Not a privacy purist, but here's why I switched from Google to Proton

Let's be clear: I haven't gone off‑grid, I'm not a privacy purist. I'm not planning to live internet-free or phone-free.

All this while I still use a mix of mainstream tech tools because they are practical for my work and life.

But for the past few years, I've been moving my core workflows from Google to Proton. I want to share my own journey on why I've done that.

After owning a Hotmail email address (ahh the nostalgia!) and then Gmail, I eventually got my own ProtonMail email address back in 2015. This then transitioned to becoming a paid customer two years later for my personal life because I wanted the Proton Drive.

And as I started to become more involved in being a freelancer and running a business, I gradually incorporated my own company within the Proton ecosystem and paid for that plan.

You could say I am an example of someone who has gone down the sales funnel from being a free user to a long-term paid user (I must have helped with their Customer Acquisition Cost and the Lifetime Value).

What started off as owning a free and basic ProtonMail account has gradually branched out to using their cloud storage, VPN, password manager, MFA authenticator, calendar, Wallet (for managing cryptocurrency), and Lumo, their privacy-focused AI chat agent.

And judging by their roadmaps, there are more products to come. And I'm here for it.

Why did I move originally?

During the early stages of my career, my day-to-day job was solely focused on SEO. That naturally means being completely dependent on Google.

I remember those days when it was important to learn about Google's algorithm, understand customers' search behaviour and intent, dig through Google Analytics and Keywords Tool to learn more about what my customers are doing, and learn how to use Tag Manager to implement more features.

It's endless but revolves around Google because of their dominance in the search engine industry.

I was an average Google search user, but since the beginning of my career, that has quickly turned into knowing things that the everyday user does not know. That comes with exciting power but also some deep concerns.

I've spent years living comfortably in Google's ecosystem because of how it functions smoothly and integrates deeply across devices. But along the way, a few things didn't sit well with me.

I remembered how they obsess over changing the UX of the result page to manipulate how users interact with the search engine result page. Most notably changing the design of the paid ads to blend them in with the organic listings and deceive the users so they all look the same.

It became a point where it's easy to mistake the paid search result as organic search. And to this day, it's still an obsession and misleading at the same time:

That didn't sit right with me, misleading people to click on their ads when they wanted to click on organic results, all to please their shareholders while increasing the cost for business owners.

I also remember removing the UTM parameter at the end of any URLs or links that I copy and paste into the browser. Is that unusual? I don't know, but I wanted to minimise data about me.

I had also used private family photos and sensitive documents like insurance, ID, and finance in Google Drive. It's not something I want a company that may go through your documents and is at risks from scams and security issues to be exposed to.

Over time, I learned my own search behaviour was tracked by my clicks, which lead to me using DuckDuckGo as my default search engine and homepage.

But being in SEO meant you can't avoid Google.

That said, I didn't wake up one day and "quit Google." It was because of a series of small tipping points, blurred lines between personalisation and surveillance, and product decisions that prioritise ads over user experience, which nudged me to reassess my defaults.

The primary reasons behind my switch to Proton

1. Supporting the broader internet

I want to pay for services that sustain an open, independent ecosystem. When ads and data fund a product, the user experience follows the incentives: more nudges, more profiling, more growth tactics that serve the advertisers and the shareholders rather than the users.

Proton's model is straightforward: I pay for the product, and they build for me. Supporting companies whose incentives align with user respect is a small but significant way to back the wider internet and fight for what I believe in.

2. Mindful privacy in a world driven by data

I'm not naive about data collection. It's everywhere and I played a part in that, as a user and as a marketer. But I can choose defaults that minimise exposure without disconnecting completely.

Proton's end-to-end encryption, transparent settings, and minimal data collection address my concerns about my data's destination.

3. Google's directions are unclear

Google has incredible products and talent, but many of the recent UX decisions feel ads-first focused and not user-focused, mixed with dark patterns that creep in via upsells.

Useful products are no longer in use or restructured to serve a broader ad or ecosystem strategy.

The line between "helpful personalisation" and profiling keeps blurring, and the experience increasingly asks me to trade my attention and data for convenience.

I didn't want that situation to govern my core workflows.

And don't get me started on trying to contact someone about inaccurate information.

4. Personal touch and support

I remember a job with a major retailer where there was incorrect information in their individual Google Maps/My Business store data. Despite changing it and providing evidence online, it never changed, causing difficulties for the staff.

It was impossible to get a hold of someone at Google to look into it, but I managed to find a way and tried to explain the issue. It wasn't easy and it took months to resolve.

