I no longer use Gmail or WhatsApp, and instead rely on open source alternatives for my Android and Windows devices. While it can be challenging to move away from major services like Google and Microsoft, I have found that several open source applications can replace them effectively. These alternatives offer greater privacy, control, and transparency. When setting up a new smartphone or tablet, I install a selection of open source apps that I find essential. It's important to note that there are multiple options available for each category, and I'm not promoting any one service over another. Other applications can also be useful for different needs, such as mapping, file management, keyboards, video, and calendars. Many of these apps can be downloaded from the Play Store or from F-Droid, an alternative app store that recently released version 2.0 to better suggest and manage open source applications. I always install F-Droid on a new Android device. For email, I use Mozilla Thunderbird, an open source email client that is now as recommendable on Android as it is on desktop. It is lightweight, free, and allows users to manage multiple email accounts with customizable settings. While Outlook and Gmail have become increasingly filled with advertising and AI features, Thunderbird offers a cleaner and more straightforward experience. However, there is a concern that Mozilla might integrate more artificial intelligence into Thunderbird, similar to how it has done with its Firefox browser. For messaging, I have moved away from Messenger and WhatsApp to Signal, an open source app that offers strong privacy features. However, it requires that your contacts also use Signal for the best experience. Signal is currently one of the best solutions for instant messaging, especially given that Meta (the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp) collects a significant amount of user data. I also use the Proton Suite, which includes Proton Pass (a password manager), Proton Authenticator (for two-factor authentication), and Proton Drive (for cloud storage and online office tools). These are open source and end-to-end encrypted, offering strong privacy. While I don't use Proton Mail or Proton Calendar personally, I recommend trying them for their features and security. For web browsing, I use DuckDuckGo as my default browser, which respects user privacy more than Chrome or Google. I previously used Vivaldi, a browser developed on the open source Chromium engine, but I have since switched to Ecosia for its environmental focus. Ecosia is not fully open source, but it is more open and respectful of user data and the planet than Google. I also use Saracroche, an open source French app that effectively blocks unwanted calls by using community-reported numbers. For managing multimedia files, I use Jellyfin, a free and open source alternative to Plex, which is more comprehensive and focused on the essentials. Lastly, for connecting my smartphone with my Windows 11 device, I use Sefirah, an open source app that allows file transfers, media control, and screen mirroring, among other features. For users of macOS and Linux, KDE Connect is a similar alternative.