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---
2023-04-15 04:04:19 +00:00
meta_title: "The Best Privacy Tools, Services, and Ad-Free Recommendations - Privacy Guides"
2023-04-14 04:04:33 +00:00
title: "Privacy Tools"
icon: material/tools
hide:
- toc
description: Privacy Guides is the most transparent and reliable website for finding software, apps, and services that protect your personal data from mass surveillance programs and other internet threats.
---
If you're looking for a specific solution to something, these are the hardware and software tools we recommend in a variety of categories. Our recommended privacy tools are primarily chosen based on security features, with additional emphasis on decentralized and open-source tools. They are applicable to a variety of threat models ranging from protection against global mass surveillance programs and avoiding big tech companies to mitigating attacks, but only you can determine what will work best for your needs.
If you want assistance figuring out the best privacy tools and alternative programs for your needs, start a discussion on our [forum ](https://discuss.privacyguides.net/ ) or our [Matrix ](https://matrix.to/#/#privacyguides:matrix.org ) community!
For more details about each project, why they were chosen, and additional tips or tricks we recommend, click the "Learn more" link in each section, or click on the recommendation itself to be taken to that specific section of the page.
## Tor Network
<div class="grid cards annotate" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Tor Browser ](tor.md#tor-browser )
- { .twemoji } [Orbot (Smartphone Tor Proxy) ](tor.md#orbot )
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- { .twemoji } [Onion Browser (Tor for iOS) ](tor.md#onion-browser )
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- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Snowflake ](tor.md#snowflake ) (1)
</div>
1. Snowflake does not increase privacy, however it allows you to easily contribute to the Tor network and help people in censored networks achieve better privacy.
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](tor.md )
## Desktop Web Browsers
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Mullvad Browser ](desktop-browsers.md#mullvad-browser )
- { .twemoji } [Firefox ](desktop-browsers.md#firefox )
- { .twemoji } [Brave ](desktop-browsers.md#brave )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](desktop-browsers.md )
### Additional Resources
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [uBlock Origin ](desktop-browsers.md#ublock-origin )
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- { .twemoji } [uBlock Origin Lite ](desktop-browsers.md#ublock-origin-lite )
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</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](desktop-browsers.md#additional-resources )
## Mobile Web Browsers
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Brave (Android) ](mobile-browsers.md#brave )
- { .twemoji } [Safari (iOS) ](mobile-browsers.md#safari )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](mobile-browsers.md )
### Additional Resources
<div class="grid cards annotate" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [AdGuard for iOS ](mobile-browsers.md#adguard )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](mobile-browsers.md#adguard )
## Service Providers
### Cloud Storage
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Proton Drive ](cloud.md#proton-drive )
- { .twemoji } [Tresorit ](cloud.md#tresorit )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](cloud.md )
### DNS
#### DNS Providers
We [recommend ](dns.md#recommended-providers ) a number of encrypted DNS servers based on a variety of criteria, such as [Mullvad ](https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls ) and [Quad9 ](https://quad9.net/ ) amongst others. We recommend for you to read our pages on DNS before choosing a provider. In many cases, using an alternative DNS provider is not recommended.
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](dns.md )
#### Encrypted DNS Proxies
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [RethinkDNS ](dns.md#rethinkdns )
- { .twemoji } [dnscrypt-proxy ](dns.md#dnscrypt-proxy )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](dns.md#encrypted-dns-proxies )
#### Self-hosted Solutions
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [AdGuard Home ](dns.md#adguard-home )
- { .twemoji } [Pi-hole ](dns.md#pi-hole )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](dns.md#self-hosted-solutions )
### Email
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Proton Mail ](email.md#proton-mail )
- { .twemoji } [Mailbox.org ](email.md#mailboxorg )
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- { .twemoji } [Skiff Mail ](email.md#skiff-mail )
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- { .twemoji } [Tuta ](email.md#tuta )
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</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](email.md )
#### Email Aliasing Services
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
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- { .twemoji } [addy.io ](email.md#addyio )
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- { .twemoji } [SimpleLogin ](email.md#simplelogin )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](email.md#email-aliasing-services )
#### Self-Hosting Email
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [mailcow ](email.md#self-hosting-email )
- { .twemoji } [Mail-in-a-Box ](email.md#self-hosting-email )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](email.md#self-hosting-email )
### Financial Services
#### Payment Masking Services
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
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- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Privacy.com ](financial-services.md#privacycom-us )
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- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [MySudo ](financial-services.md#mysudo-us-paid )
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</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](financial-services.md#payment-masking-services )
#### Online Gift Card Marketplaces
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [CoinCards ](financial-services.md#coincards )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](financial-services.md#gift-card-marketplaces )
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### Photo Management
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Ente ](photo-management.md#ente )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Stingle ](photo-management.md#stingle )
- { .twemoji } [PhotoPrism ](photo-management.md#photoprism )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](photo-management.md )
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### Search Engines
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Brave Search ](search-engines.md#brave-search )
- { .twemoji } [DuckDuckGo ](search-engines.md#duckduckgo )
- { .twemoji } [SearXNG ](search-engines.md#searxng )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Startpage ](search-engines.md#startpage )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](search-engines.md )
### VPN Providers
??? danger "VPNs do not provide anonymity"
Using a VPN will **not ** keep your browsing habits anonymous, nor will it add additional security to non-secure (HTTP) traffic.
