Alternatives

Notes

• De-Googled Android with a focus on mainstream usability
• Developed by the /e/ Foundation based in France - EU jurisdiction
• microG included for app compatibility
• Murena cloud services offered as an optional privacy-respecting backend
• Wider device support than GrapheneOS
• Good entry point for non-technical users making their first move away from stock Android

Notes

• Based in Iceland - strong privacy laws and outside EU and Five Eyes jurisdiction
• Named after George Orwell's novel - privacy and free speech are core values
• Offers shared hosting, VPS, and virtual servers
• Free WHOIS privacy included
• Accepts anonymous payment options
• Transparency reports published
• Strong choice for high-risk users wanting hosting and domain registration in a strong jurisdiction outside major surveillance alliances

Notes

• Based in Cyprus - subject to EU GDPR
• Supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNS-over-QUIC
• Built-in ad and tracker blocking at DNS level
• No-log mode available
• Free tier available with limited customisation
• Open source server components
• Better jurisdiction than US-based alternatives

Notes

• Fully open source Android authenticator
• Local-first - TOTP secrets stored encrypted on your device
• No account required - no cloud sync unless you configure it yourself
• Encrypted backup export - restore to any device manually
• No telemetry, no analytics, no network access required
• Gold standard for Android 2FA

Notes

• Rolling release - always up to date, no major version upgrades
• Minimal base install - you build exactly the system you want
• No telemetry, no data collection, no bloat
• AUR provides access to vast software catalogue
• Excellent documentation via the Arch Wiki - best Linux reference available
• Foundation for many derivative distributions including Garuda, CachyOS, and Manjaro

Notes

• Open source Google Play Store client - access Play Store apps without a Google account
• Anonymous login via shared community accounts
• No Google account required - no app downloads tied to your identity
• Useful as a bridge for accessing apps not available on F-Droid

Notes

• Artist-owned platform - revenue goes directly to creators
• No algorithmic feed pushing advertising-driven content
• Purchase model - buy music to own it rather than stream via subscription
• Listening data not sold to advertisers
• Best option for users who want to support artists directly while avoiding big tech streaming

Notes

• Zero-knowledge E2EE by default - Bitwarden cannot access your vault
• Fully open source - clients and server independently auditable
• Self-hostable for complete data control
• Independent security audits published regularly
• Free tier is genuinely useful - premium tier very affordable
• Available on all major platforms including Linux and command line
• Most widely recommended open source password manager

Notes

• Built on the open AT Protocol - decentralised by design
• Growing user base with meaningful network effect post-Twitter exodus
• AT Protocol allows self-hosting and data portability
• More accessible to mainstream users than Mastodon due to simpler onboarding
• No advertising yet

Notes

• Chromium-based with strong privacy defaults out of the box
• Built-in ad and tracker blocking without extensions
• Fingerprinting protection built in
• Sync available via encrypted sync chain - no Brave account required

Notes

• Independent search index - not built on Bing or Google results
• No user tracking, no advertising profile
• Goggles feature allows customising and sharing ranking rules
• Strong choice for users who want truly independent results without big tech index dependency

Notes

• Fully peer-to-peer - no central servers, messages routed via Tor or direct WiFi/Bluetooth
• No phone number or email required to register
• Works without internet in disaster or censorship scenarios via mesh networking
• Designed specifically for activists, journalists, and high-risk users

Notes

• Arch-based rolling release with strong performance optimisation focus
• Ships with custom-compiled kernels optimised for modern hardware
• BORE, EEVDF, and other scheduler patches for improved desktop responsiveness
• x86-64-v3 and v4 optimised packages for supported CPUs
• Based in Germany - better jurisdiction than most Arch-based alternatives

Notes

• De-Googled Android with a focus on usability alongside privacy
• Includes microG by default - provides Google service compatibility without full Google Play
• Backed by the Calyx Institute, a New York nonprofit
• Supports a wider range of devices than GrapheneOS
• Built-in VPN and Tor support via included apps
• Strong OTA update cadence with timely security patches

Notes

• At-cost domain pricing - no markup on wholesale prices
• Free WHOIS privacy included

