Lists of Privacy Focused Sites, Services, & Products

Here are some lists of various apps, services, sites, etc that respect privacy and free-speech.

Need a new email address? Check the list for the best providers. Want to get a VPN service? Look here first to see which ones are actually worth having. These lists are being updated constantly so keep checking back for more suggestions of good apps and services.

3D Modeling and CAD Software

Some free, open-source 3D Modeling/CAD choices that aren't collecting mountains of data

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Blenderhttps://www.blender.org/Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite
FreeCADhttp://www.freecadweb.org/Your own 3D parametric modeler
OpenSCADhttps://www.openscad.org/The Programmers Solid 3D CAD Modeller
BRL-CADhttps://brlcad.org/A powerful open source cross-platform solid modeling system
Wings 3Dhttp://www.wings3d.com/?page_id=22An advanced subdivision modeler that is both powerful and easy to use

Cloud Storage Providers

A few cloud storage providers that let your files be YOUR files

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Sync.comhttps://www.sync.com/Sync protects your privacy with end-to-end encryption — ensuring that your data in the cloud is safe, secure and 100% private.
Icedrivehttps://icedrive.net/The next generation of cloud storage
Tresorihttps://tresorit.com/Secure cloud collaboration, made easy
MEGAhttps://mega.io/Secure Cloud Storage and Communication. Privacy by Design
pCloudhttps://www.pcloud.com/Secure and simple to use cloud storage
iDrivehttps://www.idrive.com/Switch to the best backup and cloud storage.
SpiderOakhttps://spideroak.com/one/Secure, Reliable Backup to Protect Your Most Important Files from Data Loss and Ransomware
Syncthinghttps://syncthing.net/Syncthing is a continuous file synchronization program

Code/Text Editors

Write some code, take notes, whatever...but do it in a FOSS app!

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
VSCodiumhttps://vscodium.com/Free/Libre Open Source Software Binaries of VSCode
Atomhttps://atom.io/A hackable text editor for the 21st Century
Bluefishhttp://bluefish.openoffice.nl/index.htmlBluefish is a powerful editor targeted towards programmers and webdevelopers
GNU Emacshttps://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/An extensible, customizable, free/libre text editor — and more.
Geanyhttps://www.geany.org/The Flyweight IDE
Howlhttps://howl.io/A general purpose, fast and lightweight editor with a keyboard-centric minimalistic user interface.

DNS Services

Use one of these DNS services to gain more privacy and protect from malicious sites

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Quad9https://www.quad9.net/An open DNS recursive service for free security and high privacy
BlahDNShttps://blahdns.com/A hobby Adblock DNS project with DoH, DoT, DoQ, DNSCryptv2 support
NextDNShttps://nextdns.io/The new firewall for the modern Internet
OpenDNShttps://www.opendns.com/DNS services for your home or small business

Digital Note Apps

A selection of privacy-focused, consumer friendly note apps

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Turtlhttps://turtlapp.com/The secure, collaborative notebook
Joplinhttps://joplinapp.org/An open source note taking and to-do application with synchronisation capabilities
Standard Noteshttps://standardnotes.org/A free, open-source, and completely encrypted notes app
Paperworkhttps://paperwork.cloud/Paperwork is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to services like Evernote, Microsoft OneNote or Google Keep
Etherpadhttps://etherpad.org/Etherpad is a highly customizable open source online editor providing collaborative editing in really real-time
Lavernahttps://laverna.cc/Keep your notes private
HedgeDochttps://hedgedoc.org/The best platform to write and share markdown
SilentNoteshttps://www.martinstoeckli.ch/silentnotes/SilentNotes is note taking app which respects your privacy
NoteRiothttps://note.riot.ai/Easy to use note taking

Email Providers

Here's a few privacy-focused email providers worth checking out

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
CTemplarhttps://ctemplar.com/Secure, anonymous email provider based in Iceland
Tutanotahttps://tutanota.com/Secure email for everyone
Disroothttps://disroot.org/en/services/emailUse your favorite email client for this secure email provider
Countermailhttps://countermail.com/The secure email provider
Hushmailhttps://www.hushmail.com/Send and recieve private email
Posteohttps://posteo.de/enSecure, ad-free email

File Sharing Services

Share files with friends and family using one of these secure, private services

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
OnionSharehttps://onionshare.org/Privacy + Productivity
Lufihttps://upload.disroot.org/Disroot file uploader
Keybasehttps://keybase.io/End-to-end encryption for things that matter.
Datashhttps://datash.co/Datash helps you to send or receive text or file from one device to another one through browser.
Tresorit Sendhttps://send.tresorit.com/Truly Safe. Truly Free.
SafeNotehttps://safenote.co/upload-fileUpload files for secure file sharing.
FilePizzahttps://file.pizza/Free peer-to-peer file transfers in your browser.
ToffeeSharehttps://toffeeshare.com/Private file sharing without size limit

