Ask anyone which software keeps a business running, and you will almost always hear the same names: Microsoft, Google, Amazon. That makes sense, because three American players together hold more than two thirds of the European cloud market. When I started Menten IT in May 2026, I wanted to know whether it could be done differently. Can a small business run entirely on European tools today, without giving up convenience?
In short: yes. There are far more tools in Europe than most people think.
Why should you think about this?
- Where is your data, and who may access it? Under certain conditions, American companies must hand over data to the American government, even when that data is stored on a server in Europe (the so-called CLOUD Act).
- Lock-in. If everything runs with one supplier, that supplier has a say in your prices, your terms and your future.
- Privacy and GDPR. With a European provider, European regulation applies from the start, not as an adjustment afterwards.
That does not mean American software is bad, but it is good to know that you have a choice.
What do I use myself?
| What for | Tool | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system (instead of Windows) | Linux Mint | Ireland |
| Email, calendar, files and passwords | Proton | Switzerland |
| Customer management, quotes and invoices | Odoo | Belgium |
| Customer requests and tickets | Zammad | Germany |
| Remote support | AnyDesk | Germany |
| Automating repetitive tasks | n8n | Germany |
| Own server | Proxmox | Austria |
| Domain name and DNS | Infomaniak | Switzerland |
| Protecting client devices | ESET | Slovakia |
Switzerland is not an EU member, but the EU recognises Swiss privacy law as equivalent to the GDPR.
A few things that surprised me:
- Odoo is Belgian. It originates from Grand-Rosière in Walloon Brabant and is now used by millions of people worldwide. So I invoice with software from about an hour's drive from here.
- Many of these tools are open source. Linux Mint, Zammad and Proxmox are open source: you can install them on your own devices or server. If the company behind them disappeared tomorrow, the software would still exist.
- It does not feel like a compromise. Proton Mail works on computer and phone the way you expect from an email program. My clients do not notice that there is no American name behind it.
Where Europe has no answer (yet)
To be fair: my software is European, but not everything around it is. That is down to the hardware and suppliers, not the software itself.
- Hardware. Laptops, phones and the chips that go into them come from Asia or the US – there is little a small business can change about that.
- Suppliers. I order licences and hardware partly through American distributors. European ones exist, but for what I need the American ones are currently the most practical choice.
Do you have to change everything now?
No. Many of my clients stay on Microsoft 365, and I simply manage that too. A complete switch takes time and getting used to, and above all it has to be functional for your team. What you can do is look step by step at where a European alternative makes sense. A good place to start:
- Your email and files. That is where the most sensitive data lives, especially if you work with client files.
- Your passwords. A European password manager is quick to set up and costs little.
- New tools. If you need to choose something new anyway, such as an accounting or ticketing system, first check whether there is a European option.
In conclusion
A small business can run entirely on European software today, without compromise. The tools are there, they work, and they are often closer to home than you think.
Curious how European your IT is?
I'm happy to go through the tools you use with you and see where an alternative makes sense, without pushing anything on you. Personal contact, fair prices, no jargon.
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