If you are looking for **anonymity ** , you should use the Tor Browser **instead ** of a VPN.
If you're looking for added **security ** , you should always ensure you're connecting to websites using HTTPS. A VPN is not a replacement for good security practices.
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](vpn.md )
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
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- { .twemoji } [Proton VPN ](vpn.md#proton-vpn )
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- { .twemoji } [IVPN ](vpn.md#ivpn )
- { .twemoji } [Mullvad ](vpn.md#mullvad )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](vpn.md )
## Software
### Calendar Sync
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
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- { .twemoji } [Tuta ](calendar.md#tuta )
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- { .twemoji } [Proton Calendar ](calendar.md#proton-calendar )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](calendar.md )
### Cryptocurrency
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Monero ](cryptocurrency.md#monero )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](cryptocurrency.md )
### Data and Metadata Redaction
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [MAT2 ](data-redaction.md#mat2 )
- { .twemoji } [ExifEraser (Android) ](data-redaction.md#exiferaser-android )
- { .twemoji } [Metapho (iOS) ](data-redaction.md#metapho-ios )
- { .twemoji } [PrivacyBlur ](data-redaction.md#privacyblur )
- { .twemoji } [ExifTool (CLI) ](data-redaction.md#exiftool )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](data-redaction.md )
### Email Clients
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Thunderbird ](email-clients.md#thunderbird )
- { .twemoji } [Apple Mail (macOS) ](email-clients.md#apple-mail-macos )
- { .twemoji } [Canary Mail (iOS) ](email-clients.md#canary-mail-ios )
- { .twemoji } [FairEmail (Android) ](email-clients.md#fairemail-android )
- { .twemoji } [GNOME Evolution (Linux) ](email-clients.md#gnome-evolution-gnome )
- { .twemoji } [K-9 Mail (Android) ](email-clients.md#k-9-mail-android )
- { .twemoji } [Kontact (Linux) ](email-clients.md#kontact-kde )
- { .twemoji } [Mailvelope (PGP in standard webmail) ](email-clients.md#mailvelope-browser )
- { .twemoji } [NeoMutt (CLI) ](email-clients.md#neomutt-cli )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](email-clients.md )
### Encryption Software
??? info "Operating System Disk Encryption"
For encrypting your operating system drive, we typically recommend using whichever encryption tool your operating system provides, whether that is **BitLocker ** on Windows, **FileVault ** on macOS, or **LUKS ** on Linux. These tools are included with the operating system and typically use hardware encryption elements such as a TPM that other full-disk encryption software like VeraCrypt do not. VeraCrypt is still suitable for non-operating system disks such as external drives, especially drives that may be accessed from multiple operating systems.
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](encryption.md##operating-system-included-full-disk-encryption-fde )
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Cryptomator ](encryption.md#cryptomator-cloud )
- { .twemoji } [Picocrypt ](encryption.md#picocrypt-file )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [VeraCrypt (FDE) ](encryption.md#veracrypt-disk )
- { .twemoji } [Kryptor ](encryption.md#kryptor )
- { .twemoji } [Tomb ](encryption.md#tomb )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](encryption.md )
#### OpenPGP Clients
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [GnuPG ](encryption.md#gnu-privacy-guard )
- { .twemoji } [GPG4Win (Windows) ](encryption.md#gpg4win )
- { .twemoji } [GPG Suite (macOS) ](encryption.md#gpg-suite )
- { .twemoji } [OpenKeychain ](encryption.md#openkeychain )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](encryption.md#openpgp )
### File Sharing and Sync
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Send ](file-sharing.md#send )
- { .twemoji } [OnionShare ](file-sharing.md#onionshare )
- { .twemoji } [FreedomBox ](file-sharing.md#freedombox )
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- { .twemoji } [Nextcloud (Self-Hostable) ](file-sharing.md#nextcloud-client-server )
- { .twemoji } [Syncthing ](file-sharing.md#syncthing-p2p )
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</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](file-sharing.md )
### Frontends
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Nitter (Twitter, Web) ](frontends.md#nitter )
- { .twemoji } [FreeTube (YouTube, Desktop) ](frontends.md#freetube )
- { .twemoji } [Yattee (YouTube; iOS, tvOS, macOS) ](frontends.md#yattee )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [LibreTube (YouTube, Android) ](frontends.md#libretube-android )
- { .twemoji } [NewPipe (YouTube, Android) ](frontends.md#newpipe-android )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Invidious (YouTube, Web) ](frontends.md#invidious )
- { .twemoji } [Piped (YouTube, Web) ](frontends.md#piped )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](frontends.md )
### Multi-Factor Authentication Tools
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [YubiKey ](multi-factor-authentication.md#yubikey )
- { .twemoji } [Nitrokey ](multi-factor-authentication.md#nitrokey )
2023-10-21 09:35:32 +00:00
- { .twemoji } [ente Auth ](multi-factor-authentication.md#ente-auth )
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- { .twemoji } [Aegis Authenticator (Android) ](multi-factor-authentication.md#aegis-authenticator-android )