Notes

• Zero-knowledge E2EE for photos and documents
• Based in Estonia - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• Free tier available with limited storage
• Accepts anonymous payment options

Notes

• Zero-knowledge E2EE for all notes and documents
• Based in Estonia - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• Also supports encrypted photo storage alongside notes
• Free tier available with limited storage
• Accepts anonymous payment options

Notes

• Encrypts files client-side before uploading to any cloud - works with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.
• Open source and independently audited
• Free on desktop - one-time purchase on mobile
• Vault-based approach - encrypted files appear as normal folders locally
• No server component - entirely client-side, no account required

Notes

• Zero-knowledge E2EE for all documents - CryptPad cannot access your content
• Includes text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, kanban, and whiteboards
• Based in France - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• Open source and self-hostable for full data control
• Collaborative editing fully supported with E2EE preserved
• Funded by European research grants and subscriptions - no advertising
• Free tier available with limited storage

Notes

• The original community-maintained Linux distribution - foundation for Ubuntu, Mint, and many others
• Governed by the Debian Project - fully volunteer-driven with no corporate sponsor
• No telemetry, no data collection, no advertising
• Extremely stable - packages thoroughly tested before inclusion in stable release
• Available on a wider range of hardware architectures than almost any other distribution
• Vast software repository - one of the largest of any Linux distribution

Notes

• Based in France - EU jurisdiction with stronger legal protections than US-based alternatives
• Does not sell listening data to advertisers in the same way as Spotify
• FLAC quality streaming available on higher paid tiers
• Paid tier significantly reduces third-party tracking compared to the free tier

Notes

• Lightweight open source home automation platform
• Based in the Netherlands - EU jurisdiction
• Fully local - no cloud dependency
• Lower resource usage than Home Assistant - suitable for older or less powerful hardware
• Supports a wide range of protocols including Zigbee, Z-Wave, and MQTT
• Good alternative for users who find Home Assistant too resource-heavy

Notes

• Operated by DuckDuckGo - one of the more trusted US-based privacy companies
• No account required - use anonymously without signing up
• DuckDuckGo does not store conversations or tie them to any user profile
• Proxies requests to underlying models (GPT-4, Claude, Llama) anonymously - providers cannot link queries to you
• Free with no usage caps on basic models

Notes

• No user tracking, no personal search history, no advertising profile
• Search results not filtered by previous behaviour - same results for everyone
• Bang shortcuts (!g, !w, !yt) allow quick redirects to other sites
• Most accessible privacy-respecting search engine for mainstream users

Notes

• Based in Germany - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• Plants trees with advertising revenue - ethical business model
• Does not build personal profiles or sell user data to advertisers
• Search history not stored beyond session
• Good stepping stone for mainstream users not yet ready for DuckDuckGo

Notes

• Zero-knowledge E2EE by default - Ente cannot access your photos or videos
• Open source clients with published security audits
• Available on iOS, Android, Linux, macOS, and Windows
• Face recognition runs entirely on-device - no server-side processing
• Collaborative albums supported with E2EE preserved
• Free tier available with limited storage
• Strong direct alternative to Google Photos in terms of features and UX

Notes

• Minimalist real-time collaborative text editor
• Fully open source - self-hostable with complete data control
• No account required on self-hosted instances
• Widely used by journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious organisations

Notes

• Community-maintained repository of free and open source Android apps
• All apps verified to be open source before inclusion
• No account required - browse and install anonymously
• Anti-features system flags apps with ads, tracking, or proprietary dependencies
• No Google Play Services dependency
• Can be supplemented with IzzyOnDroid repo for faster-updated FOSS apps
• Gold standard for privacy-respecting Android app distribution

Notes

• E2EE for calls between Apple devices
• SharePlay and screen sharing supported
• FaceTime links allow non-Apple users to join via browser

Notes

• Reputable independent company with a long track record
• Strong focus on standards compliance and reliability

Notes

• Bundled with Fastmail Mail and Contacts
• No advertising, subscription-only business model
• CalDAV compliant - works with any standard calendar client
• Reputable independent company with strong reliability track record

Notes

• Bundled with Fastmail Mail and Calendar
• CardDAV compliant - works with any standard contacts client
• No advertising, subscription-only business model
• Reputable independent company with strong reliability track record

