---
title: "Privacy Tools"
icon: material/tools
hide:
- toc
---
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
- ![Tor Browser logo](assets/img/browsers/tor.svg){ .twemoji } [Tor Browser](tor.md#tor-browser)
- ![Orbot logo](assets/img/self-contained-networks/orbot.svg){ .twemoji } [Orbot (Smartphone Tor Proxy)](tor.md#orbot)
- ![Snowflake logo](assets/img/browsers/snowflake.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![Snowflake logo](assets/img/browsers/snowflake-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Snowflake](tor.md#snowflake) (1)
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
- ![Firefox logo](assets/img/browsers/firefox.svg){ .twemoji } [Firefox](desktop-browsers.md#firefox)
- ![Brave logo](assets/img/browsers/brave.svg){ .twemoji } [Brave](desktop-browsers.md#brave)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](desktop-browsers.md)
### Additional Resources
- ![uBlock Origin logo](assets/img/browsers/ublock_origin.svg){ .twemoji } [uBlock Origin](desktop-browsers.md#ublock-origin)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](desktop-browsers.md#additional-resources)
## Mobile Web Browsers
- ![Brave logo](assets/img/browsers/brave.svg){ .twemoji } [Brave (Android)](mobile-browsers.md#brave)
- ![Safari logo](assets/img/browsers/safari.svg){ .twemoji } [Safari (iOS)](mobile-browsers.md#safari)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](mobile-browsers.md)
### Additional Resources
- ![AdGuard logo](assets/img/browsers/adguard.svg){ .twemoji } [AdGuard for iOS](mobile-browsers.md#adguard)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](mobile-browsers.md#adguard)
## Operating Systems
### Mobile
- ![GrapheneOS logo](assets/img/android/grapheneos.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![GrapheneOS logo](assets/img/android/grapheneos-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [GrapheneOS](android.md#grapheneos)
- ![DivestOS logo](assets/img/android/divestos.svg){ .twemoji } [DivestOS](android.md#divestos)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](android.md)
#### Android Apps
- ![Aurora Store logo](/assets/img/android/aurora-store.webp){ .twemoji } [Aurora Store (Google Play Client)](android.md#aurora-store)
- ![Shelter logo](assets/img/android/mini/shelter.svg){ .twemoji } [Shelter (Work Profiles)](android.md#shelter)
- ![Auditor logo](assets/img/android/auditor.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![GrapheneOS logo](assets/img/android/auditor-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Auditor (Supported Devices)](android.md#auditor)
- ![Secure Camera logo](assets/img/android/secure_camera.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![Secure Camera logo](assets/img/android/secure_camera-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Secure Camera](android.md#secure-camera)
- ![Secure PDF Viewer logo](assets/img/android/secure_pdf_viewer.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![GrapheneOS logo](assets/img/android/secure_pdf_viewer-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Secure PDF Viewer](android.md#secure-pdf-viewer)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](android.md#general-apps)
### Desktop/PC
- ![Qubes OS logo](assets/img/qubes/qubes_os.svg){ .twemoji } [Qubes OS (Xen VM Distribution)](desktop.md#qubes-os)
- ![Fedora logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/fedora-workstation.svg){ .twemoji } [Fedora Workstation](desktop.md#fedora-workstation)
- ![openSUSE Tumbleweed logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/opensuse-tumbleweed.svg){ .twemoji } [OpenSUSE Tumbleweed](desktop.md#opensuse-tumbleweed)
- ![Arch logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/archlinux.svg){ .twemoji } [Arch Linux](desktop.md#arch-linux)
