Why put up with that? Is Kagi too expensive for you?

I'm 100% Google free, and far happier with tech that I ever was.

So you won't be able to use your banking apps, your local transport app, public services apps, health services apps, etc.

But sure, you can do SMS (no RCS though), use the device calculator, and maybe browse the Web… until websites kick you out because your non Chrome/Safari browser isn't supported anymore. Even Signal won't work well due to the lack of FCM.

And I'm a GrapheneOS user happy with Obtainium and without Play Services installed in main user space.

Two tips for beginners:

Google Play Store and Google Play Services can be installed from the App Store. They aren’t included by default because GrapheneOS works fine without them.

If a trusted app has trouble running, try enabling Exploit protection compatibility mode on the app’s Info screen (long-press the app icon → Info → Exploit protection).

Check whether your bank is supported: https://privsec.dev/posts/android/banking-applications-compa.... If it isn’t, it likely depends on the Play Integrity API, which means it requires customers to stay under constant surveillance by the world’s largest advertising company, with no real security justification (see https://grapheneos.org/articles/attestation-compatibility-gu...). In that case, you should switch to a more trustworthy bank.

Life (especially sentient animals), on the other hand…

We like having two apps: WA for friends, Signal for family. There are only few reasons to mix the two.

But we, owners, collectively choose that. We choose the security company, we pay then, we can vote them out. Most importantly: the construction company has zero say in this.

Also, no one actually check the IDs of my friends, and they don't have to pay the construction company when they first come.

I give the codes, they ring, I open. I hire a company to monitor the building but I can kick then out any day.

I own the place, you see?

Unless you built your house yourself, you should expect the construction company to be responsible for verifying the identities of anyone entering your house. Asking for a passport and a one time payment, just in case the person who rings the bell may not be a friend.

That should be proactively helping you in case you're a vulnerable homeowner. Not checking in on every visitor would be evil, no?

I can't think of a better approach.

Source?

Can I keep this freedom?

Tell me you don't bring any mobile device when you ride/drive a car.