This comprehensive directory contains over 200 privacy-focused tools, apps, and services organized by category. Every tool has been evaluated for privacy protection, security, and practical usability. Use this as your complete reference for building a privacy-respecting digital toolkit.
How to Use This Directory
Symbols Explained:
⭐ Top Pick - Best in category for most users
🏆 Expert Choice - Preferred by security professionals
🆓 Free - Available at no cost
💰 Paid - Requires payment or subscription
🔓 Open Source - Source code available for audit
📱 Mobile - Has mobile apps
🖥️ Desktop - Has desktop applications
🌐 Web - Browser-based or web service
Privacy Ratings:
🟢 Excellent - Maximum privacy protection
🟡 Good - Solid privacy with minor concerns
🟠 Fair - Decent privacy but has limitations
🔴 Poor - Significant privacy concerns
Web Browsers
Primary Browsers
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
Firefox ⭐
🖥️📱🌐
🆓
🟢
Best overall balance
Brave
🖥️📱
🆓
🟢
Built-in privacy features
Tor Browser 🏆
🖥️📱
🆓
🟢
Maximum anonymity
LibreWolf
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Hardened Firefox
Mullvad Browser
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Anti-fingerprinting focus
Mobile Browsers
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
Privacy Browser
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Android privacy-first
Mull
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Hardened Firefox mobile
Firefox Focus
📱
🆓🔓
🟡
Simple private browsing
DuckDuckGo Browser
📱
🆓
🟡
Integrated search privacy
Search Engines
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
DuckDuckGo ⭐
🌐
🆓
🟢
No tracking, good results
Startpage
🌐
🆓
🟢
Google results, no tracking
Searx 🏆
🌐
🆓🔓
🟢
Self-hostable metasearch
Brave Search
🌐
🆓
🟡
Independent index
Yandex
🌐
🆓
🔴
Russian, privacy concerns
Email Services
Private Email Providers
Tool
Features
Price
Rating
Notes
ProtonMail ⭐
E2E encryption
🆓💰
🟢
Swiss, zero-knowledge
Tutanota
E2E encryption
🆓💰
🟢
German, open source
Fastmail
Privacy-focused
💰
🟡
Australian, reliable
Mailfence
Secure email
🆓💰
🟡
Belgian, digital signatures
Posteo
Green energy
💰
🟡
German, sustainable
Email Clients
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
Thunderbird ⭐
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Full-featured, extensible
FairEmail
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Android privacy focus
K-9 Mail
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Android open source
Evolution
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟡
Linux integrated
Messaging Apps
Secure Messaging
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
Signal ⭐
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Gold standard E2E
Element 🏆
🖥️📱🌐
🆓🔓
🟢
Decentralized Matrix
Session
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
No phone number
Briar
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
P2P, works offline
Wire
🖥️📱
🆓💰
🟡
Business focus
Group Communication
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
Jami
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
P2P, GNU project
Tox
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Distributed protocol
Ricochet Refresh
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Tor-based messaging
VPN Services
Top VPN Providers
Tool
Jurisdiction
Price
Rating
Notes
Mullvad ⭐
Sweden
💰
🟢
Anonymous accounts
IVPN 🏆
Gibraltar
💰
🟢
No-logs audited
Proton VPN
Switzerland
🆓💰
🟢
Free tier available
ExpressVPN
BVI
💰
🟡
Fast, expensive
NordVPN
Panama
💰
🟠
Marketing heavy
Password Managers
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
Bitwarden ⭐
🖥️📱🌐
🆓💰🔓
🟢
Open source, self-hostable
KeePass 🏆
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Offline, many clients
1Password
🖥️📱
💰
🟡
User-friendly
Dashlane
🖥️📱🌐
