Hi!
Instead using the PlayStore, keep an eye to the F-Droid repository. All the apps you’ll find are Open Source and free.
Here is my favorite “Big G” replacement list (in alphabetical order):
· Android’s basic file Manager from Google — instead the Android’s basic file explorer, give an opportunity to Amaze. You can move/cut/copy files/folders, dual panel view, Root access and more advanced options.
· Gmail — K-9 Mail, a thin but powerful Gmail/Email app replacement.
· Google Calendar — Etar is a minimalist Material design for Google Calendar replacement.
· Google Chrome — Tor Browser is based on Mozilla Firefox with some security improvements, and can replace Google Chrome flawlessly.
· Google GBoard —If you’re worried about what you type on your device, then try the FOSS AnySoft Keyboard. Allows swipe, add dictionaries… Layout are available in a dozen of languages (or customize your own) and many more.
· Google Keep — Omni Notes is a good replacement for Google Keep, available for Desktop/mobile devices.
· Google Maps — OSM is one of the best replacement for Google Maps, made and maintained with the assistance of community users. On the other side, Znavi (a fork from Navit) is more specific when you’re in Driving/Car mode. You can combine it with CosiDVR, as security camera…
· Google Search engine — DuckDuckGo can replace Google Search and keep your privacy, since it emphasizes protecting searchers’ privacy and avoiding the filter bubble of personalized search results, and doesn’t store your history. You can use it not only on mobile devices, but desktop browsers too.
· Google Translate — A great FOSS alternative is OpenL, based on DeepL translation service.
· YouTube — NewPipe Player is a YouTube player that respect your privacy (but also allow downloading Video/Audio from YT in case you need it).
Not specific from Google, but useful anyway from F-Droid:
· Open Camera — Free and Open Source camera App for replacing the default ones. It comes with auto-stabilize, several resolutions/Bitrate modes, HDR and Exposure, JPG/PNG/WebP/Raw photo mode, custom EXIF, external microphone, ghost/Overlay photo image (great to create stopmotion projects…), take a photo or video saying (IE) “Cheese”, custom text stamp, etc…
· QKSMS — Instead the default SMS app.
· Simple Contacts — Best contacts manager for your device.
· Simple Gallery — Replacement for default brand Photo gallery with advanced options, such as hide personal folders, copy/move files/folders, and a long etcetera.
· Telegram — Secure App Messaging that replaces Google Talk or (at least for me) the WhatsApp app (I know is not owned by Google, but Facebook/Microsoft…). Another good alternative is Riot.im
· VLC — Best multimedia Player on my Linux/Android devices. Available for other platforms such as Mac, Windows, Raspberry Pi, etc… on their official web.
As you can see, on F-Droid you’ll find DuckDuckGo and OSM you’ve mentioned before, all those I’ve mention… and a gazillion of other FOSS apps!
Other FOSS replacement for Google services available from official sites:
· Mozilla Firefox — Fast and secure browser replacement for Google Chrome.
· Osmand — Alternative for Google Maps, with offline navigation mode, too.
Finally, if you can’t live without the Google PlayStore, then you can use Yalp Store (Yalp it is written backwards as opposite to Play, same as closed source DivX and Open XviD). Yalp is like a bridge between you and the official PlayStore, allowing download apps without using a Gmail account nor sending private data or something like that. You can download Yalp Store from F-droid. I use Yalp Store to download a few FOSS apps that aren’t available on F-Droid: Color Note, RunnerApp and Softcatalà (since my mother tongue is Catalan) or Mitzuli, as replacement of Google Keep, Google Fit and Google Translator respectively. Another downloader à la Yalp is Aurora Store, but I haven’t tried yet since I’m happy with Yalp.
Other Free and/or FOSS Alternatives for Google’s Online services (in alphabetical order):
· Blogger — If you’re looking for Blogger replacement, keep an eye to any of these alternatives: Bootstrap CMS, Jekyll, WordPress, Yellow, ZeroBlog, most of them are Open Source solutions…
Gmail — Worried about privacy data on your emails? Then keep an eye to Disroot, GMX, Proton Mail, RiseUP, Tutanota, WeHost…
Google+ — Disappointed because Google+ is gone? Try any of these FOSS services: Diaspora or Mastodon.
Google Code — Good bye to Google Code? No tears; GitHub and Gitlab are great FOSS alternatives!
Google DNS — 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4 are familiar for you? You can replace the Google’s DNS by Cloud Flare: 1.1.1.1, Open DNS or 9.9.9.9 from Quad 9.
Google Docs — If you want to replace Google Docs, try any of these services: CryptPad, Draftin, Draw, EtherCalc, Pandoc Online. In case you want to check your text/grammar, keep an eye to the Languagetool project with available add-ons for Firefox/LibreOffice, but also a standalone version on same site or via downloadable program…
Google Fonts — You can easily find free fonts on Dafont, FontSquirrel and other sites like that.
Google Forms — Here choose Dudle, eSurv, EuSurv, Forms, Framadate, Rally, Tellform, WadoWedo or [Zoho Surveys].(https://www.zoho.com/survey/) to name a few…
Google Reader — Remember the Google reader? Feedly, RSSOwl or even Thunderbird are great alternatives!
· Google Maps— FramaCarte and Open Street Map are great web services to replace Google Maps.
· Google Photos — I use Hubic from OVH (Sourceforge’s host mirror) to replace Google Photos/Drive. Originally was an Open Source/free service. Nowadays is an Open Source/cheap and reliable cloud storage. You also could use the MEGA cloud service…
· Google Search engine — DuckDuckGo is a search engine that keep your privacy and history search safe. Another good option is WeHost.
· YouTube— If you want to replace YouTube, here you have a couple of options: Dailymotion, PeerTube, Twitch and Vimeo.
On Desktop environment, remember you have LibreOffice and great extension Languagetool, Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird, great alternatives for Google Docs, Chrome browser and Gmail Website.
Not sure if I forgot any other Google service but, if any, please let me know…
Cheers,
Benny.
(Edited: Added links and answer questions some users asking me via PM)