Notes

• Backed by Red Hat - corporate sponsor but genuinely open source governance
• Cutting-edge package versions - closer to upstream than most distributions
• Strong security defaults including SELinux enabled out of the box
• No telemetry or data collection beyond optional crash reporting
• Excellent hardware support especially for newer devices
• Solid foundation for developers and technically confident users

Notes

• E2EE by default - zero-knowledge architecture means Filen cannot access your files
• Based in Germany, subject to strict EU GDPR enforcement
• Open source clients
• Generous free tier compared to most E2EE alternatives
• Desktop sync, mobile apps, and web access all available

Notes

• Maintained by Mozilla Foundation - nonprofit with genuine privacy commitments
• The most important non-Chromium browser engine - preserving web diversity
• Highly configurable privacy settings and extensive extension support
• uBlock Origin support - still the gold standard content blocker
• Best mainstream browser for users who want privacy without sacrificing compatibility

Notes

• Federated Facebook-style social network built on ActivityPub
• Supports long-form posts, photo sharing, events, and groups
• Self-hostable with full data control
• Interoperable with Mastodon, Diaspora, and other Fediverse platforms
• Stable and mature platform

Notes

• Federated music hosting and listening platform built on ActivityPub
• Self-hostable - full control over your music library and listening data
• Interoperable with Mastodon and other Fediverse platforms
• No advertising, no tracking
• Active open source development with a dedicated community

Notes

• Based in France - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• Long-standing reputation as a privacy-respecting registrar and hosting provider
• Free WHOIS privacy included by default
• Offers shared hosting, VPS, and managed cloud instances
• No advertising, no dark patterns
• Supports a wide range of TLDs

Notes

• Arch-based rolling release with opinionated defaults
• Ships with Btrfs and automatic Timeshift snapshots - easy system rollback
• Performance-tuned kernel and system settings out of the box
• Dr460nized (KDE) edition is the flagship - multiple desktop options available
• Good choice for users who want Arch power without full manual setup

Notes

• The gold standard for private and secure mobile OS
• Based on Android with Google entirely removed
• Hardened security model beyond stock Android - memory protection and sandboxing improvements
• Supports sandboxed Google Play - run Android apps without granting Google system-level access
• Active development with rapid security patch deployment
• No telemetry, no data collection by default
• Strong community and documentation
• Best choice for technically aware users who want maximum security and privacy

Notes

• The gold standard for private, self-hosted smart home automation
• Runs entirely locally - no cloud dependency required for core functionality
• Supports thousands of devices and integrations via local protocols
• No data sent to third parties when running locally
• Active open source community with frequent updates
• Nabu Casa cloud subscription optional - funds development and adds remote access
• Can replace cloud dependency for many commercial smart home devices

Notes

• Rapidly developed self-hosted Google Photos alternative
• Machine learning features including face recognition and object detection run entirely on your server
• Mobile apps for automatic backup on iOS and Android
• Active development with frequent releases - feature parity with Google Photos improving fast

Notes

• Open source YouTube frontend - access YouTube content without Google tracking
• No YouTube account required to browse or watch
• Fully self-hostable or accessible via public community instances
• No ads on videos served via Invidious
• Supports subscriptions without a YouTube account

Notes

• Free and open source self-hosted media server
• Full control over your own video library - no third-party server involvement
• No data collection, no subscription fees, no advertising
• Client apps available for Android, iOS, web, smart TVs, and desktop
• Transcoding, subtitles, and library management all self-hosted

Notes

• Music library management and streaming alongside video - one install covers both
• No cloud dependency - entirely self-hosted
• Free and open source with active development
• Mobile playback supported via Jellyfin mobile clients

Notes

• Fully open source and free to use via meet.jit.si or self-hosted
• No account required for participants
• Self-hosting removes reliance on a third-party server entirely
• Widely used by privacy-conscious organisations and journalists

Notes

• Fully open source and free - no subscription required
• Supports Markdown natively - good for technical users
• Sync via Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Joplin Cloud
• Available on all major platforms including Linux
• No account required for local-only use