- ![Fedora Silverblue logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/fedora-silverblue.svg){ .twemoji } [Fedora Silverblue & Kinoite](desktop.md#fedora-silverblue)
- ![nixOS logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/nixos.svg){ .twemoji } [NixOS](desktop.md#nixos)
- ![Whonix logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/whonix.svg){ .twemoji } [Whonix (Tor)](desktop.md#whonix)
- ![Tails logo](assets/img/linux-desktop/tails.svg){ .twemoji } [Tails (Live Boot)](desktop.md#tails)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](desktop.md)
### Router Firmware
- ![OpenWrt logo](assets/img/router/openwrt.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![OpenWrt logo](assets/img/router/openwrt-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [OpenWrt](router.md#openwrt)
- ![OPNsense logo](assets/img/router/opnsense.svg){ .twemoji } [OPNsense](router.md#opnsense)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](router.md)
## Service Providers
### Cloud Storage
- ![Proton Drive logo](assets/img/cloud/protondrive.svg){ .twemoji } [Proton Drive](cloud.md#proton-drive)
[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
- ![RethinkDNS logo](assets/img/android/rethinkdns.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![RethinkDNS logo](assets/img/android/rethinkdns-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [RethinkDNS](dns.md#rethinkdns)
- ![dnscrypt-proxy logo](assets/img/dns/dnscrypt-proxy.svg){ .twemoji } [dnscrypt-proxy](dns.md#dnscrypt-proxy)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](dns.md#encrypted-dns-proxies)
#### Self-hosted Solutions
- ![AdGuard Home logo](assets/img/dns/adguard-home.svg){ .twemoji } [AdGuard Home](dns.md#adguard-home)
- ![Pi-hole logo](assets/img/dns/pi-hole.svg){ .twemoji } [Pi-hole](dns.md#pi-hole)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](dns.md#self-hosted-solutions)
### Email
- ![Proton Mail logo](assets/img/email/protonmail.svg){ .twemoji } [Proton Mail](email.md#proton-mail)
- ![Mailbox.org logo](assets/img/email/mailboxorg.svg){ .twemoji } [Mailbox.org](email.md#mailboxorg)
- ![StartMail logo](assets/img/email/startmail.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![StartMail logo](assets/img/email/startmail-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [StartMail](email.md#startmail)
- ![Tutanota logo](assets/img/email/tutanota.svg){ .twemoji } [Tutanota](email.md#tutanota)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](email.md)
#### Email Aliasing Services
- ![AnonAddy logo](assets/img/email/anonaddy.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![AnonAddy logo](assets/img/email/anonaddy-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [AnonAddy](email.md#anonaddy)
- ![SimpleLogin logo](assets/img/email/simplelogin.svg){ .twemoji } [SimpleLogin](email.md#simplelogin)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](email.md#email-aliasing-services)
#### Self-Hosting Email
- ![mailcow logo](assets/img/email/mailcow.svg){ .twemoji } [mailcow](email.md#self-hosting-email)
- ![Mail-in-a-Box logo](assets/img/email/mail-in-a-box.svg){ .twemoji } [Mail-in-a-Box](email.md#self-hosting-email)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](email.md#self-hosting-email)
### Search Engines
- ![Brave Search logo](assets/img/search-engines/brave-search.svg){ .twemoji } [Brave Search](search-engines.md#brave-search)
- ![DuckDuckGo logo](assets/img/search-engines/duckduckgo.svg){ .twemoji } [DuckDuckGo](search-engines.md#duckduckgo)
- ![SearXNG logo](assets/img/search-engines/searxng.svg){ .twemoji } [SearXNG](search-engines.md#searxng)
- ![Startpage logo](assets/img/search-engines/startpage.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![Startpage logo](assets/img/search-engines/startpage-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Startpage](search-engines.md#startpage)
