Microsoft 365 Down? 10 European Alternatives to Consider

Jan de Vries · 2026-11-13

When Microsoft 365 goes down, the ripple effects are massive. The recent global outage, which started on November 12, 2026, knocked out Outlook, Teams, Copilot, SharePoint, and other services for over 12 hours. Businesses, government agencies, banks, and airlines across multiple continents felt the pinch. Even ChatGPT and Claude reported issues with their Microsoft 365 connectors. Microsoft says there's no sign of malicious activity, but getting everything back online took longer than expected. From bankers locked out of their email to Japanese ministries reverting to paper, it was a stark reminder of how much we rely on a handful of tech giants—most of them American. We saw similar chaos during last year's Cloudflare outage. Switching providers won't magically eliminate downtime, but having more independent European options can help you avoid putting all your digital eggs in one very large American basket. Europe has been quietly building alternatives for years. Here are 10 European companies worth a look if today's disruption has you rethinking your relationship with Microsoft. ### Proton (Switzerland) **What it replaces:** Microsoft Outlook, OneDrive, and Word (partially). Founded in 2014 in Geneva by scientists who met at CERN, Proton started as an encrypted email service and has grown into a full productivity suite. You get Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, and Docs—covering many of the functions businesses use Outlook and Microsoft 365 for. Led by CEO Andy Yen, Proton puts privacy and end-to-end encryption front and center. It won't replicate every Microsoft 365 feature, but if you're looking to move email, calendars, storage, and document collaboration away from a single provider, Proton is a solid contender. ### Tuta (Germany) **What it replaces:** Microsoft Outlook and Exchange Online (email and calendars). If the Outlook outage has you rethinking where your company email lives, Hanover-based Tuta is another option. Founded in 2011 by Arne Möhle and Matthias Pfau, Tuta offers encrypted email, calendars, and contacts for individuals and businesses. It supports custom domains, making it viable for organizations moving away from Exchange Online. Tuta doesn't try to replace the entire Microsoft suite, but for companies that just need a reliable, independent email and scheduling environment, it's a good starting point. ### Element (United Kingdom) **What it replaces:** Microsoft Teams (messaging, voice, and video). When Teams goes silent, the office feels eerily empty—even if everyone's still at their desks. London-based Element offers a decentralized alternative. Founded as New Vector in 2017 by Matthew Hodgson and Amandine Le Pape, Element builds secure messaging and collaboration software on the open Matrix standard, which its founders helped create. Unlike a centralized platform, Matrix lets organizations run their own infrastructure or connect with other servers. Element supports messaging, voice, and video, making it a strong candidate for businesses that want more control over where their communications are hosted. > "The recent outage is a wake-up call: relying on a single provider for critical services is a risk. European alternatives offer not just redundancy, but also different priorities—like privacy and data sovereignty." ### Nextcloud (Germany) **What it replaces:** Microsoft 365 (file sync, sharing, and collaboration). Nextcloud is an open-source file sync and share platform that lets you host your own cloud storage. It's like having your own private Dropbox, but with full control over your data. Founded in 2016 by Frank Karlitschek, Nextcloud offers calendar, contacts, and even video chat—all self-hosted or through a provider. It's a favorite among privacy-conscious organizations. ### OnlyOffice (Latvia) **What it replaces:** Microsoft Office (document editing and collaboration). OnlyOffice provides a full suite of online document editors (text, spreadsheet, presentation) that are compatible with Microsoft formats. It also includes collaboration tools like comments and track changes. You can self-host it or use their cloud. Founded in 2009, OnlyOffice is a solid alternative for teams that need document editing without the Microsoft dependency. ### Zoho (India, but with strong European presence) **What it replaces:** Microsoft 365 (email, office suite, collaboration). Zoho offers a comprehensive suite of business apps, including email, documents, spreadsheets, and more. While not European, it has a significant European user base and data centers in the EU, making it a viable alternative for those seeking a non-Microsoft option with local data storage. ### Wire (Switzerland) **What it replaces:** Microsoft Teams (secure messaging and collaboration). Wire is a secure messaging and collaboration platform built for enterprises. It offers end-to-end encryption for messages, calls, and file sharing. Founded in 2012, Wire is headquartered in Switzerland and is known for its strong security and privacy features. It's a good fit for teams that prioritize confidentiality. ### CryptPad (France) **What it replaces:** Microsoft 365 (real-time document collaboration). CryptPad is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted collaborative editor. It supports rich text, spreadsheets, presentations, and more. You can self-host it or use the public instance. Founded in 2014, CryptPad is ideal for teams that need secure, real-time collaboration without sacrificing privacy. ### Infomaniak (Switzerland) **What it replaces:** Microsoft 365 (email, calendar, and office suite). Infomaniak is a Swiss cloud provider offering email, calendar, and a suite of productivity tools called kSuite. It's designed for businesses and emphasizes data sovereignty and environmental sustainability. Founded in 1994, Infomaniak is a mature alternative for those seeking a European provider. ### Mailfence (Belgium) **What it replaces:** Microsoft Outlook (email and calendaring). Mailfence is a secure email service with integrated calendar, contacts, and document storage. It offers end-to-end encryption and is based in Belgium. Founded in 2013, Mailfence is a good option for individuals and small businesses looking for a privacy-focused email solution. --- These are just a few of the European alternatives out there. Each has its own strengths and trade-offs, but together they represent a growing ecosystem that can help you diversify your digital toolkit. The next time Microsoft 365 takes an unscheduled day off, you might be glad you did.