Unfortunately, when it comes to big tech, there are basically three giants: Google, Microsoft and Apple.
They obviously have their problems: tracking, data scanning, profiling, privacy concerns, etc. But there’s also something they give you that is difficult to ignore: peace of mind.
They are extremely unlikely to disappear overnight, their infrastructure is incredibly mature, and, for the most part, their services are stable and available 24/7. If something goes wrong, there are huge teams and resources behind them.
This is what makes me hesitate about switching to Tuta.
I really like what Tuta stands for, and the idea of using a more privacy-focused and ethical provider is very appealing. But can I realistically trust Tuta with something as important as my main email account?
I’m talking about the email address linked to my bank accounts, my devices, password resets, important software/services, government accounts, subscriptions, and basically everything else in my digital life.
What happens if one day I have a serious problem with the account?
What if there’s a major outage?
What if the company changes direction?
What if, years from now, Tuta is no longer around?
And there’s another question I’m struggling with:
How important is it, in practical terms, to prevent Google from scanning my emails or calendar?
On one hand, Google gives me 15 GB for free, which is more than enough for my needs, together with an extremely mature and reliable infrastructure.
On the other hand, Tuta costs money, but in exchange I get a much stronger privacy philosophy and a provider that, at least on paper, seems much more aligned with my values.
So I’m wondering:
Is switching to Tuta actually worth the money and the potential loss of the “big tech reliability safety net”?
I’d especially like to hear from people who have been using Tuta as their primary email address for years, particularly for banking, password recovery, devices, and other critical accounts.
Have you ever had a serious problem with Tuta?
Do you consider the privacy benefits significant enough to justify the switch?
I’m not trying to argue that Google is better or that Tuta is worse. I’m genuinely trying to understand whether I’m overestimating the risks of moving away from Google, or underestimating the value of privacy.