[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)
- ![Proton VPN logo](assets/img/vpn/protonvpn.svg){ .twemoji } [Proton VPN](vpn.md#proton-vpn)
- ![IVPN logo](assets/img/vpn/mini/ivpn.svg){ .twemoji } [IVPN](vpn.md#ivpn)
- ![Mullvad logo](assets/img/vpn/mullvad.svg){ .twemoji } [Mullvad](vpn.md#mullvad)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](vpn.md)
## Software
### Calendar Sync
- ![Tutanota logo](assets/img/calendar/tutanota.svg){ .twemoji } [Tutanota](calendar.md#tutanota)
- ![Proton Calendar logo](assets/img/calendar/proton-calendar.svg){ .twemoji } [Proton Calendar](calendar.md#proton-calendar)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](calendar.md)
### Data and Metadata Redaction
- ![MAT2 logo](assets/img/data-redaction/mat2.svg){ .twemoji } [MAT2](data-redaction.md#mat2)
- ![ExifEraser logo](assets/img/data-redaction/exiferaser.svg){ .twemoji } [ExifEraser (Android)](data-redaction.md#exiferaser-android)
- ![Metapho logo](assets/img/data-redaction/metapho.jpg){ .twemoji } [Metapho (iOS)](data-redaction.md#metapho-ios)
- ![PrivacyBlur logo](assets/img/data-redaction/privacyblur.svg){ .twemoji } [PrivacyBlur](data-redaction.md#privacyblur)
- ![ExifTool logo](assets/img/data-redaction/exiftool.png){ .twemoji } [ExifTool (CLI)](data-redaction.md#exiftool)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](data-redaction.md)
### Email Clients
- ![Thunderbird logo](assets/img/email-clients/thunderbird.svg){ .twemoji } [Thunderbird](email-clients.md#thunderbird)
- ![Apple Mail logo](assets/img/email-clients/applemail.png){ .twemoji } [Apple Mail (macOS)](email-clients.md#apple-mail-macos)
- ![Canary Mail logo](assets/img/email-clients/canarymail.svg){ .twemoji } [Canary Mail (iOS)](email-clients.md#canary-mail-ios)
- ![FairEmail logo](assets/img/email-clients/fairemail.svg){ .twemoji } [FairEmail (Android)](email-clients.md#fairemail-android)
- ![GNOME Evolution logo](assets/img/email-clients/evolution.svg){ .twemoji } [GNOME Evolution (Linux)](email-clients.md#gnome-evolution-gnome)
- ![K-9 Mail logo](assets/img/email-clients/k9mail.svg){ .twemoji } [K-9 Mail (Android)](email-clients.md#k-9-mail-android)
- ![Kontact logo](assets/img/email-clients/kontact.svg){ .twemoji } [Kontact (Linux)](email-clients.md#kontact-kde)
- ![Mailvelope logo](assets/img/email-clients/mailvelope.svg){ .twemoji } [Mailvelope (PGP in standard webmail)](email-clients.md#mailvelope-browser)
- ![NeoMutt logo](assets/img/email-clients/mutt.svg){ .twemoji } [NeoMutt (CLI)](email-clients.md#neomutt-cli)
[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)
- ![Cryptomator logo](assets/img/encryption-software/cryptomator.svg){ .twemoji } [Cryptomator](encryption.md#cryptomator-cloud)
- ![Picocrypt logo](assets/img/encryption-software/picocrypt.svg){ .twemoji } [Picocrypt](encryption.md#picocrypt-file)
- ![VeraCrypt logo](assets/img/encryption-software/veracrypt.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![VeraCrypt logo](assets/img/encryption-software/veracrypt-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [VeraCrypt (FDE)](encryption.md#veracrypt-disk)
- ![Hat.sh logo](assets/img/encryption-software/hat-sh.png#only-light){ .twemoji }![Hat.sh logo](assets/img/encryption-software/hat-sh-dark.png#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Hat.sh (Browser-based)](encryption.md#hatsh)
- ![Kryptor logo](assets/img/encryption-software/kryptor.png){ .twemoji } [Kryptor](encryption.md#kryptor)
- ![Tomb logo](assets/img/encryption-software/tomb.png){ .twemoji } [Tomb](encryption.md#tomb)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](encryption.md)
