Best Google Calendar alternative: end-to-end encrypted Calendar with Tuta.

Google’s wide range of productivity tools have become the default go-to apps for many people. But how is it possible that big tech can offer so many productivity tools for free? The sad truth is that their apps and services aren’t actually free – you pay with your privacy.

As more of Big G’s shortcomings, lack of user privacy, and scandals come to light, people are looking for better apps - more importantly, ones that respect their privacy and data. Finding a privacy-respecting service is even more important when it comes to your calendar.

Your calendar, holds the data of your daily life: all your appointments, meetings, and possibly meeting locations. So it’s understandable that you wouldn’t want Google to have first- class access to your daily routine and meetings.

Luckily, there are better alternatives to Google Calendar, the best for privacy and security being Tuta Calendar.

Keep reading as we go more into detail about some concerning issues with Google Calendar, why you might want to opt for a privacy-focused alternative instead. Finally, we fill you in on the best calendar app that’s totally free: Tuta.

The problem with Google Calendar

Google is mining your data and profiling you

If you keep up to date with Tuta News, you’ll know we’ve done some in-depth coverage on Google, its scandals, and more recently, the best practices to De-Google your life.

But more than that, you’ll be aware of Google’s lack of user privacy and invasive data mining tactics when you use their apps - including the Google Calendar.

Google knows a lot about you, and if you use the Google calendar, then they know even more! From your appointments, events, schedule, and meeting locations – Google collects it all.

Like the other data they collect from the apps you use, your calendar is also used to create a detailed profile of you for advertising purposes.

Google knows and collects it all

You might notice that Google gives very vague information as to what data they collect, exactly why they collect it and how they use it.

We took the image above from a section of Google Calendar Help answers, you’ll see that the highlighted text shows every time they mention different types of information they collect which is a lot. In another section of this Help page, they go on to say, “When you use Google Calendar, we process some data to offer you better experiences in the product.” What data, how long Google keeps it for and what Google does with it remains unknown. This is again highlighted in the image above, they outright tell you they are collecting it, but they give very little to no detail further.

Links to Calendar and Location

When you create an appointment in Google Calendar, you might be one of those organized people who likes to add the exact location. Through this location tracking, Google is able to collect extremely accurate location data. And like they’ve mentioned in their privacy policy, they use your location to suggest nearby places when you edit events.

Google makes it quite clear that they do not use your personal content from your calendar for advertising purposes, but why then, do you sometimes see location-targeted ads?

The privacy policy also states, “We don’t use information in apps where you primarily store personal content—including Google Calendar—for advertising purposes, period.” However, if they suggest a location to you, you would think that this location they’ve chosen to suggest to you is based off some kind of paid-for promoted content.

While it might seem strange that Google can access this location data that you’ve added to your calendar appointment, it’s worth noting that if you have Google Maps and have enabled location history then the tech giant is collecting almost every step you take.

If that’s new information, you might also want to swap out Google Maps too, and luckily there are also many Google Maps alternatives that better respect your privacy and help you navigate your way.

Can you really trust Google?

Free is not free online

Google makes the majority of its revenue from advertising which is no surprise because their products and services are the perfect way for them to mine user data, sell it to third parties, and target us with advertisements – unsurprisingly Facebook is no different. That’s why big-tech like Facebook and Google are free!

Endless scandals and privacy washing

We also know Google is not innocent when it comes to their business practices and are often hit with lawsuits and fines. But a bad look is not good for revenue, so Google had to do something about the constant bad publicity.

Like other big tech companies, they’ve adopted convincing privacy-washing campaigns as part of their marketing strategy. Through using clever wording in their privacy policies and convincing campaigns, these privacy-washing tactics are the perfect way to make the user feel like they are in control of their data. But this is not the whole truth.

A perfect example of this is their Incognito Mode Scandal where Chrome users believed they were not being tracked when they browsed the web in Incognito Mode, but as it turned out Google had been tracking and collecting their data the whole time.

No end-to-end encryption

Beyond knowing that the big tech mines user data, and uses it in ways we still don’t fully know, another reason we can’t trust Google and its products like Gmail and Calendar is because **they do not use end-to-end encryption. ** With Google’s productivity tool, your data is encrypted during transmission and at rest, but not secured with end-to-end encryption. What this means in simple terms is that **Google is able to access all your calendar data ** which begs the question of privacy – your calendar isn’t truly private if Big G has open access to it.

A better calendar alternative: Tuta Calendar

Tuta Calendar is the perfect Google Calendar alternative! With the highest grade privacy and security, available for download on iPhones, iPads, Android and desktop, there’s no reason not to take back your privacy by switching to Tuta. PS: Did we mention it’s free?

If you’re looking for real calendar privacy you need it to be end-to-end encrypted. When your calendar is E2E encrypted only you hold the key to your private schedule and meetings. No one else can access the data. Luckily, in 2024 you’re actually quite spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing privacy-focused apps. But for today, we will fill you in on the most secure, and free calendar alternative: Tuta Calendar!