Whereas for Proton, they didn't try to hide their contact details. Whenever I had an issue I felt listened to, and they acted on it faster. Proton's communication, security updates, transparent roadmaps, and human support felt more respectful and responsive.

When I needed help, they've treated me like a customer whose time matters, not a free user who needed to go in the dark web to find answers to the problem.

5. Cleaner UX across products

Proton's product suite (Mail, Calendar, Drive, Pass, Docs, Lumo, to name but a few) has a coherence that reduces friction. Fewer distractions, clearer settings, less cross‑product upsell, seamless account management. It is straightforward and simple.

I remember the days of trying to delete a Google+ account but not my YouTube account; they forced users to have both at the same time until they changed their minds because of backlash.

6. Google felt threatened by Proton?

Back in 2016, Google was hiding Proton Mail from search results for queries such as 'secure email' and 'encrypted email' for almost a year. At the time, it was named ProtonMail, and they have claimed that

"Google nearly killed its product and seriously dented its profitability by disappearing "ProtonMail" from relevant search results." - Andy Yen, Founder & CEO of Proton

Can you imagine a company threatening you so much that they decide to ignore your existence and don't want others to find you?

What I gained (and what I gave up)

What I gained:

• A calmer, more intentional UX with less noise and more clarity.
• Confidence that the business model aligns with my interests.
• Better control over what is collected, stored, and shared.
• Coherent privacy-by-design defaults across core tools.
• An ongoing desire to contribute to a better internet as a whole.

What I gave up:

• Some deep integrations and convenience come with being part of the wider Google ecosystem.
• Missing out on easy automations from 3rd-party tools like Zapier.
• The convenience and familiarity of using Google products.
• The network effect of using widely available tools that works everywhere.
• The advanced features that other more established products have. For example, Claude has more features that I like, such as deeper personalisation features that Lumo doesn't have.
• My money…but it's worth it.

Who this is (and isn't) for

This move is for individuals who:

• Want a calmer, less manipulative software experience.
• Want to challenge their defaults.
• Are comfortable trading some convenience for better alignment with their values.
• Manage professional workflows where trust, clarity, and focus matter.
• Concerns about privacy and the usage of data.

It is not for people who:

• Rely heavily on deep Google integrations (Docs ↔ Drive ↔ Meet ↔ third‑party automations) and avoid friction.
• Need tight collaboration with teams embedded in Google Workspace.
• Prefer a single vendor for everything, which Google is very good at.
• Prefers to have the convenience and the ability to integrate Google with almost any 3rd party products.

Addressing common objections

"Google is too integrated to leave."

You don't have to leave entirely. Start with one surface, email or passwords, and keep a backup Google account for collaboration. I started off with ProtonMail and gradually branched out to other products over time while still keeping things as backups.

"Isn't Proton overkill for everyday users?"

If you value calmer UX and clearer consent, Proton's model may feel surprisingly conventional once you try it and it becomes part of your day-to-day.

It's like saying Google's search result = better search result, but it's only because the familiarity it breeds as a long-term user gives that illusion. I rarely struggled when using DuckDuckGo as my primary search engine.

"Will I lose features?"

Yes, some. But many of the "features" you lose may actually be prompts and nudges that you won't miss. You may not even use them at all, as they are optional. The trade-off is simpler, more intentional tools.

"Google is superior"

Google excels in some areas, while Proton excels in others. It depends on your priorities. If you are focused on making that statement without concrete evidence of what else is available, you'll be surprised by what you could miss out on.

Closing: progress over perfection

I'm not a privacy expert or perfectly privacy-first. I use Fathom Analytics to protect my audience's data, but I still use a mix of tools where they make sense.

For example, besides Lumo, I still experiment with Claude or platforms with AI features, like HubSpot and ClickUp. And I still have a Gmail account as a backup and to access my YouTube account.

The only way to be fully private is to avoid the internet completely and delete everything. In my line of work, that's impossible. But I would argue in our day-to-day lives, it's almost impossible.

But I'm OK with that. It's about making progress.

There's a saying in the tech world: if a product is free, you are the product.

Going to Proton is not a grand exit from Big Tech. This move was about taking control and managing my data better.

And it's not about being anti-Google either. After all:

I still use YouTube for entertainment or to manage my channel.

I have various social media accounts, though I'm not active on them.

I've stopped using Apple iCloud as my iPhone's default photo backups. They go straight to Proton Drive, which is ideal as I've got hundreds of pictures of my little girl that I wanted stored somewhere more securely and encrypted.

I am comfortable with choosing strategy or convenience. Choosing Proton signals the kind of internet I want to build and use, the kind of work I want to do, and the kind of experiences I want for my team and clients.

Progress over perfection, always.