Privacy Tools
This list is meant for every-day people. School teachers, custodians, parents, neighbors, gas station attendants, college students, protesters, martial arts instructors, store clerks, service workers...you get the idea.
I've opted, at least so far, not to list specific negative recommendations here. Generally speaking, the big-tech options are a no-go; closed-source un-audited options can be sketchy; reputation matters; and business ethics and practices also make a difference. That said -- there are some exceptions; and there are no perfect solutions. This listing is intended to give you a head-start when you're researching options and attempting to make informed choices.
If you can't find what you're looking for, or you want to comment on this list -- reach out through the 'guestbook' link at top-right.
🔰 A great place to start
📚 Some reading required
👾 Experience needed
👀 I'm keeping an eye on this one
2FA Authenticators
🔰 Proton Authenticator https://proton.me/authenticator
🔰 Ente Auth https://ente.io/auth
🔰 Yubico Authenticator https://www.yubico.com/products/yubico-authenticator
👾 Aegis Authenticator https://getaegis.app
2FA -- Hardware
📚 Yubikey 5 https://www.yubico.com
📚 Nitrokey 3 https://www.nitrokey.com
📚 SoloKeys https://solokeys.com
📚 Swissbit https://www.swissbit.com/en/products/ishield-key
AI -- Cloud
🔰 Brave Leo https://brave.com/leo
🔰 Ente Ensu https://ente.com/ensu
🔰 Proton Lumo https://lumo.proton.me
🔰 Venice AI https://venice.ai
AI -- Self Hosted
📚 Ollama https://ollama.com
Bibliography Manager
🔍 | See Reference Manager
Blog
🔰 Bear Blog https://bearblog.dev
Bootable USB
📚 Rufus https://rufus.ie
Browser
🔰 Brave https://brave.com (free / ads)
🔰 Brave Origin https://brave.com/origin (paid / no ads)
🔰 Mullvad https://mullvad.net/en/browser
Calendar
🔰 Proton Calendar https://proton.me/calendar
🔰 Tuta Calendar https://tuta.com/calendar
Chat
🔰 Brave Talk https://brave.com/talk
🔰 Signal https://signal.org
🔰 Molly https://molly.im (Signal fork)
👀 Flatline https://github.com/mollyim/flatline-docs (self-hosted Molly fork)
🔰 Matrix https://matrix.org
🔰 Threema https://threema.com
🔰 Session https://getsession.org
📚 SimpleX https://simplex.chat
📚 BitChat https://bitchat.free
📚 Briar https://briarproject.org
👾 Meshtastic https://meshtastic.org
Chat (Teams / Orgs)
👀 Zulip https://zulip.com (can be self-hosted)
Citation Manager
🔍 | See Reference Manager
Cloud Compute (Decentralized)
👾 Akash https://akash.network
Coding
👾 VSCodium https://vscodium.com
👾 Codeberg https://codeberg.org
Computers (Linux Out-of-box)
🔰 Framework https://frame.work
👀 Mecha https://mecha.so
👀 NovaCustom https://novacustom.com
🔰 Starlabs https://us.starlabs.systems
🔰 System76 https://system76.com
🔰 Tuxedo https://www.tuxedocomputers.com
Computers (used)
📚 Swappa https://swappa.com/catalog/type/laptop
📚 US Public Surplus / Auction https://www.publicsurplus.com
Computers (Single Board)
📚 Beagleboard https://www.beagleboard.org
📚 Raspberry Pi https://www.raspberrypi.com
Computer OS
🔰 DistroSea https://distrosea.com Test-run 80+ Linux distros online
📚 Mint https://www.linuxmint.com
📚 Pop!_OS https://system76.com/pop
👾 Qubes https://www.qubes-os.org
📚 Tails https://tails.net/index.en.html
📚 Zorin https://zorin.com/os
Computer OS & Misc. Tools
🔰 Blacklight https://themarkup.org/blacklight
📚 Bleachbit https://www.bleachbit.org (Linux, Windows)
📚 BrowserLeaks https://browserleaks.com
📚 Browsing Experience Security Check https://www.cloudflare.com/ssl/encrypted-sni
📚 Chris Titus Tech's Windows Utility https://github.com/ChrisTitusTech/winutil
🔰 Cover Your Tracks https://coveryourtracks.eff.org
🔰 IP.me https://ip.me
👾 Just the Browser https://justthebrowser.com
🔰 LibreSpeed https://librespeed.org
🔰 Loupe https://github.com/mysk-research/loupe (iOS)
📚 O&O Shutup https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 (Windows)
👾 Privacy.sexy https://privacy.sexy
🔰 PrivacyTests https://privacytests.org
🔰 Site Behavior Lab https://sitebehavior.org
Containers
📚 Docker https://www.docker.com
📚 Podman https://podman.io
Credit Card
🔰 Cloaked https://www.cloaked.com
🔰 Halo Card https://halocard.co
🔰 MySudo https://anonyome.com
🔰 Privacy.com https://privacy.com
Crypto Bill-pay
📚 Zytpo https://zypto.com/personal/pay-bills-with-crypto
📚 Spritz https://app.spritz.finance/bills
📚 BitPay https://bitpay.com/id/bill-pay
Crypto Marketplace
📚 xmrbazaar https://xmrbazaar.com
Crypto Merchant / POS
