendar app. You possibly can share calendars, set reminders, and even create public read-only views. It simply works.
Google Docs/Sheets Substitute: ONLYOFFICE
Sure, you may edit paperwork, spreadsheets, and displays proper in Nextcloud. I opted for ONLYOFFICE integration. (Utilizing Collabora On-line is one other accessible choice.) I can share, collaborate, and work with paperwork in my browser or with the ONLYOFFICE desktop apps. I can do every little thing I used to do with Google’s workplace apps.
It’s not fairly as slick as Google Docs, but it surely’s greater than usable and also you’re not handing over your content material to an advert firm.
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Google Preserve Substitute: Nextcloud Notes
When you like taking fast notes or organizing ideas, the Notes app is ideal. It helps markdown, tagging, and syncs throughout gadgets. It is the proper software that can assist you hold monitor of the little belongings you’d overlook in any other case.
For energy customers, you may as well combine Joplin, which provides you a full-featured note-taking app with encryption and net clipper assist. I do not want it (but), but it surely’s good to know it is there if I modify my thoughts.
Google Gmail Substitute: Nextcloud Mail + Your Personal Area
When you’re working your individual electronic mail server or utilizing a privacy-focused supplier like Mailbox.org or ProtonMail Bridge, the Mail app allows you to handle it proper inside Nextcloud. It’s a fundamental webmail shopper, however clear and practical.
I’m nonetheless utilizing a third-party supplier for electronic mail, however accessing it by means of Nextcloud retains every little thing organized and accessible in the identical place.
Syncing contacts is so simple as enabling the Contacts app and connecting it to your telephone or desktop utilizing DAVx⁵. You get grouping, tagging, search, and clear administration of all of your contacts with no advertisements, no bizarre ideas, and no thriller duplicates.
Different Advantages of Nextcloud
Except for simply changing Google in your life, Nextcloud additionally offers you different advantages reminiscent of:
- Whole management over backups and storage areas of your knowledge
- Add-on apps for duties, bookmarks, chat, RSS, and masses extra
- Federation assist, so you may join with different Nextcloud customers
- A contemporary net UI that doesn’t really feel outdated or clunky
- You may study extra about servers, internet hosting, and knowledge safety
- No worries about account theft, suspension, or different lockouts
And the Draw back?
Okay, so it’s not all sunshine and roses. The do-it-yourself strategy does have some caveats—however surprisingly few.
Establishing Nextcloud takes a little bit of tech know-how. When you’ve put in Linux, you’ll most likely be advantageous. You’ll, nevertheless, must be comfy with occasional troubleshooting, software program updates, and possibly tweaking config recordsdata.
There’s additionally the problem of internet hosting. You’ll both want a house server, a VPS, or a trusted internet hosting supplier. I set every little thing up on an previous PC I wasn’t utilizing anymore. It really works advantageous for my wants, however your mileage could differ.
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Lastly, not each app is as polished as Google’s. Generally you’ll miss that slickness or seamless integration. However for those who worth privateness and management greater than a smooth UI, it’s a small trade-off.
When you’ve already made the leap to Linux, chances are high you care about freedom, transparency, and proudly owning your tech. Nextcloud is the pure subsequent step, and you will get began by following Nextcloud’s installation instructions.
It helped me leave behind the walled garden of Google with out giving up the comfort I’d grown used to. I nonetheless get synced images, shared paperwork, calendar alerts, and cloud backups—however now, it’s my knowledge, on my cloud, on my phrases.
And when you’ve tasted that form of management, it’s exhausting to return.
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