2023-04-14 04:04:33 +00:00
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](multi-factor-authentication.md )
### News Aggregators
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Akregator ](news-aggregators.md#akregator )
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- { .twemoji} [Feeder (Android) ](news-aggregators.md#feeder )
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- { .twemoji } [Fluent Reader ](news-aggregators.md#fluent-reader )
- { .twemoji } [GNOME Feeds ](news-aggregators.md#gnome-feeds )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Miniflux ](news-aggregators.md#miniflux )
- { .twemoji } [NetNewsWire ](news-aggregators.md#netnewswire )
- { .twemoji } [Newsboat ](news-aggregators.md#newsboat )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](news-aggregators.md )
### Notebooks
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Standard Notes ](notebooks.md#standard-notes )
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- { .twemoji } [Notesnook ](notebooks.md#notesnook )
- { .twemoji } [Joplin ](notebooks.md#joplin )
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- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Cryptee ](notebooks.md#cryptee )
- { .twemoji } [Org-mode ](notebooks.md#org-mode )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](notebooks.md )
### Password Managers
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Bitwarden ](passwords.md#bitwarden )
- { .twemoji } [1Password ](passwords.md#1password )
- { .twemoji } [Psono ](passwords.md#psono )
- { .twemoji } [KeePassXC ](passwords.md#keepassxc )
- { .twemoji } [KeePassDX (Android) ](passwords.md#keepassdx-android )
- { .twemoji } [Strongbox (iOS & macOS) ](passwords.md#strongbox-ios-macos )
- { .twemoji } [gopass ](passwords.md#gopass )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](passwords.md )
### Productivity Tools
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Nextcloud (Self-Hostable) ](productivity.md#nextcloud )
- { .twemoji } [LibreOffice ](productivity.md#libreoffice )
- { .twemoji } [OnlyOffice ](productivity.md#onlyoffice )
- { .twemoji } [CryptPad ](productivity.md#cryptpad )
- { .twemoji } [PrivateBin (Pastebin) ](productivity.md#privatebin )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](productivity.md )
### Real-Time Communication
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Signal ](real-time-communication.md#signal )
- { .twemoji } [Briar ](real-time-communication.md#briar )
- { .twemoji } [SimpleX Chat ](real-time-communication.md#simplex-chat )
- { .twemoji } [Element ](real-time-communication.md#element )
- { .twemoji } [Session ](real-time-communication.md#session )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](real-time-communication.md )
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## Operating Systems
### Mobile
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [GrapheneOS ](android.md#grapheneos )
- { .twemoji } [DivestOS ](android.md#divestos )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](android.md )
#### Android Apps
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
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- { .twemoji } [Obtainium (App Manager) ](android.md#obtainium )
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- { .twemoji } [Aurora Store (Google Play Client) ](android.md#aurora-store )
- { .twemoji } [Shelter (Work Profiles) ](android.md#shelter )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Secure Camera ](android.md#secure-camera )
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- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Secure PDF Viewer ](android.md#secure-pdf-viewer )
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</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](android.md#general-apps )
### Desktop/PC
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Qubes OS (Xen VM Distribution) ](desktop.md#qubes-os )
- { .twemoji } [Fedora Workstation ](desktop.md#fedora-workstation )
- { .twemoji } [OpenSUSE Tumbleweed ](desktop.md#opensuse-tumbleweed )
- { .twemoji } [Arch Linux ](desktop.md#arch-linux )
- { .twemoji } [Fedora Silverblue & Kinoite ](desktop.md#fedora-silverblue )
- { .twemoji } [NixOS ](desktop.md#nixos )
- { .twemoji } [Whonix (Tor) ](desktop.md#whonix )
- { .twemoji } [Tails (Live Boot) ](desktop.md#tails )
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- { .twemoji } [Kicksecure ](desktop.md#kicksecure )
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</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](desktop.md )
### Router Firmware
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [OpenWrt ](router.md#openwrt )
- { .twemoji } [OPNsense ](router.md#opnsense )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](router.md )
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## Advanced Tools
These tools may provide utility for certain individuals. They provide functionality which most people do not need to worry about, and often require more in-depth technical knowledge to utilize effectively.
### Device Integrity Verification
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- { .twemoji } [Mobile Verification Toolkit ](device-integrity.md#mobile-verification-toolkit )
- { .twemoji } [iMazing (iOS) ](device-integrity.md#imazing-ios )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Auditor (Android) ](device-integrity.md#auditor-android )
- { .twemoji }{ .twemoji } [Hypatia (Android) ](device-integrity.md#hypatia-android )
- { .twemoji } [iVerify (iOS) ](device-integrity.md#iverify-ios )
</div>
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle: ](device-integrity.md )