👀 Dash https://www.dash.org/new-merchant-kit
Data Blockers
🔰 PortaPow https://portablepowersupplies.co.uk
Data Broker Removal -- DIY
📚 IntelTechniques https://inteltechniques.com/workbook.html
📚 Optery https://github.com/optery/optery-data-brokers-directory
Data Broker Removal -- Service
🔰 EasyOptOuts https://easyoptouts.com
🔰 Optery https://www.optery.com
DNS
📚 Control D https://controld.com
📚 Mullvad https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls
📚 NextDNS https://nextdns.io
📚 Pi-Hole https://pi-hole.net
🔰 Quad9 https://www.quad9.net
🔰 Protonmail https://proton.me/mail
🔰 StartMail https://www.startmail.com
🔰 Tuta https://tuta.com
📚 Ztrash https://ztrash.com
Email Aliasing
🔰 Addy https://addy.io
🔰 ProtonPass https://proton.me/pass
🔰 SimpleLogin https://simplelogin.io
Faraday Bags
🔰 SLNT https://slnt.com
🔰 Go Dark https://godarkbags.com
🔰 Mission Darkness https://mosequipment.com
File Encryption
🔰 AxCrypt https://axcrypt.net
🔰 Cryptomator https://cryptomator.org
🔰 VeraCrypt https://veracrypt.io
File Storage (e2ee / zk cloud)
🔰 Proton Drive https://proton.me/drive
👀 Tuta Drive https://tuta.com/drive
File Storage (encrypted flash drive)
📚 Aegis Secure Key https://apricorn.com/aegis-secure-key-3nxc
📚 Kingston IronKey https://www.kingston.com/en/usb-flash-drives/encrypted
Firewall DIY
👾 IPFire ttps://www.ipfire.org
👾 OPNsense https://opnsense.org
👾 pfSense https://www.pfsense.org
Forms
🔰 CryptPad Form https://cryptpad.fr
Gateway Appliance
📚 Firewalla https://firewalla.com/products/firewalla-purple
📚 netgate https://www.netgate.com/pfsense-plus-software/how-to-buy
📚 OPNsense https://shop.opnsense.com/product/dec677-opnsense-desktop-security-appliance
Graphics
📚 IrfanView https://www.irfanview.com
Internet -- Mobile
🔰 Calyx https://calyxinstitute.org/membership/internet
Keyboard App
👀 FUTO https://keyboard.futo.org
👀 KryptEy https://github.com/amnesica/KryptEY
Location Sharing
🔰 grid https://www.mygrid.app
Map App
🔰 CoMaps https://www.comaps.app
🔰 GMaps WV https://github.com/woheller69/maps
Notes App
👀 AnyType https://anytype.io
👀 Futo Notes https://notes.futo.tech
🔰 Standard Notes https://standardnotes.com
🔰 Notesnook https://notesnook.com
🔰 Obsidian https://obsidian.md
👀 Privacy Notes https://privacynotes.app
Office Suite -- Desktop
🔰 LibreOffice https://www.libreoffice.org
Office Suite -- Online
🔰 Collabora https://www.collaboraonline.com (LibreOffice)
🔰 CryptPad https://cryptpad.fr
🔰 Fileverse https://fileverse.io (limited)
🔰 Proton https://proton.me/drive (limited)
🔰 Zeta Office https://zetaoffice.net (LibreOffice)
Offline Content
📚 Kiwix https://kiwix.org
📚 Project Nomad https://www.projectnomad.us
Password Manger
🔰 1Password https://1password.com
🔰 ProtonPass https://proton.me/pass
🔰 Bitwarden https://bitwarden.com
📚 Standard Notes https://standardnotes.com
📚 KeepassXC https://keepassxc.org
Period Tracker
🔰 Drip https://dripapp.org
🔰 Euki https://eukiapp.org
Phones
🔰 Calyx https://calyxinstitute.org/membership/calyxos
📚 Swappa https://swappa.com/buy/phones/google
Phone Service -- VOIP
📚 Cloaked https://www.cloaked.com
🔰 JMP Chat https://jmp.chat
📚 My Sudo https://anonyome.com
Phone Service -- Cellular / SIM
🔰 Phreeli https://www.phreeli.com
Phone OS
📚 Graphene OS https://grapheneos.org (most private, pixels only)
📚 Lineage OS https://lineageos.org
📚 Calyx OS https://calyxos.org
Photos -- Cloud
🔰 Proton Photos https://proton.me/drive/photo-storage
📚 Ente https://ente.io
Photos -- Self-hosted
📚 Ente https://ente.io
📚 Immich https://immich.app
Presentation
👀 **See Office Online / Office Desktop
QR Code Generator
🔰 Ente QR https://qr.ente.com
Reference Manager
🔰 JabRef https://www.jabref.org
🔰 Zotero https://www.zotero.org
Router -- DIY
👾 OpenWrt https://openwrt.org/start
Router -- Home
📚 GL-iNet https://www.gl-inet.com/campaign/home-routers
Router -- Travel
📚 GL-iNet https://www.gl-inet.com/campaign/travel-routers
Search
🔰 Brave Search https://search.brave.com
🔰 StartPage https://www.startpage.com
Security Camera
📚 Reolink https://reolink.com
Social Media Clean-up (unverified)
🔰 Redact (multi) https://redact.dev
🔰 Social Erase (facebook) https://socialerase.net
🔰 TweetDelete (twitter) https://tweetdelete.net
🔰 Cyd Social (twitter) https://cyd.social
🔰 tweetXer (twitter) https://github.com/lucahammer/tweetXer
Social Media Viewers (anonymous)
Several of these may be taken-down or brought back up for one reason or another over time.
