• Members 1 post
    Sept. 16, 2025, 9:55 a.m.

    Leaving Google is not just about privacy — it’s about regaining control. Google’s “free” services come with hidden costs: tracking, profiling, and lock-in.
    InlineStyle offers a European, GDPR-compliant, open-source powered alternative. You won’t need to run your own servers, and you can join the Fediverse (Mastodon, PeerTube, Pixelfed, Funkwhale) in just a few clicks. This guide shows you how to start your DeGoogle journey with InlineStyle.

    Why leave Google?
    Privacy risks – Google tracks everything: emails, location, searches, YouTube views.
    No real choice – once inside the ecosystem, it’s hard to leave without losing data.
    Compliance issues – for EU users, hosting outside Europe often creates GDPR headaches.
    Ethics – do you want your digital life to fuel targeted ads, or to support open, transparent alternatives?
    InlineStyle is hosted in Europe, GDPR-compliant, and built on open source. It gives you the tools you know (mail, storage, collaboration) but without the surveillance.

    Step 1: Start with your account

    Go to inlinestyle.it/subscribe.html and create your account. This gives you access to a secure, European-hosted environment with:

    • Cloud storage for your personal files
    • Access to Fediverse services (Mastodon, PeerTube, Pixelfed, Funkwhale)
    • A simple dashboard to manage your tools
    • Unlike Google, InlineStyle doesn’t sell your data or show you ads.

    Step 2: Migrate your files

    Google Drive is convenient, but it locks you in. With InlineStyle you can:

    • Upload files to your private cloud
    • Organize folders and share links when needed
    • Sync across devices using standard WebDAV or desktop apps

    👉 Start by downloading your files from Google Drive (via Google Takeout or Drive app) and re-upload them to InlineStyle.

    Step 3: Join the Fediverse

    The Fediverse is a network of independent, interconnected services. Instead of one company controlling everything, each service communicates as part of a bigger whole.

    With InlineStyle you get direct access to:

    • Alternative to X (Twitter)
    • Alternative to Instagram
    • Alternative to YouTube
    • Alternative to Spotify/Apple Music

    You can follow creators, watch videos, listen to music, and interact across platforms — all without giving your data to Big Tech.

    👉 Learn more: The Fediverse explained

    Step 4: Email (optional today, but planned)

    Many users ask: “What about Gmail?”
    InlineStyle is working to simplify email migration. For now, you can:

    • Keep Gmail but stop using it as your main inbox
    • Use privacy-friendly mail clients (Proton, Tutanota, Posteo) alongside InlineStyle
    • Configure these accounts inside your InlineStyle dashboard when integrations are ready

    👉 This hybrid approach reduces your dependence on Google while InlineStyle expands its services.

    Step 5: Rethink your media

    Google Photos and YouTube are data goldmines. InlineStyle helps you shift to:

    • Share photos with friends, ad-free
    • Watch or publish videos, with no algorithmic manipulation
    • Discover and share music collectively

    The best part? They’re all interconnected. You can follow a PeerTube creator directly from your Mastodon account.

    Step 6: Privacy first

    InlineStyle doesn’t profile you. There are no ads, trackers, or hidden monetization schemes. Every service is built on open-source software, hosted in Europe, and designed with GDPR compliance by default.

    This means:

    • Your files stay in Europe
    • No third-party data sharing
    • Transparent updates, no dark patterns

    Step 7: Small steps, not all at once

    DeGoogling is a journey. You don’t need to delete your Google account tomorrow. Start small:

    • Move your files
    • Explore the Fediverse
    • Shift your media consumption
    • Use Google less each week

    The less you rely on Google, the easier it is to cut ties completely later.

    Why InlineStyle?

    • Built & hosted in Europe
    • Open-source powered
    • Simple setup (no sysadmin skills required)
    • Affordable subscription
    • Direct access to the Fediverse

    InlineStyle isn’t just a tool — it’s a path to digital sovereignty.

    Final thoughts

    You don’t need to choose between convenience and privacy. InlineStyle gives you both: the tools to work, store, and connect, but without being mined for ads.
    👉 Start your DeGoogle journey today: Subscribe to InlineStyle

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