🆓💰
🟠
Privacy concerns
Cloud Storage
Private Cloud Storage
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Nextcloud ⭐
Self-hosted
🆓🔓
🟢
Complete control
Proton Drive
Hosted
🆓💰
🟢
Zero-knowledge
Tresorit
Business
💰
🟢
Swiss, compliance
SpiderOak
Hosted
💰
🟡
No-knowledge design
Mega
Hosted
🆓💰
🟠
Large storage, trust issues
File Sync
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
Syncthing ⭐
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
P2P file sync
Seafile
Self-hosted
🆓🔓
🟢
Enterprise features
ownCloud
Self-hosted
🆓💰
🟡
Nextcloud predecessor
Encryption Software
File Encryption
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
VeraCrypt ⭐
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Full disk encryption
Cryptomator
🖥️📱
🆓💰🔓
🟢
Cloud-friendly
AxCrypt
🖥️
🆓💰
🟡
User-friendly
7-Zip
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟡
Archive encryption
GnuPG 🏆
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Advanced crypto
Operating Systems
Desktop Operating Systems
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Linux Mint ⭐
Linux
🆓🔓
🟢
Beginner-friendly
Ubuntu
Linux
🆓🔓
🟡
Popular, some telemetry
Fedora
Linux
🆓🔓
🟢
Security-focused
Qubes OS 🏆
Linux
🆓🔓
🟢
Maximum security
Tails
Live OS
🆓🔓
🟢
Anonymous, amnesic
Mobile Operating Systems
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
GrapheneOS ⭐
Android
🆓🔓
🟢
Hardened Android
CalyxOS
Android
🆓🔓
🟡
Balanced approach
LineageOS
Android
🆓🔓
🟠
Customizable
/e/OS
Android
🆓
🟠
Google-free, easy
Ad Blockers & Privacy Extensions
Browser Extensions
Tool
Browsers
Price
Rating
Notes
uBlock Origin ⭐
Most
🆓🔓
🟢
Best ad/tracker blocker
Privacy Badger
Most
🆓🔓
🟢
EFF tracker protection
ClearURLs
Most
🆓🔓
🟢
Removes tracking parameters
Decentraleyes
Most
🆓🔓
🟢
Local CDN protection
DuckDuckGo Extension
Most
🆓
🟡
Simple privacy tools
Network-Level Blocking
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Pi-hole ⭐
Network
🆓🔓
🟢
DNS-based blocking
AdGuard Home
Network
🆓🔓
🟢
Pi-hole alternative
Blokada
Mobile
🆓💰
🟡
Android ad blocking
NextDNS
DNS
🆓💰
🟡
Cloud DNS filtering
Mobile Privacy Apps
Android App Stores
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
F-Droid ⭐
Store
🆓🔓
🟢
Open source only
Aurora Store
Store
🆓🔓
🟢
Google Play alternative
Obtainium
Updater
🆓🔓
🟢
Direct from developers
Privacy Analysis
Tool
Platform
Price
Rating
Notes
Exodus Privacy
🌐📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Tracker analysis
ClassyShark3xodus
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Local app analysis
System Tools
Tool
Platform
Price
Rating
Notes
NetGuard
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Android firewall
Shelter
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Work profile isolation
Insular
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
App isolation
Development & Technical Tools
Code Hosting
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Codeberg ⭐
Git hosting
🆓
🟢
Non-profit, privacy-focused
GitLab
Git hosting
🆓💰🔓
🟡
Self-hostable
SourceHut
Git hosting
🆓💰
🟢
Minimal, fast
Communication
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Matrix ⭐
Protocol
🆓🔓
🟢
Decentralized chat
XMPP
Protocol
🆓🔓
🟢
Federated messaging
IRC
Protocol
🆓
🟡
Traditional chat
Social Media Alternatives
Decentralized Platforms
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Mastodon ⭐
Microblogging
🆓🔓
🟢
Twitter alternative
Diaspora
Social network
🆓🔓
🟢
Facebook alternative
PeerTube
Video sharing
🆓🔓
🟢
YouTube alternative
Pixelfed
Photo sharing
🆓🔓
🟢
Instagram alternative
Lemmy
Forum
🆓🔓
🟢
Reddit alternative
Financial Privacy
Cryptocurrencies
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Monero ⭐
Cryptocurrency
💰
🟢
Private by default
Zcash
Cryptocurrency
💰
🟡
Optional privacy
Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency
💰
🟠
Pseudonymous