🔰 Twitter https://nitter.net
🔰 Twitter https://xcancel.com
🔰 YouTube https://invidious.io
🔰 YouTube https://viewri.com/youtube
🔰 Reddit https://github.com/redlib-org/redlib-instances/blob/main/instances.md
🔰 Reddit https://viewri.com/reddit
🔰 Instagram https://easycomment.ai/instagram-story-viewer
🔰 Instagram https://viewri.com/instagram
🔰 Facebook https://viewri.com/facebook
🔰 TikTok https://viewri.com/tiktok
🔰 Pinterest https://viewri.com/pinterest
🔰 Linked-In https://viewri.com/linkedin
SMS / Data / eSIM
📚 Cloaked https://www.cloaked.com
🔰 JMP Chat https://jmp.chat
📚 My Sudo https://anonyome.com
👀 nadanada https://nadanada.me
📚 silent.link https://silent.link
🔰 SMS Pool https://smspool.net
👀 Sim Juno https://simjuno.com/en
Spreadsheet
👀 See Office Online / Office Desktop
Televisions (non-smart / "dumb")
🔰 Emerson https://emersonaudio.com/collections/televisions
🔰 Sceptre https://www.sceptre.com (Menu: UHD TV's, LED TV's)
🔰 Westinghouse https://westinghouse.com/collections/television (Menu: standard hd tvs)
TV Service
📚 HD Homerun https://www.silicondust.com/hdhomerun
Video Conferencing
🔰 Brave Talk https://brave.com/talk
🔰 Jitsi https://jitsi.org
👀 Proton Meet https://proton.me/meet
Video Transcoder
📚 HandBrake https://handbrake.fr
VPN
🔰 Proton VPN https://protonvpn.com
🔰 Mullvad VPN https://mullvad.net
👀 Nym VPN https://nym.com
👀 Obscura VPN https://obscura.net
Wallets | Cold
📚 Keystone Pro 3 https://keyst.one/shop/products/keystone-3-pro
📚 Trezor Safe 5 https://trezor.io/trezor-safe-5
📚 Trezor Safe 7 https://trezor.io/trezor-safe-7
Wallets | Hot
📚 Edge https://edge.app
📚 Zodl https://zodl.com
Website
📚 Bludit https://www.bludit.com
📚 Zola https://www.getzola.org
Word Processor
👀 See Office Online / Office Desktop
Other Privacy Resource Lists
🔰 AlternativeTo https://alternativeto.net/browse/all/?license=opensource&platform=linux&tag=privacy-focused
🔰 Incognito Cat https://incognitocat.me/whats-in-my-privacy-toolbox-pe
🔰 KYCNOT.ME https://kycnot.me
🔰 Proton https://proton.me/learn/european-alternatives
🔰 Scrut1ny https://github.com/Scrut1ny/OpSec-Guide
🔰 Web3 Privacy https://stacks.web3privacy.info
iOS Hardening Guides
This is not a recommendation for folx to use iOS. This is a 'for whatever reasons you're not ready or able to switch to something more secure...let's make your iOS as secure as we can.
📚 iAnonymous3000 https://github.com/iAnonymous3000/iOS-Hardening-Guide
📚 IntelTechniques https://inteltechniques.com/blog/2026/01/05/ios-26-settings
Android Hardening Guides
Google does not give you the ability to properly harden your phone -- this is by design.
📚 Switch to GrapheneOS (in the list above)
TV Hardening Guides
Consider a "dumb" TV (in the list above), but if that doesn't suite you, you can make your TV viewing just a little more private.
📚 https://www.komando.com/news/devices/how-to-turn-off-acr-on-every-major-tv-brand