Notes

• Based in Norway - outside EU but subject to EEA privacy agreements and GDPR equivalent
• All data stored exclusively on Norwegian servers - no US cloud infrastructure
• Norwegian law prohibits data transfer to US authorities without Norwegian court order
• Generous free tier with unlimited storage for original quality photos
• No advertising business model - subscription funded
• Family and business plans available

Notes

• Subscription-only - no advertising business model whatsoever
• No user tracking - business model explicitly does not depend on data collection
• High quality results - widely regarded as best search quality among privacy alternatives
• Lenses and personalisation features allow result customisation without behavioural profiling

Notes

• Fully local - encrypted vault stored as a file on your device
• No cloud sync by default - data never leaves your device without explicit action
• Open source with regular independent audits
• Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Sync via any backend of your choice - Nextcloud, Syncthing, etc.
• No account required - entirely offline capable
• Gold standard for users who want zero cloud dependency

Notes

• TOTP generation built directly into KeePassXC
• Stores 2FA secrets alongside passwords in the same encrypted vault
• No separate app required for desktop use
• Ideal for users already using KeePassXC who want simplicity

Notes

• Based in Germany - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• Focused on outdoor navigation - hiking, cycling, and running
• No advertising on paid tier
• Community-contributed route highlights and recommendations
• One-time region purchases rather than subscription model

Notes

• Federated Reddit alternative built on ActivityPub
• Self-hostable with full data control
• No advertising, no algorithmic feed
• Grew significantly following Reddit's 2023 API changes
• Interoperable with other ActivityPub platforms

Notes

• Independent platform not owned by any studio, streaming service, or advertising company
• Based in New Zealand, outside US and EU primary jurisdiction
• Strong film community with diary, lists, and social features
• Full data export available for your diary, ratings, and watchlist
• Monetised via Pro subscriptions rather than advertising

Notes

• The gold standard for open source desktop office software
• Fully local - no cloud sync, no account required, no data collection
• Backed by The Document Foundation - nonprofit governance
• Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux
• Strong compatibility with Microsoft Office formats
• Large and active open source community with long-term sustainability
• Ideal for users who prefer local-first working without any cloud dependency

Notes

• Firefox fork with privacy hardening applied out of the box
• Telemetry, crash reporting, and Mozilla data collection removed by default
• Ships with uBlock Origin pre-installed and configured
• No sync - entirely local
• Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Notes

• One of the longest-running and most widely supported custom Android ROMs
• De-Googled Android base - Google services removed by default
• Broadest device support of any custom ROM - hundreds of supported devices
• Community governed - no corporate owner
• Large and active community with strong documentation
• Good option for extending the life of older devices no longer receiving manufacturer updates

Notes

• Based on Ubuntu LTS - very stable and well-supported
• Cinnamon desktop provides the most familiar experience for Windows migrants
• No telemetry, no advertising, no data collection
• Excellent hardware compatibility via Ubuntu base
• Strong community and documentation
• Widely recommended as the best entry point for Linux newcomers

Notes

• Fully open source outliner and knowledge base
• Local-first - notes stored as plain text files on your device
• No account required - data never leaves your device without explicit sync
• Sync via any backend of your choice
• Graph view and bidirectional linking for knowledge management
• Active open source development with a strong community

Notes

• Based in Germany, subject to strict EU GDPR enforcement
• Powered entirely by renewable energy
• No advertising, no data selling - subscription-only business model
• Includes calendar, contacts, and cloud storage in one privacy-respecting suite

Notes

• Based in Belgium, subject to EU GDPR
• CalDAV compliant - works with standard calendar clients
• No advertising, subscription business model for paid tiers
• Belgian law requires a court order for data access - stronger protection than US jurisdiction
• Bundled with Mailfence's mail and contacts suite

Notes

• Based in Belgium, subject to EU GDPR
• CardDAV compliant - works with standard contacts clients
• No advertising, subscription business model for paid tiers
• Belgian law requires a court order for data access
• Bundled with Mailfence's mail and calendar suite

Notes

• Federated and decentralised - no single company owns the network
• Self-hostable with full control over your data
• No algorithmic feed by default - chronological timeline
• No advertising business model - instances funded by donations or subscriptions
• Part of the ActivityPub Fediverse - interoperable with other federated platforms
• Largest and most mature federated social network

