Top GDPR-Compliant Alternatives to US Tech

Increasingly complex political relationships and legal uncertainties between the US and Europe have created significant challenges for businesses reliant on US-based tech solutions.

Notably, surveillance laws such as the CLOUD Act allow US government agencies to access data stored by American companies, even if that data resides outside the United States. Such legal frameworks raise concerns over data privacy, particularly within the EU. This absence of protections against mass surveillance in the US makes it difficult for European companies to ensure compliance with data protection laws.

In response, the European Union introduced the GDPR, setting stringent standards for how personal data must be handled. The GDPR limits data transfer to countries outside the EU unless they offer comparable privacy protections. Businesses found to be transferring data to non-compliant jurisdictions face fines and legal repercussions, making adherence to GDPR essential.

This requirement was underscored when the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement was invalidated by the European Court of Justice in 2020, citing inadequate protection against US surveillance. In July 2023, the European Commission adopted the new EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework to replace Privacy Shield. This framework allows data transfers to certified U.S. organizations, provided they meet specific privacy requirements. However, businesses must verify that their U.S. partners are certified under this framework, and legal challenges to its adequacy are ongoing, meaning future regulatory changes are possible. 

Data sovereignty - the concept that data should be subject to the laws of the country in which it is collected and stored - is crucial for maintaining regulatory compliance, especially under GDPR.

The importance of data sovereignty has grown substantially in recent years due to the rise in global cyber threats, international surveillance laws, and public concern about digital privacy. When data is stored or processed in a foreign jurisdiction, particularly in countries with intrusive surveillance practices like the US, it becomes vulnerable to access by authorities outside the EU.

For governments and businesses alike, reducing dependence on foreign-controlled digital infrastructure helps protect against geopolitical instability, trade disputes, and regulatory incompatibilities. It ensures that sensitive personal and business data remains under the purview of local laws, offering greater legal clarity and operational predictability.

For European businesses, adhering to data sovereignty principles helps mitigate risks related to cross-border data flows, ensuring sensitive information is protected from foreign interference or unauthorized access. Demonstrating control over data storage and processing locations is also a powerful trust signal to clients, partners, and regulators.

As such, implementing GDPR-compliant European alternatives both simplifies compliance and enhances data security and operational transparency.

By embracing solutions hosted within EU borders, businesses maintain greater control over data privacy, facilitating trust among customers and stakeholders.

Selecting European alternatives to big tech services offers distinct benefits that go beyond regulatory checkboxes.

These solutions are aligned with GDPR compliance and support long-term business sustainability, customer trust, and digital independence.

These are the key advantages that make European alternatives a smart strategic move:

• Avoidance of Cross-Border Data Transfer Risks: When data is transferred outside the EU, companies must ensure the recipient country offers an adequate level of protection. By choosing European alternatives, businesses can keep all data within the EU’s jurisdiction, eliminating legal ambiguities and reducing administrative burdens.
• Enhanced Data Security and Privacy: European service providers operate under GDPR’s data protection standards, providing businesses peace of mind regarding compliance. This contrasts sharply with US-based services, where data might be exposed to governmental surveillance or broader data-sharing frameworks, creating vulnerabilities and compliance issues. European companies are also more likely to adopt a "privacy by design" approach, embedding security and data protection into their platforms from the ground up.
• Transparency and Regulatory Alignment: Transparency is a core principle of GDPR, and European tech companies often prioritize this value in how they design their services. European alternatives tend to be more open about their data processing activities, subcontractor relationships, and security protocols, enabling businesses to better assess and manage risk. They understand the nuances of GDPR and related regulations and typically offer tools or documentation to support audits, data subject access requests, and other regulatory requirements. This means faster compliance implementation and fewer surprises.
• Supporting a Privacy-First Culture: Today’s consumers are more privacy-aware than ever. Choosing European technology providers helps businesses demonstrate a commitment to ethical data practices. In industries like healthcare, finance, and legal services, where data privacy is non-negotiable, demonstrating compliance with GDPR through the use of European alternatives can be a key selling point.
• Economic and Strategic Resilience: Relying on a few dominant global tech providers introduces strategic vulnerabilities, including pricing power imbalances, unexpected policy changes, and limited control over service terms. European alternatives provide greater flexibility and often more favorable contract conditions for SMEs and mid-sized companies.

Europe is home to a growing network of companies and initiatives focused on creating secure, privacy-compliant technologies.

These alternatives provide businesses with viable options for everything from cloud infrastructure to marketing tools, ensuring compliance with GDPR and reducing reliance on non-EU providers.

Businesses looking to future-proof their operations while aligning with the values of privacy and transparency can start with European Alternatives. European Alternatives is a platform dedicated to showcasing EU-based alternatives to major US tech services. The site provides comprehensive comparisons and recommendations for GDPR-compliant tools across categories like cloud storage, communication, and productivity.

1. Cloud Infrastructure Providers

Cloud services are foundational to most digital operations.

The reliance on major US-based cloud services such as Google Cloud and AWS poses several risks concerning data privacy and compliance with the GDPR.

Choosing a European provider ensures your data remains within the EU’s regulatory framework and avoids unnecessary international transfer risks.

