It’s been a few months since I started seriously thinking about stepping away from big tech. I had been relying on the same familiar services and platforms for years, but something didn’t feel quite right. It wasn’t a sudden decision. It happened gradually as I realized I wanted more control over my digital life and the tools I use every day.
This post is a reflection on that journey, how I’ve started moving toward a more decentralized setup, and why the shift has been worth the effort.
Why I Decided to Make a Change
Several things pushed me to reconsider how I manage my digital life. I started noticing that I was putting too much trust into a small number of companies. If something changed, like pricing, terms of service, or even account access, I had very little influence.
Global events, such as tariffs and trade tensions, also made me realize how fragile this dependence could be. Relying too heavily on international services suddenly felt like a potential liability.
Privacy and security became more important to me as well. I wanted to use tools that gave me more transparency and control over my own data. On top of that, I noticed how subscription costs were piling up, even for services I could potentially run myself using open-source software.
Just to be clear, this isn’t about hating big tech or trying to avoid it completely. I still use some of their tools. The difference now is that I am no longer fully dependent on them. They are just part of what I use, not the foundation of everything I do.
What I Was Using Before
Like most people in tech, I leaned on the big names. AWS and DigitalOcean handled infrastructure and hosting. I used Microsoft and Google for cloud storage and productivity, including Photos.
For personal dan professional communication, I used WhatsApp and Slack. For security, I used Authy for two-factor authentication and LastPass to manage passwords.
These tools worked well for me for a long time. But over time, I started to feel like I was giving up control in exchange for convenience.
What Motivated Me to Switch
The biggest reason was the desire for more control. I wanted to make my own choices about how things were set up, where my data was stored, and who had access to it.
I also wanted to improve privacy and security. Not because I was trying to hide anything, but because I wanted tools that I could understand and trust. Financially, it made sense too. Many of the alternatives I looked into were either free or much cheaper than the services I had been paying for.
What I Use Now
I approached this process gradually. I replaced services one at a time.
For infrastructure, I shared the load to a local cloud provider. It has delivered good performance and predictable pricing. I also appreciate the fact that I’m supporting a regional business.
In addition to using Github and Bitbucket, I also now self-host my code using Gitea. It’s lightweight, easy to maintain, and gives me full SSH access. I no longer need to rely on external platforms for repositories.
For personal and professional communication, I add more options to communicate through Telegram and Signal (for WhatsApp alternatives), and Discord (to replace Slack).
I gradually replaced Authy with Ente Auth. It uses end-to-end encryption and is open source. One of the reasons I move to Ente Auth is that because Authy no longer support Desktop app and Ente Auth is by far the best of all by providing apps to all platforms. For password management, I was one of the LastPass fans I paid their services for years. Now, I switched to Bitwarden. It’s secure, user-friendly, and I have the option to self-host it later if I choose to.
What I’ve Gained
The biggest benefit has been control. I know exactly where my data is, how my services are configured, and how to fix things when something goes wrong.
My setup now gives me better privacy and security. I don’t share as much personal data with third parties, and I trust the tools I’m using.
Cost has also improved. Many of the services I now use are free or much more affordable than their big-name counterparts.
Challenges I Faced
This process hasn’t been without its difficulties. You need to get your hands dirty. You have to be comfortable troubleshooting, reading documentation, and making things work on your own.
Migrating data can be time-consuming. Some services make it easy to switch, while others require more effort. Still, once everything is up and running, maintenance has been simpler than I expected.
There is a learning curve, but it comes with the benefit of understanding how things work behind the scenes.
Advice If You’re Considering the Switch
Start with one service. Don’t try to do everything at once. Find one alternative, set it up, and learn how it works.
Make time for this kind of project. You’ll need patience and a willingness to tinker. But if you enjoy learning and building, this can be a really rewarding experience.
Try to have fun with it. The process of decentralizing doesn’t need to be a chore. It can be a creative and empowering part of your digital life.
What’s Next?
I’m excited to continue exploring new tools and technologies that align with my goals of decentralization and autonomy. I plan to dive deeper into self-hosting more services and experimenting with any solutions available for data storage and identity management. Additionally, I want to contribute to open-source projects that support these values and share my experiences with others who are on a similar journey.
Final Thoughts
This journey has been about creating balance. I still use some big tech services, but I no longer depend on them for everything. Now I have a setup that gives me more freedom and clarity about how things work.
This isn’t about rejecting popular tools just for the sake of it. It’s about building a system that reflects my needs and gives me more ownership.
And honestly, I’ve enjoyed the process. It has become more than just a technical shift. It feels personal and meaningful.