The internet is full of advertising, AI slop and spin. Here are simple, useful alternatives that nobody pays us to recommend. Each one is rated for quality, ecology and the common good.
See all alternativesCommunity supported agriculture, farm shops, organic markets and food co-ops.
19 alternatives
Natural building materials, insulation, energy advice, housing co-ops and shared living.
11 alternatives
Tenants’ associations, rent rules, deposits, service charges and how to find a flat.
10 alternatives
Genuine green electricity suppliers, energy co-ops, solar panels, heat pumps and saving energy.
9 alternatives
Independent health information, care services, mental health and psychological support.
19 alternatives
Free courses, open educational resources, adult education centres and libraries.
9 alternatives
Cycling, public transport, trains, car sharing, electric cars, boats and planes.
10 alternatives
Ethical banks, cooperative banks, sustainable investments and fair insurance.
12 alternatives
Cooperatives, social enterprises, purpose-driven jobs and the solidarity economy.
16 alternatives
Fair fashion brands, local makers, second-hand clothing, tailors and mending.
6 alternatives
Independent and reader-funded media, fact-checking, encyclopedias and science communication.
6 alternatives
Train travel, night trains, eco-certified accommodation, hospitality networks and holidays close to home.
11 alternatives
Free and open source software, European alternatives to big tech, privacy-friendly services and green hosting.
16 alternatives
Cleaning products, laundry, refills and simple home-made alternatives.
10 alternatives
Cooperative and ethical mobile operators, internet providers and privacy-friendly email.
8 alternatives
Privacy-friendly search engines, the Fediverse, Mastodon and encrypted messengers.
10 alternatives
Independent online shops, fair marketplaces, local shops and buying directly from makers.
24 alternatives
Second-hand shops, swap groups, tool libraries, lending platforms and giveaway shops.
18 alternatives
Repair cafés, community workshops, spare parts, repair guides and makerspaces.
8 alternatives
Solid wood furniture, local carpenters, second-hand and restored furniture, natural textiles.
7 alternatives
Repairable phones and laptops, refurbished devices, durable appliances and energy labels.
10 alternatives
Avoiding packaging, bulk shops, composting, sorting rules and where to take what.
20 alternatives
Drinking tap water, saving water, rainwater use, dry toilets and water-saving fittings.
8 alternatives
Organic and seed-saving seeds, community gardens, native plants and wildlife-friendly gardening.
9 alternatives
Safe and durable toys, second-hand baby gear, cloth nappies, family advice and child care.
7 alternatives
Adopting from shelters, sustainable pet food, vets and animal welfare organisations.
8 alternatives
Sports clubs, hiking, durable and repairable outdoor gear, gear rental and second-hand equipment.
9 alternatives
Independent bookshops, libraries, fair music platforms, cinemas and public media libraries.
8 alternatives
Restaurants with local and organic food, fair delivery cooperatives and ways against food waste.
9 alternatives
Fair trade coffee and tea, organic winemakers, local breweries and juice from regional orchards.
8 alternatives
Natural cosmetics, solid soaps and shampoos, reusable hygiene products and ingredient checkers.
10 alternatives
Evidence-based nutrition advice, seasonal calendars and simple, mostly plant-based recipes.
12 alternatives
Charity evaluators, donation seals, volunteering platforms and local associations.
13 alternatives
Petitions, citizens’ initiatives, transparency tools, voting guides and local participation.
7 alternatives
Consumer advice centres, independent tests, legal aid, complaint letters and dispute resolution.
15 alternatives
Neighbourhood networks, community centres, third places, local exchange systems and maps of local initiatives.
19 alternatives
Shared housing for older people, care advice, living wills, hospices and natural burials.
9 alternatives
Gifts of time and experience, fair and second-hand gifts, reusable decorations and low-waste parties.
8 alternatives
Recycled paper, eco-friendly print shops, refillable office supplies and durable printers.
7 alternatives
The Association Végétarienne de France (AVF) is a French non-profit that helps people eat less meat or none at all, with free leaflets on nutrition, recipes, cooking workshops, the Défi Veggie…
Alternative to eating meat every day without knowing how to cook without it
Keywords
Categories
Crédit Coopératif is a French cooperative bank, owned by its client-members, that has banked associations and social-economy businesses since 1893 and also offers current accounts, cards and savings…
Alternative to commercial high-street banks that finance fossil fuels
Keywords
Categories
Le Pari Solidaire is a Paris association that places young people under 30 in the homes of people aged 60 or more, in Paris and Île-de-France. The young person gets a room for a small contribution…
Alternative to living alone in old age and to overpriced rooms in Paris
Keywords
Categories
MAIF is a French mutual insurer, owned by its 4.2 million members, that insures homes, cars, bikes and borrowers. It became a société à mission in 2020 and gives 10 % of its profit to environmental…
Alternative to shareholder-owned insurers for home and car
Keywords
Categories
The Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack label from A (dark green) to E (red) that sums up a food's nutritional quality per 100 g or 100 ml, so that two breakfast cereals or two pizzas can be compared at a…
Alternative to nutrition tables in small print and to health claims on packaging
Keywords
Categories
Solidarités International is a French humanitarian NGO, founded in 1980, that brings drinking water, sanitation and hygiene to people hit by wars and disasters, along with food aid and shelter. Water…
Alternative to donating without knowing where the money goes, for clean water in crisis zones
Keywords
Categories
Yuka is a free French app that scans the barcode of a food or cosmetic product and gives it a score out of 100, with healthier products suggested in its place. It takes no advertising and no money…
Alternative to trusting the marketing on food and cosmetics packaging
Keywords
Categories
ACORN is a community and tenants’ union in England and Wales whose members act together against bad landlords, to get repairs done, deposits returned and evictions stopped, for a membership fee based…
Alternative to facing a landlord or letting agent alone
Keywords
Categories