#### OpenPGP Clients
- ![GnuPG logo](assets/img/encryption-software/gnupg.svg){ .twemoji } [GnuPG](encryption.md#gnu-privacy-guard)
- ![GPG4Win logo](assets/img/encryption-software/gpg4win.svg){ .twemoji } [GPG4Win (Windows)](encryption.md#gpg4win)
- ![GPG Suite logo](assets/img/encryption-software/gpgsuite.png){ .twemoji } [GPG Suite (macOS)](encryption.md#gpg-suite)
- ![OpenKeychain logo](assets/img/encryption-software/openkeychain.svg){ .twemoji } [OpenKeychain](encryption.md#openkeychain)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](encryption.md#openpgp)
### File Sharing and Sync
- ![Send logo](assets/img/file-sharing-sync/send.svg){ .twemoji } [Send](file-sharing.md#send)
- ![OnionShare logo](assets/img/file-sharing-sync/onionshare.svg){ .twemoji } [OnionShare](file-sharing.md#onionshare)
- ![FreedomBox logo](assets/img/file-sharing-sync/freedombox.svg){ .twemoji } [FreedomBox](file-sharing.md#freedombox)
- ![Nextcloud logo](assets/img/productivity/nextcloud.svg){ .twemoji } [Nextcloud (Self-Hostable)](productivity.md#nextcloud)
- ![Syncthing logo](assets/img/file-sharing-sync/syncthing.svg){ .twemoji } [Syncthing](file-sharing.md#syncthing)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](file-sharing.md)
### Frontends
- ![Librarian logo](assets/img/frontends/librarian.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![Librarian logo](assets/img/frontends/librarian-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Librarian (LBRY, Web)](frontends.md#librarian)
- ![Nitter logo](assets/img/frontends/nitter.svg){ .twemoji } [Nitter (Twitter, Web)](frontends.md#nitter)
- ![FreeTube logo](assets/img/frontends/freetube.svg){ .twemoji } [FreeTube (YouTube, Desktop)](frontends.md#freetube)
- ![Yattee logo](assets/img/frontends/yattee.svg){ .twemoji } [Yattee (YouTube; iOS, tvOS, macOS)](frontends.md#yattee)
- ![LibreTube logo](assets/img/frontends/libretube.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![LibreTube logo](assets/img/frontends/libretube-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [LibreTube (YouTube, Android)](frontends.md#libretube-android)
- ![NewPipe logo](assets/img/frontends/newpipe.svg){ .twemoji } [NewPipe (YouTube, Android)](frontends.md#newpipe-android)
- ![Invidious logo](assets/img/frontends/invidious.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![Invidious logo](assets/img/frontends/invidious-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Invidious (YouTube, Web)](frontends.md#invidious)
- ![Piped logo](assets/img/frontends/piped.svg){ .twemoji } [Piped (YouTube, Web)](frontends.md#piped)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](frontends.md)
### Multi-Factor Authentication Tools
- ![YubiKeys](assets/img/multi-factor-authentication/mini/yubico.svg){ .twemoji } [YubiKey](multi-factor-authentication.md#yubikey)
- ![Nitrokey](assets/img/multi-factor-authentication/mini/nitrokey.svg){ .twemoji } [Nitrokey](multi-factor-authentication.md#nitrokey-librem-key)
- ![Aegis logo](assets/img/multi-factor-authentication/aegis.png){ .twemoji } [Aegis Authenticator](multi-factor-authentication.md#aegis-authenticator)
- ![Raivo OTP logo](assets/img/multi-factor-authentication/raivo-otp.png){ .twemoji } [Raivo OTP](multi-factor-authentication.md#raivo-otp)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](multi-factor-authentication.md)
### News Aggregators
- ![Akregator logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/akregator.svg){ .twemoji } [Akregator](news-aggregators.md#akregator)
- ![Feeder logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/feeder.png){ .twemoji} [Feeder](news-aggregators.md#feeder)
- ![Fluent Reader logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/fluent-reader.svg){ .twemoji } [Fluent Reader](news-aggregators.md#fluent-reader)