Notes

• Based in France - EU jurisdiction with GDPR protections
• Mistral's models are open weight - deployable locally via Ollama
• Better jurisdiction than US-based alternatives
• Strong alternative to ChatGPT from a jurisdiction standpoint

Notes

• Part of the Murena de-Googled Android ecosystem
• Based in France, subject to EU GDPR
• CalDAV compliant
• /e/ Foundation is a nonprofit - no advertising business model

Notes

• Free WHOIS privacy included by default
• Competitive pricing for both domains and hosting with transparent renewal rates
• Better trust profile than GoDaddy - no dark patterns in registration or hosting checkout
• Offers shared hosting and VPS alongside domain registration

Notes

• Lightweight self-hosted music server compatible with the Subsonic API
• Stream your own music library to any device
• No cloud dependency - entirely self-hosted
• Compatible with a wide range of Subsonic clients on all platforms
• Very low resource usage - runs well on a Raspberry Pi or small VPS
• Ideal for users who own their music and want Spotify-like streaming from their own library

Notes

• Open source Android YouTube client - no Google account required
• No ads, no tracking, no Google service dependencies
• Supports background play and audio-only mode without YouTube Premium
• Available via F-Droid or direct APK download
• Also supports Odysee, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and other platforms

Notes

• Gold standard for self-hosted cloud storage and productivity
• Full control over your data when self-hosted
• Managed hosting available via numerous EU-based providers
• Includes file storage, calendar, contacts, notes, and video calling in one suite
• Active development with a large open source community

Notes

• Full data control when self-hosted - no third-party server involvement
• CalDAV compliant - works with any standard calendar client
• Managed hosting available via numerous EU-based Nextcloud providers
• Integrated with Nextcloud's broader productivity suite
• Nextcloud's encryption module is server-side only - not true E2EE, and enabling it has caused data loss for some users

Notes

• Full data control when self-hosted - no third-party server involvement
• CardDAV compliant - works with any standard contacts client including iOS and Android native apps
• Managed hosting available via numerous EU-based Nextcloud providers
• Integrated with Nextcloud's broader productivity suite including Calendar and Mail
• Active development as part of the broader Nextcloud ecosystem

Notes

• Simple Markdown notes app built into Nextcloud
• Full data control when self-hosted
• Syncs with mobile apps on iOS and Android
• Plain text Markdown storage - future-proof and portable

Notes

• Collabora Online is a LibreOffice-based browser editor integrated into Nextcloud
• Full data control when self-hosted
• Real-time collaborative editing supported
• Strong Microsoft Office format compatibility via LibreOffice engine
• Managed Nextcloud providers offer this without self-hosting burden

Notes

• Full data control when self-hosted - no third-party server involvement
• Automatic photo backup from mobile via Nextcloud mobile app
• Face recognition available via open source plugin - runs on your own server
• Managed hosting available via EU-based Nextcloud providers

Notes

• Built into the Nextcloud self-hosted productivity suite
• Full control over data when self-hosted - no third-party server involvement
• E2EE for calls available in recent versions
• Ideal for organisations already running Nextcloud infrastructure
• Managed Nextcloud providers available for those who cannot self-host

Notes

• Highly configurable DNS with extensive filtering and privacy options
• Supports DNS-over-HTTPS and DNS-over-TLS
• No-log mode available - queries not retained when configured correctly
• Free tier available with limited monthly queries
• Better configurability than Google or Cloudflare

Notes

• Founded by Peter Sunde (co-founder of The Pirate Bay) with privacy as a core mission
• Njalla registers domains on your behalf - they are the legal registrant, you hold usage rights
• This model means your personal details are never in WHOIS regardless of TLD
• Accepts cryptocurrency and cash payment
• Legal entity registered in Nevis (St. Kitts and Nevis) for registrant anonymity - GDPR does not apply
• Transparency reports published
• Strong choice for high-risk users who need maximum registrant anonymity

Notes

• Fedora-based distribution maintained by GloriousEggroll (Proton-GE creator)
• Ships with gaming-optimised kernel patches and drivers pre-configured
• Includes proprietary drivers, codecs, and tools Fedora omits by default
• Strong choice for Linux gaming without manual post-install configuration

