32-Bit Cafe

If you're building your own site and care about privacy for yourself and your visitors, then you might want to cut out Google services. They're everywhere: fonts, analytics, maps, ads, YouTube embeds, and even form protection like reCAPTCHA. Most of it seems harmless, but in the background, they quietly send user data back to Google.

I recently cleaned up my own site and removed everything Google-related. Here's how you can do it too.

1. Replace Google Fonts

Google Fonts is super popular because it's free and easy to use: just drop in a line of code and you're good. But that code sends every visitor to Google's servers. A better option is to host the fonts yourself.

Use a site called Google Webfonts Helper. It lets you pick any Google Font, download the files, and gives you the CSS to load them locally. No third-party requests, just faster and more private.

Use a CDN replacement like fonts.upset.dev or Bunny Fonts and drop in their CDN URL instead of Google's into your embed code.

2. Stop Using Google Analytics

Google Analytics is powerful, but it's also one of the biggest trackers out there. Here are some privacy-friendly alternatives:

• Plausible (Paid only)
• Fathom
• Matomo

💡 More might be listed on the 32-Bit Cafe's Resource List.

They don't follow users across the internet and are more transparent about what they collect. Some are paid, but most offer a self-hosted version if you're up for the setup.

And honestly? You might not even need analytics. If you're not running a big business, you probably don't need to track everything.

3. Switch From Google Maps

If your site has a map (for a physical location, for example), Google Maps is the default choice but again, it tracks users.

Use OpenStreetMap instead. With a little setup using a JavaScript library like Leaflet, you can add interactive maps without sending data to Google. If you're using React, there's React-Leaflet too. You'll need a provider like Mapbox or MapTiler for tiles, and both have free tiers.

4. Rethink Google Ads

Google AdSense might be the easiest way to make money from a site, but it clutters your layout and tracks visitors. Most people run ad blockers now anyway.

Here are better ways to earn:

• Set up a Patreon for donations
• Sell your own ebooks or courses
• Use affiliate links
• Or get direct sponsorships if you have a niche audience

No trackers. No annoying popups. Just clean, honest monetization.

5. Handle Videos Differently

YouTube is everywhere, and embedding videos from there means your page sends tracking data even if the video isn't played.

A few options:

• Link to the video instead of embedding it
• Use Invidious if you want embedded video with less tracking

6. Drop reCAPTCHA

Google's reCAPTCHA is popular for stopping spam, but again, it's tracking users.

A solid alternative is hCaptcha. Looks and works almost the same — you still click on pictures of buses, but it's more private and also has a free tier. It's a simple swap.

You could self-host Altcha, an open-source captcha alternative. Or if you are using WordPress, there is Simple Cloudflare Turnstile that can be installed via plugin.

Final Thoughts

Removing Google from your site isn't about being paranoid. It's about respecting privacy and having more control. Plus, it usually makes your site faster since you're not loading stuff from outside servers.

If you want to check what your site is loading, tools like Webbkoll can scan it for third-party requests.

Take it step by step. Start with fonts and analytics. The rest you can tweak over time. The goal isn't perfection, just better.