Google Suite/MS Office alternatives

Here are some alternatives to GSuite and MS Office that are MUCH better for privacy

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
LibreOfficehttps://www.libreoffice.org/Do more - easier, quicker, smarter
Skiffhttps://www.skiff.org/Skiff is a privacy-first collaboration platform with expiring links, secure workspaces, and password protection.
OpenOfficehttps://www.openoffice.org/The Free and Open Productivity Suite
Cryptpadhttps://cryptpad.fr/Collaboration suite that has end-to-end encrypted and is open-source
FreeOfficehttps://www.freeoffice.com/The best free alternative to Microsoft Office.

Home Automation Software

Open source home automation suites you can install and configure yourself

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
OpenHABhttps://www.openhab.org/Empowering the smart home
Home Assistanthttps://www.home-assistant.io/Awaken your home
ioBrokerhttps://www.iobroker.net/Open source automation platform

Messaging Apps

Have a chat with total privacy using one of these messaging apps

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Sessionhttps://getsession.org/Send messages, not metadata
Elementhttps://element.io/Own your conversations
Briarhttps://briarproject.org/Secure messaging, anywhere
Jamihttps://jami.net/aShare, freely and privately
Status.imhttps://status.im/Private, Secure Communication
Snikkethttps://snikket.org/Chat that is simple, secure, and private

Mobile Operating Systems

A list of mobile operating systems that can help you put an end to big tech tracking your every move.

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
LineageOShttps://lineageos.org/A free and open-source operating system for various devices, based on the Android mobile platform
CalyxOShttps://calyxinstitute.org/projects/calyx-osA mobile OS built with privacy and security as its primary concern
Graphenehttps://grapheneos.org/GrapheneOS is a privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility developed as a non-profit open source project
/e/https://e.foundation/Your data is YOUR data
Sailfish OShttps://sailfishos.org/The mobile OS with built-in privacy
Replicanthttps://www.replicant.us/A free software mobile operating system putting the emphasis on freedom and privacy/security
Mobile Linuxhttps://ubuntu-touch.io/There are a handful of phones that run mobile Linux and there are several distros from which to choose.

Odysee channels - Tech

Here are some good tech channels to follow on Odysee

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Alpha Nerd/Mental Outlawhttps://odysee.com/@AlphaNerd:8videos about FOSS, PCs, Linux, privacy, and more
DASGeekhttps://odysee.com/@dasgeek:bvideos about Linux, gaming, and PC hardware
DistroTubehttps://odysee.com/@DistroTube:2In depth videos about all things Linux
Hardware Unboxedhttps://odysee.com/@HardwareUnboxed:2videos about PC hardware, especially gaming PC components
Rob Braxman Techhttps://odysee.com/@RobBraxmanTech:6videos about privacy and security with technology
Techlorehttps://odysee.com/@techlore:3videos about privacy and security with technology

Online Privacy Tools

Some tools for checking privacy and gaining a little more privacy.

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Cover Your Trackshttps://coveryourtracks.eff.org/See how trackers view your browser
Am I FLoCedhttps://amifloced.org/Google is testing FLoC on Chrome users worldwide. Find out if you're one of them.
DNS Leak Testhttps://www.dnsleaktest.com/If you aren't using your default DNS service, see if your traffic is still leaking to your ISP.
Just Delete Mehttps://justdeleteme.xyz/A directory of direct links to delete your account from web services.
Forgethttps://forget.codl.fr/about/Automatically delete old posts from Twitter or Mastodon.
Blacklighthttps://themarkup.org/blacklightA real-time website privacy inspector.

Online Retailers for Laptops

A Linux laptop is your best choice for privacy and security

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
System76https://system76.com/laptopsThe most well known place to buy well made Linux laptop
Purismhttps://puri.sm/Purism is home of the Librem laptops
Pine64https://www.pine64.org/One of the most popular Linux phone makers also makes laptops
Juno Computershttps://junocomputers.com/Juno sells laptops and desktops that come with Ubuntu pre-installed
Laptop with Linuxhttps://laptopwithlinux.com/Go for freedom, safety, reliability and happiness, choose Open Source!
Slimbookhttps://slimbook.es/en/SLIMBOOK was born in 2015 with the idea of being the best brand in the computer market with GNU / Linux
RetroFreedomhttps://retrofreedom.com/RetroFreedom sells secure, privacy-respecting laptops that give you freedom
Entrowarehttps://www.entroware.com/store/From aluminum ultrabooks to full desktop replacements, Entroware has you covered
Libiquityhttps://shop.libiquity.com/Libiquity sells electronics and services that respect their owners’ freedom and privacy
Star Labshttps://starlabs.systems/Star Labs offer a range of laptops designed and built specifically for Linux

Other Privacy Websites

There is a lot of info out there about privacy and I can't cover all of it. Here are some more good sites like this one.