- ![GNOME Feeds logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/gfeeds.svg){ .twemoji } [GNOME Feeds](news-aggregators.md#gnome-feeds)
- ![Miniflux logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/miniflux.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![Miniflux logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/miniflux-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Miniflux](news-aggregators.md#miniflux)
- ![NetNewsWire logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/netnewswire.png){ .twemoji } [NetNewsWire](news-aggregators.md#netnewswire)
- ![Newsboat logo](assets/img/news-aggregators/newsboat.svg){ .twemoji } [Newsboat](news-aggregators.md#newsboat)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](news-aggregators.md)
### Notebooks
- ![Joplin logo](assets/img/notebooks/joplin.svg){ .twemoji } [Joplin](notebooks.md#joplin)
- ![Standard Notes logo](assets/img/notebooks/standard-notes.svg){ .twemoji } [Standard Notes](notebooks.md#standard-notes)
- ![Cryptee logo](assets/img/notebooks/cryptee.svg#only-light){ .twemoji }![Cryptee logo](assets/img/notebooks/cryptee-dark.svg#only-dark){ .twemoji } [Cryptee](notebooks.md#cryptee)
- ![Org-mode logo](assets/img/notebooks/org-mode.svg){ .twemoji } [Org-mode](notebooks.md#org-mode)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](notebooks.md)
### Password Managers
- ![Bitwarden logo](assets/img/password-management/bitwarden.svg){ .twemoji } [Bitwarden](passwords.md#bitwarden)
- ![1Password logo](assets/img/password-management/1password.svg){ .twemoji } [1Password](passwords.md#1password)
- ![Psono logo](assets/img/password-management/psono.svg){ .twemoji } [Psono](passwords.md#psono)
- ![KeePassXC logo](assets/img/password-management/keepassxc.svg){ .twemoji } [KeePassXC](passwords.md#keepassxc)
- ![KeePassDX logo](assets/img/password-management/keepassdx.svg){ .twemoji } [KeePassDX (Android)](passwords.md#keepassdx-android)
- ![Strongbox logo](assets/img/password-management/strongbox.svg){ .twemoji } [Strongbox (iOS & macOS)](passwords.md#strongbox-ios-macos)
- ![gopass logo](assets/img/password-management/gopass.svg){ .twemoji } [gopass](passwords.md#gopass)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](passwords.md)
### Productivity Tools
- ![Nextcloud logo](assets/img/productivity/nextcloud.svg){ .twemoji } [Nextcloud (Self-Hostable)](productivity.md#nextcloud)
- ![LibreOffice logo](assets/img/productivity/libreoffice.svg){ .twemoji } [LibreOffice](productivity.md#libreoffice)
- ![OnlyOffice logo](assets/img/productivity/onlyoffice.svg){ .twemoji } [OnlyOffice](productivity.md#onlyoffice)
- ![CryptPad logo](assets/img/productivity/cryptpad.svg){ .twemoji } [CryptPad](productivity.md#cryptpad)
- ![PrivateBin logo](assets/img/productivity/privatebin.svg){ .twemoji } [PrivateBin (Pastebin)](productivity.md#privatebin)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](productivity.md)
### Real-Time Communication
- ![Signal logo](assets/img/messengers/signal.svg){ .twemoji } [Signal](real-time-communication.md#signal)
- ![Briar logo](assets/img/messengers/briar.svg){ .twemoji } [Briar](real-time-communication.md#briar)
- ![SimpleX Chat logo](assets/img/messengers/simplex.svg){ .twemoji } [SimpleX Chat](real-time-communication.md#simplex-chat)
- ![Element logo](assets/img/messengers/element.svg){ .twemoji } [Element](real-time-communication.md#element)
- ![Session logo](assets/img/messengers/session.svg){ .twemoji } [Session](real-time-communication.md#session)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](real-time-communication.md)
### Video Streaming Clients
- ![LBRY logo](assets/img/video-streaming/lbry.svg){ .twemoji } [LBRY](video-streaming.md#lbry)
[Learn more :material-arrow-right-drop-circle:](video-streaming.md)
--8<-- "includes/abbreviations.fa.txt"