Notes

• E2EE by default - zero-knowledge architecture
• Open source clients published on GitHub
• Available on all major platforms including Linux
• Free tier available with a reasonable feature set
• Focused alternative to Evernote with similar organisational features

Notes

• Local-first - all notes stored as plain Markdown files on your device by default
• No account required for local use - data never leaves your device without sync
• Obsidian Sync is a paid end-to-end encrypted sync option
• Can sync via any self-chosen backend (Nextcloud, Syncthing, iCloud) instead
• Large and active plugin community extends functionality significantly

Notes

• Installs and updates apps directly from source - GitHub, GitLab, F-Droid, etc.
• No intermediary repository - gets apps straight from developers
• No account required
• Fully open source
• Bypasses both Google Play and F-Droid signing delays - always latest release from source

Notes

• Built on LBRY, a decentralised blockchain-based content protocol
• No algorithmic engagement manipulation in the same style as YouTube
• Ad-free on base tier - optional paid features
• Content creators paid via LBRY Credits cryptocurrency

Notes

• Run open source LLMs entirely locally - no data ever leaves your device
• Supports a wide range of models including Llama, Mistral, Gemma, and Phi
• No account required - install and run immediately
• Active development with frequent model and feature updates
• Many third-party UIs available (Open WebUI, etc.)
• No telemetry, no data collection, no cloud dependency
• Gold standard for fully private local AI inference

Notes

• Mature open source home automation platform
• Based in Germany - EU jurisdiction
• Fully local - no cloud dependency
• Vendor and technology agnostic - wide protocol support
• myopenHAB cloud connector optional for remote access - funded by community
• Strong choice for users who want a mature, stable alternative to Home Assistant

Notes

• Community-maintained open map dataset - no single company owns the data
• No account required for basic use - fully anonymous browsing
• No advertising, no tracking by default
• Raw map data freely available for download and self-hosting
• Powers many privacy-respecting map applications as the underlying data source

Notes

• Built on OpenStreetMap data - no proprietary data collection
• No account required - fully anonymous use
• No advertising, no tracking, no telemetry
• Fully offline - maps downloaded to device, no data sent during navigation
• Available on iOS and Android
• Actively developed with a focus on hiking, cycling, and walking

Notes

• Built on OpenStreetMap data - no proprietary data collection
• No account required - fully anonymous use
• Fully offline navigation with downloadable maps
• Highly configurable - more features than Organic Maps
• Available on iOS and Android
• Supports a wide range of map overlays including hiking, cycling, and nautical charts
• Plugin ecosystem extends functionality significantly

Notes

• Federated video platform built on ActivityPub - connects to the wider Fediverse including Mastodon
• Videos hosted on independent instances - no single point of control or corporate ownership
• No advertising, no algorithmic recommendations by default
• Fully self-hostable - complete control over your instance and data
• Peer-to-peer delivery reduces bandwidth load on instance owners
• Developed by Framasoft, a French nonprofit

Notes

• Network-wide DNS ad and tracker blocking running on your own hardware
• No third-party server involvement - entirely self-hosted
• No logs sent anywhere - complete local control
• Pairs well with Unbound for fully recursive DNS with no upstream resolver
• Well documented - Raspberry Pi ideal as always-on host
• Gold standard for home network DNS privacy

Notes

• Federated Instagram alternative built on ActivityPub
• No algorithmic feed, no advertising, no tracking
• Self-hostable with full data control
• Interoperable with Mastodon and other Fediverse platforms

Notes

• Developed by System76, a US Linux hardware manufacturer
• Based on Ubuntu LTS - stable and well-supported package base
• Excellent out-of-the-box hardware support especially for NVIDIA GPUs
• Strong focus on developer and creative workflows
• No telemetry or advertising
• Good choice for users transitioning from Windows or macOS

Notes

• Independent US-based registrar with competitive pricing
• Free WHOIS privacy included by default on all domains - not sold as an add-on
• No upselling dark patterns unlike GoDaddy or Network Solutions
• Transparent pricing with no surprise renewal markups
• Good reputation in the independent web community