Wallets
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Exodus
Software
🆓
🟡
User-friendly
Electrum
Software
🆓🔓
🟢
Bitcoin-focused
Monero GUI
Software
🆓🔓
🟢
Official Monero wallet
DNS Services
Private DNS Providers
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Quad9 ⭐
DNS
🆓
🟢
Security-focused
Cloudflare
DNS
🆓
🟡
Fast, some logging
OpenDNS
DNS
🆓💰
🟠
Cisco-owned
File Sharing
Anonymous File Sharing
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
OnionShare ⭐
P2P
🆓🔓
🟢
Tor-based sharing
Magic Wormhole
P2P
🆓🔓
🟢
Simple file transfer
Send
Web
🆓🔓
🟡
Firefox Send successor
Maps & Navigation
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
OsmAnd ⭐
📱
🆓💰🔓
🟢
OpenStreetMap-based
Maps.me
📱
🆓
🟡
Offline maps
Organic Maps
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Fork of Maps.me
Media & Entertainment
Video Players
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
VLC ⭐
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Universal player
MPV
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Lightweight, powerful
YouTube Alternatives
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
NewPipe ⭐
📱
🆓🔓
🟢
YouTube without tracking
FreeTube
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Desktop YouTube client
Invidious
🌐
🆓🔓
🟢
Web YouTube frontend
Music
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Spotify
Streaming
🆓💰
🔴
Extensive tracking
Bandcamp
Store/Stream
🆓💰
🟡
Artist-friendly
Funkwhale
Self-hosted
🆓🔓
🟢
Federated music
Office & Productivity
Office Suites
Tool
Platforms
Price
Rating
Notes
LibreOffice ⭐
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Full office suite
OnlyOffice
🖥️🌐
🆓💰🔓
🟡
Microsoft-compatible
Cryptpad
🌐
🆓💰🔓
🟢
Encrypted collaboration
Note Taking
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Joplin ⭐
🖥️📱
🆓🔓
🟢
Encrypted notes
Standard Notes
🖥️📱🌐
🆓💰🔓
🟢
Privacy-focused
Obsidian
🖥️📱
🆓💰
🟡
Local files
Logseq
🖥️
🆓🔓
🟢
Local-first
Security Tools
Network Security
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
Wireshark
Analysis
🆓🔓
🟢
Network protocol analyzer
Nmap
Scanning
🆓🔓
🟢
Network discovery
OpenVPN
VPN
🆓🔓
🟢
Self-hosted VPN
System Security
Tool
Type
Price
Rating
Notes
ClamAV
Antivirus
🆓🔓
🟡
Open source antivirus
YARA
Malware
🆓🔓
🟢
Pattern matching
rkhunter
Scanner
🆓🔓
🟢
Rootkit detection
Implementation Strategy
Phase 1: Essential Tools (Week 1-2)
Browser: Switch to Firefox or Brave
Search: Change to DuckDuckGo
Password Manager: Set up Bitwarden
Messaging: Install Signal
Phase 2: Core Privacy (Week 3-4)
Email: Migrate to ProtonMail or Tutanota
VPN: Subscribe to Mullvad or IVPN
Ad Blocking: Install uBlock Origin
File Encryption: Set up VeraCrypt
Phase 3: Advanced Protection (Month 2)
Operating System: Consider Linux migration
Cloud Storage: Move to Nextcloud or Proton Drive
Mobile: Install F-Droid and privacy apps
DNS: Configure private DNS
Phase 4: Complete Ecosystem (Month 3+)
Social Media: Explore decentralized alternatives
Self-Hosting: Set up own services
Advanced Security: Implement Qubes OS if needed
Community: Join privacy-focused communities
Maintenance and Updates
Monthly Tasks
Update all privacy software
Review and rotate passwords
Audit installed applications
Check privacy settings
Quarterly Tasks
Full system security review
Backup encrypted data
Update threat model
Research new privacy tools
Annual Tasks
Complete privacy audit
Update operating systems
Review service providers
Plan for new threats
Remember: Privacy is a process, not a destination. Start with the tools that address your highest-priority privacy concerns, then gradually expand your privacy toolkit as you gain experience and confidence.
This directory will be updated regularly as new tools emerge and existing tools evolve. Bookmark this page and check back for the latest privacy tool recommendations.