The digital world has long been shaped by US Big Tech: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Apple. Their tools power search, email, cloud hosting, collaboration, AI and more. But along with performance and scale come growing concerns about privacy, data sovereignty, exposure to surveillance laws (e.g., the U.S. CLOUD Act), political influence, and opaque AI training practices.
Europe now offers a compelling alternative: an ecosystem built on GDPR compliance, European data centres, transparency, sustainability, and user control — combining foundational cloud infrastructure with responsible generative AI.
Here’s a clear, practical overview of alternatives to US Big Tech — including an expanded focus on European AI.
Why move away from US Big Tech?
US tech giants often store data on servers under U.S. jurisdiction and may process user content for model training. In contrast, European solutions aim to:
✔ Keep data physically in the EU
✔ Comply with GDPR and the EU AI Act
✔ Reduce surveillance exposure
✔ Offer transparent or open-source technology
✔ Prioritise privacy, ethics and sustainability
Yes, Big Tech still often wins in performance. But the trust gap is widening, and for many organisations and governments that matters more than marginal performance gains.
European alternatives by category
Cloud & Infrastructure
Alternative to: AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure
- OVHcloud – https://www.ovhcloud.com
Europe’s largest cloud provider with data centres across the EU, offering sovereign hosting solutions. - Scaleway – https://www.scaleway.com
French cloud platform with competitive pricing and strong GDPR compliance. - Hetzner – https://www.hetzner.com
German hosting provider known for cost-effective infrastructure and EU data residency. - UpCloud – https://upcloud.com
Finnish cloud provider emphasizing performance and European data sovereignty.
Search Engines
Alternative to: Google Search
- Qwant – https://www.qwant.com
French search engine that doesn’t track users or create filter bubbles. - Ecosia – https://www.ecosia.org
German search engine that uses profits to plant trees and prioritizes privacy.
Email Services
Alternative to: Gmail, Outlook
- Proton Mail – https://proton.me/mail
Swiss end-to-end encrypted email with zero-access encryption and GDPR compliance. - Tutanota – https://tutanota.com
German secure email service with automatic encryption and open-source code.
Social & Messaging
Alternative to: Facebook, WhatsApp, X
- Mastodon – https://joinmastodon.org
Decentralized open-source social network with user-controlled instances across Europe. - Element – https://element.io
Secure messaging built on the Matrix protocol, offering end-to-end encryption and federation.
Browsers alternative to: Chrome, Edge
- Brave – https://brave.com
Privacy-focused browser blocking trackers by default with European data handling options. - Vivaldi – https://vivaldi.com
Norwegian browser emphasizing customization and user privacy without tracking.
Payments & Banking
Alternative to: PayPal, Stripe
- Adyen – https://www.adyen.com
Dutch payment platform offering unified commerce solutions with EU compliance. - Klarna – https://www.klarna.com
Swedish fintech providing flexible payment options with strong consumer protection. - Revolut – https://www.revolut.com
UK-based digital banking with multi-currency support and EU operations.
Office & Collaboration
Alternative to: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
- Nextcloud – https://nextcloud.com
German-developed self-hosted collaboration platform with full data control. - OnlyOffice – https://www.onlyoffice.com
Open-source office suite compatible with Microsoft formats, offering European hosting.
Analytics & Marketing
Alternative to: Google Analytics
- Matomo – https://matomo.org
Open-source analytics platform with full data ownership and GDPR compliance by design. - Piwik PRO – https://piwik.pro
Polish analytics solution designed specifically for regulated industries and privacy compliance.
VPN & Cybersecurity
Alternative to: ExpressVPN, Norton
- Mullvad VPN – https://mullvad.net
Swedish VPN with anonymous accounts, no logging policy, and cryptocurrency payment options. - NordVPN – https://nordvpn.com
Panama-based VPN with extensive European server network and strict no-logs policy.
European AI Alternatives
Core Generative AI
Alternative to: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude
- Mistral AI – https://mistral.ai
French AI company offering open-weight models with privacy-friendly deployment options and EU data residency. - Aleph Alpha – https://aleph-alpha.com
German sovereign AI designed for EU compliance, explainability, and sensitive government applications.
Privacy-First AI Assistants
Alternative to: ChatGPT, Gemini
- Proton Lumo – https://proton.me/lumo
Swiss privacy-focused AI assistant with no training on user data and EU server locations. - GreenPT AI – https://greenpt.ai
Sustainable AI running on Europe-based servers with commitment to no user data reuse. - LibreChat – https://librechat.ai
Open-source unified interface for multiple LLMs with self-hosting or compliant provider options.
Local & Custom AI Hosting
Alternative to: Cloud-based AI services
- Ollama – https://ollama.com
Run European LLMs locally on your infrastructure for complete data control and privacy. - Hugging Face – https://huggingface.co
Open-source AI model ecosystem with EU deployment options and transparent model development.
Language-Specific & Regional Models
Alternative to: English-dominant AI models
- GPT‑NL – https://www.gpt-nl.nl
Dutch sovereign language model designed specifically for Netherlands government and enterprise use (launching 2026).
AI Research & Foundation Models
Alternative to: Proprietary US foundation models
- OpenEuroLLM – https://openeurollm.eu
Pan-European collaborative initiative developing open foundational models with transparent governance.
Putting it all together
Today, European tech alternatives are no longer niche experiments — they are production-ready, enterprise-capable and compliant with EU privacy standards. Whether you care most about:
Privacy & Data Control — Europe wins
Regulatory Compliance — GDPR & EU AI Act native
Digital Sovereignty — strategic independence
Ethics & Transparency — built-in principles
…Europe’s ecosystem now offers credible choices without blind dependence on Big Tech.
Final thought
The tools exist.
The ecosystem is maturing.
The question is no longer whether Europe can compete, but whether you are ready to take control of your digital future.
Explore even more at:
🔗 https://european-alternatives.eu/alternatives-to