The world’s first post-quantum end-to-end-encrypted calendar

The Tuta Calendar was developed as the world’s first ever end-to-end encrypted calendar. Since then, Tuta’s team of experts has also released the first ever post-quantum encryption protocol. What this means is that in addition to the whole Tuta Calendar being end-to-end encrypted by default, it’s also protected from future threat from quantum computers.

Tuta is going beyond protecting you today, and already planning ahead so that your private data doesn’t fall vulnerable to future threats.

The only zero-knowledge calendar

What sets the Tuta Calendar apart from not only big-tech but also other privacy-focused calendars is that we are the single zero-knowledge calendar currently available on the market. So in addition to all your calendar data being E2E encrypted, your notifications are secured, too!

With Tuta Calendar’s zero-knowledge design, you are guaranteed that your data and notifications remain encrypted, allowing you to remain private and without any links to Google.

Open source

All Tuta products, including the calendar, are open source code. Tuta has released the whole client code on GitHub for all of its apps. This extra layer of transparency allows for anyone to audit the code, and better prevents any backdoors slipping under the radar. Rather than being closed source, the open source code ensures that any bugs and vulnerabilities are detected sooner rather than later.

Tuta has its own push notifications on Android

Tuta doesn’t cut corners – its products are dedicated to true privacy and reducing how much user data is shared and collected. That’s why we’ve gone as far as to even create our own notification system.

By creating their own push notification system, and ditching Google’s push notifications you’re privacy is increased significantly. When you use Tuta products like Mail or Calendar, breaking free from Google’s ad tracking ecosystem and surveillance.

Intuitive and easy to use

Tuta offers not only unmatched privacy and security, but the user interface is easy to navigate and intuitive. Having such a high level of privacy might give the impression that it’s too complex to use, but it’s quite the opposite.

With the Tuta Calendar, you can create events in seconds, plan your routine, and stay up to date with daily, weekly, or monthly view.

Tuta allows you to have multiple calendars, that are shareable with other Tuta users, and you can now sync external calendars like from Google or Outlook. And there’s more: Tuta ensures you can easily, create new events and stay up to date even when offline on all your devices.

More than just a calendar

When you choose Tuta, you’re getting more than just a secure calendar. You also get the world’s first and only available quantum-proof mailbox all for FREE. Tuta offers E2E email, calendar, and contacts all included in one app that works seamlessly together.

Tuta is a lot more than just an E2E calendar! When you sign up for any Tuta plan, you get post-quantum encrypted email, calendar and contacts.

If you were not only thinking of changing your Google Calendar, you can also swap your Gmail for Tuta Mail. Tuta is the better Gmail alternative and known for optimal privacy.

If you want to stay clear of the big tech’s invasive ad-tracking and surveillance, it’s the perfect choice. Tuta has zero links to Google, zero ads, no tracking, and offers both free and paid plans. Having an integrated calendar and mailbox that’s fully encrypted has never been easier.

True privacy from Germany

When you switch from using a Big-tech product like Google Calendar, it’s best to choose apps and online services based in Europe that are GDPR-compliant. Tuta, is fully GDPR-compliant but more than that, it’s based in Germany: One of the EU member states with the strictest data protection policies.

Germany’s Federal Data Protection Act (Bundesdatenschutzgesetz) is one of the most stringent data protection laws in the EU, and because Tuta is a German company it fully adheres to it. Beyond this act, Tuta collects as little data as possible - fighting for your right to privacy with technology.

Dedicated calendar apps for iOS and Android

Best calendar app for Android

If you’re an Android user, by default you’ll have Google Calendar installed on your device but you can easily get the * *Tuta Calendar which is available for download on the Google Play Store.**

Tuta is the best calendar and email app for Android because it allows you to use your calendar and email privately with zero links to Google. As mentioned earlier, Tuta has created their **own notification system ** so any notification you receive from Tuta on your Android device cannot be tracked and monitored by Google.

If you’re an Android user, but you’ve upped your privacy game and get your apps from F-Droid, you can also find Tuta there!

Best iOS calendar app

Tuta Calendar is the perfect app for your iOS device. Available for download on the App Store, Tuta offers both free and paid plans for iOS users. With all Tuta plans, you can enjoy an easy-to-use encrypted calendar, mailbox, and contacts!

Privacy for all!

There are hundreds of Calendar apps available on the market, so choosing the best alternative calendar to Google can be a challenge. What we can say without a doubt, is that if you’re looking for the best calendar for privacy and security, the Tuta Calendar wins by far.

When you choose Tuta, you not only get a calendar, but also a post-quantum encrypted mailbox and contacts, for free!

Start protecting your data, and opt for a company that gives you true privacy with Tuta. Sign up anonymously for your free Tuta Calendar now.