Google has steadily refined Android over the years, and along the way, it transformed its core suite of apps into almost indispensable utilities.
While these apps serve a purpose, Google’s invasive, persistent data-harvesting practices turn them into resource hogs that slow down your Android device if you run too many at once.
After more than a year of running a Google Pixel phone as my daily driver, I identified which Google apps to delete or put to sleep.
This eventually speeds up my device while reclaiming a massive chunk of storage.
Identifying what slows down my phone
Chrome is the biggest offender
If I am going to start with the biggest culprit, it is none other than Chrome itself.
It’s the default browser on virtually every Android device, and while you can easily switch to another option, countless owners end up using it indefinitely.
Chrome has expanded and improved over time, with Google introducing fresh tools and controls. However, Google also continuously ramps up background telemetry for analytics.
That means it uses extra system resources in the background and sends more data to its servers.
Casual users may not notice it, but it becomes more apparent when you compare Chrome with other browsers.
Pages load and sometimes stutter because of the number of ad banners. You can’t block them either, since Chrome doesn’t support extensions on mobile.
I swapped Chrome for third-party options that use fewer system resources and take up less storage space, and the difference was immediately noticeable.
Ad blockers are a game changer
I switched to browsers that prioritize user privacy
One of them is Firefox Focus, a privacy-first browser from Mozilla. It defaults to an isolated private mode, keeping blockers on at all times.
The trade-off is that it lacks workflow continuity because it instantly erases tabs, login sessions, and browsing history every time you close the app. But for casual browsing, it’s a fast and effective utility that keeps your data secure.
If you want another lightweight contender for everyday browsing, Samsung Browser is a fantastic alternative.
It supports add-ons like dedicated ad blockers and YouTube content controls, while consuming less horsepower and battery, especially on Galaxy devices.
Another reason to drop Chrome is that it easily swallows a gigabyte or more of storage. That’s a big problem if your phone has less usable storage.
With Firefox Focus or Samsung Browser, I saved 300 to 500 MB on my Pixel 9 Pro XL, though that’s only the baseline space.
So, depending on how long you use Chrome, you could recover more storage after you uninstall it.
Gboard tracks every keystroke and voice I input
A leaner keyboard app strips the heavy data collection
Google’s Gboard was once my favorite and default Android keyboard for several years.
But recently Google has dragged its feet on meaningful updates. Many requested features are missing, including multi-language support (limited to two languages) and a universal clipboard.
However, that’s only a fraction of what frustrates me.
Gboard is a big offender when it comes to data logging. It also collects and sends text and voice typing to Google’s servers, adding background processes that drain battery faster.
Worse, these analytics toggles are on by default, forcing you to dig deep into the menus to turn them off.
FUTO is one of several lightweight keyboards I found that don’t weigh down my device. It offers customization alongside transparent, easy-to-access privacy controls.
Simple Keyboard is another favorite. It takes up very little storage while staying responsive and fast. Although it lacks broad language support and integrated emoji generators, it makes up for it with speed.
Depending on which keyboard alternative you choose, you can reclaim anywhere from 400MB to 500MB of onboard memory.
YouTube Music has aggressive data caching
I traded it for an audio-only platform
I initially stuck with YouTube Music for its perks like smart downloads and the Start a mix feature.
However, over the years, the app has increasingly become bloated.
Plus, the persistent analytics make the app feel heavy and sluggish, particularly on mid-range and entry-level hardware.
Its aggressive local caching is also another major gripe. With a few days of streaming, the data can balloon to a few gigabytes.
I looked for streaming services strictly for music, and Deezer is one of the better choices.
It’s lightweight and logs minimal data, such as your profile. Its tailored recommendations are also limited to my listening habits and history rather than relying on server-backed algorithms, search, or AI.
For storage, it caches a fraction of what YouTube Music does, which once chewed up about 5GB of my storage.
With Deezer, I don’t worry about it consuming a gigabyte or more even after a few weeks of streaming.
Google Maps feels bloated
Here WeGo strips out those distractions
Google Maps has steadily grown from a simple point-to-point guide into a rich navigation platform, adding features like 3D navigation and AI-powered Ask Maps.
Those perks look impressive at first, but the app becomes bloated and heavier to use over time. Like other Google apps, it also constantly logs your location history.
A nicer option to Google Maps is Here WeGo. Although I have used it before, the latest version has improved dramatically.
I found it much better than Maps for point-to-point routing, without the friction of extra features that slow down the app or my navigation.
Its point-of-interest catalog isn’t as vast as Google Maps, and it has inaccurate routes in rural areas, but it’s straightforward to use.
I also appreciate that its real-time traffic updates have become more reliable over time, which is essential when I’m driving on congested roads.
Moreover, it takes up about half as much space as Maps, saving me a few hundred megabytes of storage.
You don’t need to be locked in with Google
Android’s openness is why I’ve been a loyal user. However, that one feature is now starting to change, with Google making it challenging to sideload apps.
Even so, Google ships Pixels with Google apps as defaults, which discourages users from easily swapping them without manually changing settings.
But the good thing is that we have more quality app options than ever, making it easier to leave Google’s bloated services that can slow down your device.