The following providers are standout options for businesses seeking GDPR-compliant cloud infrastructure:

• OVHcloud (France): Europe's largest cloud provider, offering scalable cloud solutions compliant with GDPR. While OVHcloud operates data centers in multiple global locations, customers can choose to store their data exclusively within EU borders to ensure data sovereignty.
• Scaleway (France): Known for flexible cloud solutions with an emphasis on data privacy and transparency, Scaleway positions itself explicitly as a GDPR-compliant alternative to AWS and Google Cloud.
• Hetzner (Germany): Delivers cost-effective hosting and cloud services that strictly adhere to German data protection laws, among Europe's strongest privacy frameworks.

2. CRM and Marketing Platforms

Customer relationship management and marketing tools help companies engage their audiences, which means they also involve processing vast amounts of personal data. European platforms provide strong GDPR compliance, transparent practices, and local data hosting without compromising functionality.

Popular European CRM alternatives include:

• Pipedrive (Estonia): A CRM solution designed explicitly with GDPR compliance in mind, helping businesses securely manage customer relationships, sales pipeline, and marketing activities. Pipedrive stores EU customer data within the EU, but businesses should review Pipedrive’s list of sub-processors and hosting arrangements to ensure these meet their specific compliance needs.
• Efficy CRM (France): A highly customizable, enterprise-grade CRM system built in Europe with a focus on GDPR compliance. Efficy offers solutions for sales, marketing, and customer service, and provides flexible hosting options to ensure data remains within EU jurisdiction. It is ideal for mid-sized to large organizations looking for a scalable and privacy-conscious alternative to Salesforce.
• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) (France): Brevo is an intuitive, GDPR-compliant marketing automation platform, enabling businesses to securely and effectively manage their marketing campaigns without data sovereignty concerns.
• MailerLite (Lithuania): MailerLite provides an accessible and GDPR-compliant email marketing solution, popular among SMEs seeking secure alternatives to Mailchimp and similar US-based providers.

3. Productivity and Collaboration Tools

Productivity and collaboration platforms are essential for day-to-day communication and project management.

European options provide secure environments for file sharing, document collaboration, and team messaging without the concerns linked to big tech.

• Nextcloud (Germany): An open-source collaboration platform providing secure file sharing, team collaboration, and data hosting entirely within EU borders. Nextcloud champions data sovereignty and compliance as core values.
• MeisterTask (Germany): A collaborative task and project management software that streamlines workflows and enhances productivity for teams of all sizes. Hosted in Germany, MeisterTask is fully GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001 certified, making it an attractive option for European customers who value data security.
• ONLYOFFICE (Latvia): Offers GDPR-compliant office productivity solutions as a viable alternative to Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 365, featuring collaborative document editing and secure cloud storage options.
• Tresorit (Switzerland): A secure, end-to-end encrypted file-sharing platform renowned for its stringent data privacy standards that are fully compliant with GDPR.

4. AI & Data Analytics Tools

Artificial intelligence and data analytics tools are growing in use, but also in scrutiny.

European AI and analytics platforms prioritize compliance and ethical use of data, giving businesses powerful yet privacy-respecting capabilities.

• Aleph Alpha (Germany): An innovative AI firm offering European-made, GDPR-compliant AI solutions, positioning itself as a secure alternative to US-based AI services.
• Matomo (formerly Piwik) (Germany): An alternative to Google Analytics, Matomo is a powerful platform offering website analytics while giving users full control of their data.
• Piwik PRO (Poland): Despite the name, Piwik PRO is a separate entity from Matomo. It is a privacy-focused web and app analytics suite often compared to Matomo, but with a more enterprise-oriented feature set.

5. E-commerce Platforms

E-commerce platforms are the backbone of online retail businesses. These platforms provide the tools for storefront management, payment processing, and shipping, as well as handle large volumes of personal customer data, making data protection essential.

Most notable EU-based GDPR friendly e-commerce platforms include: 

• Shopware (Germany): A highly customizable open-source e-commerce platform focused on flexibility, performance, and privacy. Shopware is based in Germany and built for GDPR compliance, offering self-hosted and cloud-based options.
• PrestaShop (France): One of the most popular open-source e-commerce platforms in Europe, PrestaShop offers a wide range of features, an active developer community, and GDPR compliance features such as cookie banners and customer data management tools.
• Spryker (Germany): A modular, enterprise-grade commerce platform built for scalability and compliance. Spryker is ideal for companies needing custom e-commerce architecture and GDPR assurance.

The shift towards independence from US tech is not just a trend - it's a fundamental change in how businesses approach technology and data management.

With increasing regulatory pressure, legal uncertainty, and public demand for privacy, adopting European alternatives is a proactive move toward sustainable digital operations.

By moving away from US-based tech giants toward European providers, you can achieve greater data security, regulatory compliance, and market trust. However, always conduct due diligence when selecting any provider-European or otherwise confirm their GDPR compliance documentation, data handling practices, and security standards.

At heydata, we specialize in helping businesses make GDPR compliance easy. Get in touch with us or book a demo to see how we can make compliance simple.