The Guide to De-Googling Your Small Business
If you’ve been curious about how to go about de-Googling your business, we’re right there with you.
With good reason—data centers are taking over, AI is being forced down our throats from all fronts, and regulation is NOT in the room with us.
So how do we fight back? We say “no—I’m not using your product anymore.”
We’ve talked previously about boycotting large chains, and letting our dollars talk is a great way to be heard, but what happens when we’re not trying to get a company to change anymore? What happens when we’re so fed up that we’re collectively done?
We methodically pivot. We’ve switched preferred browsers before and we’ll do it again.
But it’s easier said than done when you’ve been using a tool since it was still in the invite stage, “don’t be evil” was Google’s guiding principal, and there was a rolling counter of how much free space you had to use. So how do we get out from under Google’s thumb now? In a way that isn’t 100% overwhelming and adding to the ever-growing pile of arduous frustrations and cost of doing business in 2026.
The Guide to De-Googling Your Small Business: It’s A Journey
This is not a sprint. This is not even a marathon. It’s a quest. And we’re going to chip away at the various steps together to make it less daunting. First things first, we’ll need a new place for emails to land instead of Gmail.
We are recommending Proton for replacing a few different tools and will be using ourselves as an example as we work through the de-google checklist below.
How to De-Google Your Business (Part 1) Checklist:
Get a new email address - Proton
Download your new browser - Vivaldi
Set preferred search tools - DuckDuckGo (Yes, really.)
Import your calendar - Proton
Transfer/sync your files & docs - Proton
For transparency, Blue Honey Rose uses Microsoft 365 ($39.99/month), Zoom ($15.16/month), and Google Workspace (free version with custom email extension). Proton Workspace Standard replaces all of those for just $14.99/month—we’re exploring our options, but making our tech stack a bit shorter and saving some money was a goal for 2026.
Note: We are still recommending that our clients retain their Google Business Profiles (GBP) as there is currently not something that is as effective for local SEO. Apple Business is underutilized and now offers advertising 😒—and there is a similarly frustrating verification process.
Step 1: Setup Your New Email Account - Proton Mail
Since we use email to log into accounts, a replacement email address is a must when deciding first steps. To replace your personal gmail account, create a new account on Proton Mail. It takes just a few minutes to set up a free account for personal use. If you use Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for your business, consider Proton for Business as an option to replace the various tools included. We’re making the switch over the next few weeks, but we are starting with a free personal Proton mail account to lay the groundwork of our future de-Googling efforts.
Status: Successfully Completed at Blue Honey Rose
Difficulty Level: 2/10
Step 2: Download a New Browser - Vivaldi
Easy installation, lots of security features. Download your new browser using the link above and install it by following the prompts and instructions. Note: set up your account using new Proton email and then import details from Chrome. Export your saved passwords from Chrome and import them into Vivaldi seamlessly.
Status: Successfully Completed at Blue Honey Rose
Difficulty Level: 2/10
Step 3: Select Your Default Search Tools - DuckDuckGo
It’s no surprise that after years of Google Search and Google Chrome, users have confused browsers with search engines. But they are two different things! After downloading and installing your new browser, you’ll need to select your default search engine in your browser’s settings. For now, we’ve selected DuckDuckGo, but will be testing other options.
Status: Successfully Completed at Blue Honey Rose
Difficulty Level: 1/10
Step 4: Sync Your Existing Calendar - Proton
We’re still working on the last two steps internally, but as many of our clients still use Google Calendar, we’re unable to detach entirely. As we transition away from Microsoft 365, we’ll be finding a new home for all of our important events in Proton.
Status: In Progress at Blue Honey Rose
Difficulty Level: _/10
Step 5: Sync Your Files & Docs - Proton
Similar to Google Calendar, Google Drive will be among the last tools we are able to step away from as we’ll need to maintain access to shared folders and assets for our upcoming projects. As dedicated Dropbox users, all internal client file management will stay untouched and any links shared with our clients will remain active. Proton will be utilized for all new documents and shared files.
Status: In Progress at Blue Honey Rose
Difficulty Level: _/10
LAST UPDATED: May 26, 2026
