Alternatives

In the recent years, as I feel powerless facing the enshittification in mainstream tech and social media, I've opted for alternatives to many of my previous favorite digital places and tools, namely:

Audible AudioBookShelf (or Plappa on iOs), alternatively Jellyfin (also supported by AudioBookShelf).

Google search engine DuckDuckGo.

Chrome browser Brave.

Google Calendar Fastmail.

Gmail Fastmail.

Google Tasks TickTick.

Google Office Obsidian.

Google Reader InoReader FreshRSS Miniflux.

Google Authenticator Aegis and Vaultwarden.

Google Play Store F-Droid, Aurora Store.

YouTube SkyTube (Android).

Browser* Passwords Manager Vaultwarden.

Trello Google Tasks TickTick.

Spotify

Music: Navidrome, Jellyfin + Android clients: DSub (Navidrome) + Finamp (Jellyfin).

Library expansion: Soulseek (via Seeker then slskd on Cloudron)

Podcasts: AntennaPod, Audiobookshelf.

WordPress After looking for SSGs, I'll likely go raw HTML/CSS.

Wallabag Shaarli and with my own tool, Tapas.

InvoiceNinja Replacing with my own invoicing software.

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video Plex.

Windows Linux, MacOS.

GitHub Gitea.

LinkedIn Account closed, didn't attempt alternatives, yet I've reopened it just to auto reply to messages.

Facebook Account closed. Attempted Mastodon, didn't like it.

Instagram Account closed. Attempted Pixelfed, but it's too buggy.

WhatsApp I use it mostly because everyone is on it, but I use Signal instead ideally.

SensCritique Account closed due to their authoritarian moderators.

Lobste.rs Account closed due to their elitist culture.

Twitter Account closed due to their enshittification. Attempted Mastodon, didn't like it.

OVH Account closed. Hostinger.

Docker Hub Docker Registry self hosted.

Dropbox, iCloud Replacing some of it with Syncthing.

Zerobin Privatebin.

Most Newsletters Kill the Newsletter! + Miniflux, alternatively Changedetection.

Last.FM ListenBrainz / MusicBrainz. Yet I keep my Last.FM account for now.

This is an ongoing list and non exhaustive, plus it's only about my digital life. I have a lot to say about work and housing as well. Opting for alternatives has also expanded my technical knowledge and independence (see also https://sive.rs/ti).

The main lesson: diversify, stay in control of your life, stay curious and choose freedom, privacy and security over convenience.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Last Updated: May 12, 2025 at 12:58 AM CEST in

Gembloux, Belgium .