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Privacy Toolshttps://fried.com/privacyThe Ultimate Guide to Online Privacy
PrivacyToolshttps://privacytools.io/PrivacyTools provides services, tools and knowledge to protect your privacy against global mass surveillance.
Techlorehttps://techlore.tech/Spreading privacy & security to the masses
Awesome Privacyhttps://github.com/pluja/awesome-privacyFriends don't spy.
Decentralization Centralhttps://decentralizationcentral.com/Everything here is based on varying degrees of decentralized technologies.
Restore Privacyhttps://restoreprivacy.com/Breaking privacy news, original research, and helpful resources

PC/Laptop Operating Systems

Linux is really your only option if you care about privacy, but it has really become a darned good option!

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Ubuntuhttps://ubuntu.com/The easiest to learn and use Linux distro with great support
Linux Minthttps://linuxmint.com/Another easy to learn and use version of Linux
Manjaro Linuxhttps://manjaro.org/Free operating system for everyone!
Arch Linuxhttps://archlinux.org/Linux for the person who already knows Linux and wants to FULLY customize their experience
Tailshttps://tails.boum.org/Tails is a portable operating system that protects against surveillance and censorship
Whonixhttps://www.whonix.org/Software That Can Anonymize Everything You Do Online
Quobes OShttps://www.qubes-os.org/A reasonably secure operating system
Mofo Linuxhttps://mofolinux.com/Linux designed to defeat state censorship and surveillance
Kodachi Linuxhttps://www.digi77.com/linux-kodachi/The secure OS
Septorhttps://septor.sourceforge.io/Septor Linux is a operating system that provides users with a perfect computing environment for surfing the Internet anonymously
TENShttp://gettens.online/Trusted End Node Security (TENS) creates a secure computing environment from trusted read-only media on almost any Intel-based computer

Password Managers

Use a password manager so you can have a different password for every site

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
KeePassXChttps://keepassxc.org/Never forget a password again
Bitwardenhttps://bitwarden.com/Bitwarden offers the easiest and safest way for teams and individuals to store and share sensitive data from any device
LessPasshttps://lesspass.com/#/Stateless Password Manager
Master Passwordhttps://masterpassword.app/Master Password is a completely new way of thinking about passwords
Psonohttps://psono.com/Open Source Password Manager

Search Engines

Search engines that don't track your every move

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Qwanthttps://www.qwant.com/The search engine that respects your privacy
Searxhttps://searx.me/Privacy-respecting metasearch engine
StartPagehttps://www.startpage.com/Don't be tracked online. Protect your personal data.
Brave Searchhttps://search.brave.com/Search the web privately...
MetaGerhttps://metager.org/An open-source, meta-search engine run by a German non-profit
Presearchhttps://presearch.org/Presearch is a Decentralized Search Engine
Swisscowshttps://swisscows.com/Privacy safe WEB-search; based out of Switzerland
Gibiruhttps://gibiru.com/Protecting Your Privacy Since 2009
Disconnect Searchhttps://search.disconnect.me/Anonymous VPN service for popular search engines

Smart Watches

Open-source and DIY watches that won't track your every move

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
PineTimehttps://www.pine64.org/pinetime/An Open Source Smartwatch For Your Favorite Devices. Low Cost, High Fidelity.
Bangle.js Smart Watchhttps://shop.espruino.com/banglejsBangle.js is an open, hackable smartwatch.
Open-SmartWatchhttps://open-smartwatch.github.io/A completely DIY smart watch
Watchyhttps://watchy.sqfmi.com/Open-source e-paper watch
WatchXhttps://www.watchx.io/product/watchxIt's a smartwatch that, anyone can build & code
Lilygo TTGO T-Watchhttp://www.lilygo.cn/prod_view.aspx?TypeId=50053&Id=1290&FId=t3:50053:3A programmable, wearable, & interactive development device.
AsteroidOShttps://asteroidos.org/AsteroidOS is an open-source operating system for smartwatches.