Notes

• Based in Germany, subject to strict EU GDPR enforcement
• No advertising, no data selling - subscription-only
• Anonymous payment accepted (cash by post)
• Powered entirely by renewable energy
• Strips metadata from incoming emails at the server level

Notes

• E2EE by default - event titles, descriptions, locations, and participants all encrypted
• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• Open source clients with published security audits
• Integrated with Proton's broader ecosystem (Mail, Drive, VPN)
• Free tier available as part of Proton's base plan

Notes

• E2EE by default for contact details - Proton cannot access your data
• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• Open source clients with published security audits
• Integrated with Proton's broader ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, Drive)
• Free tier available as part of Proton's base plan

Notes

• E2EE by default - Proton cannot access your document contents
• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• Collaborative editing supported with E2EE preserved
• Integrated with Proton Drive for storage
• Free tier available as part of Proton's base plan

Notes

• E2EE by default for all stored files - Proton cannot access your data
• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• Open source clients with published security audits
• Integrated with Proton's broader ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, VPN)
• Free tier available with limited storage

Notes

• Sits within Proton's E2EE ecosystem, but AI inference requires processing text server-side - not E2EE
• Writing assistance features integrated in Proton Mail and Docs
• Swiss jurisdiction consistent with other Proton services

Notes

• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections

Notes

• Sits within Proton's existing privacy-respecting ecosystem
• Swiss jurisdiction consistent with other Proton services

Notes

• E2EE collaborative document editing - Proton cannot access your content
• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• Real-time collaboration supported with E2EE preserved
• Integrated with Proton Drive for storage
• Free tier available as part of Proton's base plan

Notes

• Zero-knowledge E2EE by default
• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• Open source clients with published security audits
• Integrated with Proton's broader ecosystem (Mail, Calendar, Drive)
• Includes email alias generation built in
• Free tier available as part of Proton's base plan

Notes

• E2EE by default - Proton cannot access uploaded photos
• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• Integrated with Proton's broader ecosystem
• Free tier available as part of Proton's base plan

Notes

• Based in France - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• Subscription-only - no ad-supported tier means no advertising data sharing
• Does not engage in the same level of behavioural data collection as Spotify
• Hi-res lossless audio focus - popular with audiophiles as a Tidal alternative

Notes

• Based in France - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• No user tracking, no personal profiling
• Good choice for EU users who want a local privacy-respecting search option

Notes

• Fast and reliable self-hosted file sync and share
• E2EE for specific libraries via client-side encryption
• Based in Germany - EU jurisdiction for hosted version
• Lighter weight than Nextcloud - better suited to pure file storage
• Strong performance even with large file libraries

Notes

• Open source metasearch engine aggregating results from multiple sources simultaneously
• Fully self-hostable - complete data control
• Public instances available at searx.space
• No user tracking, no search history, no advertising
• Highly configurable - choose which sources to aggregate
• Gold standard for self-hosted private search

Notes

• Gold standard for private messaging - E2EE by default for all messages, calls, and video
• Minimal metadata collection - Signal knows almost nothing about you or your contacts
• Group video calls supported up to 50 participants
• Nonprofit organisation (Signal Foundation) with no advertising business model
• Has successfully resisted government data requests due to having almost no data to hand over
• Desktop and mobile support across all major platforms

Notes

• Covers TV, anime, and movies in one place - broader than most alternatives
• Import supported from IMDb, Trakt, and other platforms for easy migration
• No advertising - monetised through an optional premium subscription
• API available for data portability and third-party integrations

Notes

• E2EE by default for all notes - Standard Notes cannot access your content
• Open source clients with published security audits
• Minimalist and focused - does one thing well
• Long-term preservation focus - plain text architecture means notes are future-proof
• Available on all major platforms including Linux
• Acquired by Proton in 2022 - now benefits from Proton's security infrastructure and Swiss jurisdiction

Notes

• Proxies Google search results anonymously - Google quality without Google tracking
• Based in the Netherlands - EU jurisdiction with strong GDPR protections
• No user tracking, no search history, no advertising profile
• Anonymous View feature allows visiting search results without revealing your IP to the destination site

Notes

• Zero-knowledge E2EE for photos and videos
• Open source clients on Android and iOS
• Secure sharing of encrypted photos with other users
• Free tier available with limited storage

