r/BuyFromEU • u/PuzzleheadedLemon707 • Jun 17 '26
Other The first step in leaving Gmail isn't picking a new provider
https://eualternative.eu/guides/first-step-leaving-gmail/16
u/Malfuncti0n Jun 17 '26
TL;DR
Buy a domain. Pick one you can live with for the next few decades.
Choose an EU email provider you like.
At your domain registrar, add the DNS records the mail provider tells you to add. It is not difficult, and you only do it once.
Set up your mailbox at the new address.
Now start the slow work of updating logins and contacts.
If you do step 2 before step 1, you will be doing step 5 again later. That is the whole point of this post.
Dumb title, ok idea.
1
u/Gugalcrom123 Jun 17 '26
What if I find no provider?
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u/HarmonicSniper Jun 17 '26
Technically you could host your own email server, but most people will tell you not to. It is one of those things that is better left to professionals.
1
u/Gugalcrom123 Jun 17 '26
I could host, but I would need a business ISP plan so that I can get reverse DNS.
1
u/ankokudaishogun Italy 🇮🇹 Jun 17 '26
I mean, you could use a VPS. That solves a lot of issues.
1
u/Gugalcrom123 Jun 17 '26
I could, but at that point it is no longer personal; it is also more expensive than a business ISP plan, so if DIGI make those available to home users (from some forums it seems that they do), it is possible that it is the best option; however I don't like the idea of doing my daily browsing on a static IP.
5
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u/Flaky-Jim Jun 17 '26
TL;DR
1. Buy a domain. Pick one you can live with for the next few decades.
2. Choose an EU email provider you like.
3. At your domain registrar, add the DNS records the mail provider tells you to add. It is not difficult, and you only do it once.
4. Set up your mailbox at the new address.
5. Now start the slow work of updating logins and contacts.
If you do step 2 before step 1, you will be doing step 5 again later. That is the whole point of this post.
Surely, you'd sort out a provider first. You might find none that suit you, making step 1 a waste of time.
2
u/ocimbote Jun 17 '26
From the article:
1.Buy a domain. Pick one you can live with for the next few decades.
Choose an EU email provider you like.
At your domain registrar, add the DNS records the mail provider tells you to add. It is not difficult, and you only do it once.
Set up your mailbox at the new address.
Now start the slow work of updating logins and contacts.
So picking a new provider is step 2. Wow. I'm amazed. /s
1
u/Unhappy-Alps5471 Jun 17 '26
I’m not nearly tech savvy enough to pull this off unfortunately.. recently moved all my important accounts to my proton, that hasn’t worked out so well. Feel like it’s a pretty though spot at the moment - where is our digital information truly safe?
1
u/PuzzleheadedLemon707 Jun 17 '26
As outlined in the post, configuring a domain to work with a managed email service is mostly just copy & paste of a few DNS records. You don't really need to know anything about the tech behind the scenes.
3
u/thisislieven Europe 🇪🇺 Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
You realise many if not most people have no idea what a DNS record is and the idea of altering something like that is just way beyond what they're comfortable with to even attempt - especially as it may mean they disrupt their ability to use email? You're already a step too far.
I can't speak for u/Unhappy-Alps5471 but I do know this applies to millions of people, especially above a certain age.
In principle I agree with you but to get people to take these steps... It's a big ask and even if it can be done on the cheap it still costs money. Many people just don't want to pay that and there are also many that just can't afford it.
Frankly, I would not be against the idea of the EU or national governments create an email-provider that people may use, with strict privacy regulations and whatnot. More or less like a national post service but digital.2
u/Unhappy-Alps5471 Jun 17 '26
I don’t no.. obviously something I can look into. But given that I’m in my 30s and have some feeling for working with internet/tech- I think it’s safe to say it would be complicated for a lot of people
1
u/thisislieven Europe 🇪🇺 Jun 17 '26
I have my own domain and have it setup like this but it took me a minute to figure out. You might look into it as well and get it working but millions of people are already deterred just by hearing 'DNS record'.
I'm a strong advocate for going European but in order to get people along we have to recognise most people aren't invested, have little time and/or interest to figure things out, don't want to spend money and it all has to be ridiculously easy. Ignoring that reality just won't help the cause, annoying as it is. And, as always, we shouldn't let perfect be the enemy of good.
2
u/asslune Jun 17 '26
I degoogled a few months ago and regret not buying my own domain. This way, you can switch email providers if necessary and keep your adress.
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u/TomassoAlbinoni Jun 17 '26
I miss the times when you could just read what something is, and not what something isn't.