Social Media Frontends

If you HAVE to use mainstream social media, consider using a private frontend

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Libreddithttps://libredd.it/Private Reddit frontend
Teddithttps://teddit.net/Private Reddit frontend
Nitterhttps://nitter.net/Private Twitter frontend
Bibliogramhttps://bibliogram.art/Private Instagram frontend
Invidioushttps://invidious.snopyta.org/feed/popularPrivate YouTube frontend

Social Networks

Most social networks censor or track you. I can't point you to many here as lots CLAIM to be for free-speech but aren't.

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Mindshttps://www.minds.comThe leading alternative social network
Gabhttps://gab.comUnbiased social media
Mastodonhttps://joinmastodon.org/A platform that is community-owned and ad-free
Pixelfedhttps://pixelfed.org/A free and ethical photo sharing platform
Diasporahttps://diasporafoundation.org/The online social world where you are in control
AKASHA Reloadedhttps://akasha.world/A decentralized social network that is censorship-resistant by design
Friendicahttps://friendi.ca/A Decentralized Social Network

Social News Aggregators (think Reddit)

skip the censorship and tracking on Reddit and get news and memes from these sites instead

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Aetherhttps://getaether.net/Peer-to-peer ephemeral public communities
Tildeshttps://tildes.net/A non-profit community site driven by its users' interests
Lemmyhttps://lemmy.ml/An Open-Source Federated Reddit Alternative
Saidithttps://saidit.net/A community focused on respectful communication and a variety of perspectives.

Team Messaging & Collboration

Chat, share files, and work as a team with these FOSS apps

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Mattermosthttps://mattermost.com/The Only Open Source Collaboration Platform for Developers
Wirehttps://wire.com/Modern day collaboration meets the most advanced security and superior user experience.
Zuliphttps://zulip.com/Chat for distributed teams.
Jitsihttps://jitsi.org/More secure, more flexible, and completely free video conferencing

VPN Services

Some secure VPN services based in countries with good privacy laws

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Mullvadhttps://mullvad.net/en/In a society increasingly determined to erode that right, a fast, trustworthy and easy-to-use VPN is a good first step toward reclaiming it.
ProtonVPNhttps://protonvpn.com/High-speed Swiss VPN that safeguards your privacy
IVPNhttps://www.ivpn.net/A Gibraltar based open-source, no-log VPN provider.

Video Streaming Platforms

Skip the censorship on YouTube by using one of these platforms instead

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Odyseehttps://odysee.com/A video platform built on LBRY aiming to be the successor to YouTube
Bitchutehttps://www.bitchute.com/BitChute aims to put creators first and provide them with a service that they can use to flourish and express their ideas freely.
Rumblehttps://rumble.com/Rumble is your rights management video platform. Host, distribute and monetize all your professional, social and viral video.
D.Tubehttps://d.tube/DTube is a community powered video sharing platform where users vote on videos to reward creators, curators, influencers and viewers in cryptocurrency.
PeerTubehttps://joinpeertube.org/Free software to take back control of your videos
BitTube.tvhttps://bittube.tv/A brand new social network for content creators and streamers
Streemiehttps://streemie.com/Blockchain based video sharing platform

Voice Assistants

These voice assistants won't constantly send everything you say to a big tech overlord like Siri, Alexa, Bixby, or Google Assistant

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Mycrofthttps://mycroft.ai/An open and private voice assistant
Open Assistanthttps://openassistant.org/Open source voice assistant
Jasperhttps://jasperproject.github.io/Control everything with your voice

Web Browsers

A handful of web browsers that won't spy on your every move

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Bravehttps://brave.com/A fast, private browser that allows you to earn crypto for viewing ads
Iridiumhttps://iridiumbrowser.de/A browser securing your privacy. That's it.
Tor Browserhttps://www.torproject.org/An insanely private browser that routes your traffic through the Tor network
Vivaldihttps://vivaldi.com/A private browser with a ton of customization possibilities
Dissenterhttps://dissenter.com/downloadA private browser that values free-speech and has a built in comments system
Ungoogled Chromiumhttps://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromiumA lightweight approach to removing Google web service dependency
LibreWolfhttps://librewolf-community.gitlab.io/A fork of Firefox, focused on privacy, security and freedom.

Windows Antivirus

If you HAVE to use Windows, these antivirus companies send less data and respect your privacy a bit more than others

IconSite/ServiceLinkTagline or Note
Emsisofthttps://www.emsisoft.com/We aim to make the most powerful yet light-weight protection
ClamAVhttps://www.clamav.net/ClamAV® is an open source antivirus engine for detecting trojans, viruses, malware & other malicious threats.
Windows Defenderhttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/comprehensive-securityIt is already installed, it does an ok job, and you won't be giving your data to yet another third party