Notes

• Open source media player with add-on ecosystem for streaming content
• Core client is open source and available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
• Add-ons can connect to legal services like YouTube, Twitch, and Mubi
• No subscription required for the player itself

Notes

• Based in Switzerland with strong legal privacy protections
• No phone number or email required - anonymous ID generated on first launch
• E2EE by default for all messages, calls, and group chats
• One-time purchase model - no subscription, no advertising

Notes

• CardBook is a fully featured CardDAV contacts extension for Thunderbird
• Fully open source - Mozilla foundation backed
• Local-first - contact data stored on your device by default
• CardDAV support allows syncing with any privacy-respecting CardDAV server
• No account required for local use
• Available on Windows, macOS, and Linux

Notes

• Open source iOS authenticator
• Local-first - no cloud sync
• No account required
• Clean and simple UI

Notes

• Routes all traffic through the Tor network - strongest available browsing anonymity
• Maintained by the Tor Project, a US nonprofit with strong transparency record
• Fingerprinting resistance built in - all Tor Browser users appear identical
• Gold standard for high-risk users requiring strong anonymity

Notes

• Open API with full data export - your watch history is always portable
• Strong integration with self-hosted media servers such as Plex, Kodi, Emby, and Jellyfin

Notes

• E2EE by default for all stored and shared files
• Based in Switzerland and Hungary - subject to strong European privacy law
• Strong focus on business and enterprise use cases
• Independent security audits published
• Sharing encrypted files with external recipients handled elegantly

Notes

• E2EE by default for all calendar events
• Based in Germany, subject to strict EU GDPR enforcement
• Open source clients
• Free tier available

Notes

• E2EE by default for all contact data
• Based in Germany, subject to strict EU GDPR enforcement
• Open source clients
• Free tier available

Notes

• E2EE by default consistent with Tuta's broader ecosystem
• Based in Germany, subject to strict EU GDPR enforcement
• Open source clients
• Integrated with Tuta Mail and Calendar
• Free tier available as part of Tuta's base plan

Notes

• Linux-based mobile OS - not Android derived
• Developed by UBports, a community-driven nonprofit based in Germany
• No Google, no Apple - entirely independent software stack
• Strong privacy by design

Notes

• Unofficial lightweight Bitwarden-compatible server implementation
• Fully self-hostable - complete data control with no third-party server involvement
• Compatible with all official Bitwarden clients
• Ideal for technically capable users who want full self-hosted control

Notes

• Based in Norway - EEA jurisdiction with GDPR equivalent protections
• Highly customisable UI - appeals to power users
• Built-in ad blocking, tracker blocking, and privacy controls
• No advertising business model - funded by default search engine partnerships
• Better jurisdiction than US-based Chromium alternatives

Notes

• Firefox fork focused on removing Mozilla telemetry and data collection
• Supports legacy Firefox extensions no longer compatible with modern Firefox

Notes

• Norwegian company - subject to EU GDPR
• No app download required for participants - browser-based joining

Notes

• Generous free tier - 10GB per month with no credit card required
• Open source clients on all major platforms
• Strict no-logs policy verified by independent audit
• Built-in ad and tracker blocking (R.O.B.E.R.T.) across all plans including free
• Accepts cryptocurrency payment for paid plans
• Operated by a small independent team - better trust profile than large consolidated VPN brands
• More transparent than most mainstream VPN providers

Notes

• No account required - fully anonymous usage possible
• Zero-knowledge, no-log policy for prompts and responses; chat history stored locally on your device
• Luxembourg-based with 100% European infrastructure - GDPR-compliant, not subject to US CLOUD Act
• Open source (AGPL-3.0) - code publicly auditable on GitHub
• Supports self-hosted models (e.g. Ollama) and custom API keys for full data control
• Web search powered exclusively by a European search index
• Conversations never used for AI model training

Notes

• Based on Ubuntu LTS - stable and well-supported
• Explicitly designed to ease transition from Windows and macOS
• Windows-like and macOS-like layout options built in
• No telemetry or data collection
• Strong hardware compatibility via Ubuntu base
• Good choice for non-technical users making their first Linux switch