Privacy Tools
August 10, 2025•1,446 words
This list is meant for normal every-day users. 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
📚 | You can do this -- some reading required
👾 | Experience needed
👀 | Too soon to say -- 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
🔰 | Confer | https://confer.to
🔰 | 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
Bootable USB
📚 | Rufus | https://rufus.ie
Browser
🔰 | Brave | https://brave.com
🔰 | 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
🔰 | Matrix | https://matrix.org
🔰 | Threema | https://threema.com
📚 | SimpleX | https://simplex.chat
📚 | BitChat | https://bitchat.free
📚 | Briar | https://briarproject.org
👾 | Meshtastic | https://meshtastic.org
Citation Manager
🔍 | See Reference Manager
Coding
👾 | VSCodium | https://vscodium.com
Computers (Linux Options)
🔰 | Framework | https://frame.work
👀 | Mecha | https://mecha.so/
👀 | NovaCustom | https://novacustom.com/
🔰 | Starlabs | https://us.starlabs.systems
🔰 | System76 | https://system76.com
🔰 | Tuxedo Computers | https://www.tuxedocomputers.com
Computers (used)
📚 | Swappa | https://swappa.com/catalog/type/laptop
📚 | US Public Surplus / Auction | https://www.publicsurplus.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
📚 | 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
🔰 | LibreSpeed | https://librespeed.org/
👾 | Just the Browser | https://justthebrowser.com
📚 | O&O Shutup | https://www.oo-software.com/en/shutup10 (Windows)
👾 | Privacy.sexy | https://privacy.sexy
Credit Card
🔰 | Cloaked | https://www.cloaked.com
🔰 | My Sudo | 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 Merchant / POS
👀 | Binance | https://merchant.binance.com/en
👀 | 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
🔰 | Quad9 | https://www.quad9.net
📚 | NextDNS | https://nextdns.io
Email
🔰 | Protonmail | https://proton.me/mail
🔰 | StartMail | https://www.startmail.com
🔰 | Tuta | https://tuta.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_ | https://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/
Internet -- Mobile
🔰 | Calyx | https://calyxinstitute.org/membership/internet
Keyboard App
👀 | FUTO | https://keyboard.futo.org
👀 | KryptEy | https://github.com/amnesica/KryptEY
Map App
🔰 | GMaps WV | https://github.com/woheller69/maps
🔰 | CoMaps | https://www.comaps.app
🔰 | Organic Maps | https://organicmaps.app
Notes App
🔰 | Standard Notes | https://standardnotes.com
🔰 | Notesnook | https://notesnook.com
🔰 | Obsidian | https://obsidian.md
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
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
🔰 | CryptPad Presentation | https://cryptpad.fr
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 / Management / Removal (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)
🔰 | Twitter | replace "x" with "xcancel" in any X.com URL
-- | https://nitter.net
-- | https://xcancel.com
🔰 | YouTube |
Invidious (cloud or self-hosted) | https://invidious.io
-- | https://yewtu.be
-- | https://inv.nadeko.net
-- | https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/
Viewri | https://viewri.com/youtube/
🔰 | Reddit |
https://github.com/redlib-org/redlib-instances/blob/main/instances.md
https://viewri.com/reddit/
🔰 | Instagram |
https://easycomment.ai/instagram-story-viewer
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
Spreadsheet
🔰 | LibreOffice Calc | https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/calc
🔰 | Proton Sheets | https://proton.me/drive/sheets
🔰 | CryptPad Sheet | https://cryptpad.fr
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
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
📚 | Zola | https://www.getzola.org
Word Processor
🔰 | LibreOffice Writer | https://www.libreoffice.org/discover/writer
🔰 | Proton Docs | https://proton.me/drive/docs
🔰 | CryptPad Document | https://cryptpad.fr
Other Privacy Resource Lists
🔰 | 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
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