Quick Answer
- The idea is to build a privacy stack, not just a single app, around your real daily habits.
- I use all these services myself and have found them to be reliable.
Best Privacy‑Friendly Services for 2026
Core privacy and browsing
- ProtonVPN + Proton Mail – Switzerland‑based, open‑source apps, audited no‑logs VPN and end‑to‑end encrypted email.
- Firefox – Mature, privacy‑respecting browser with strong tracking protection and extensions.
- Kagi – Paid, no‑ads, no‑tracking search engine that optimizes for quality, not surveillance clicks.
- Maple AI – End‑to‑end encrypted AI chat that syncs privately across devices, so your prompts are not ad‑tech training data.
These services give you private DNS, encrypted traffic, and far less data leaking into Google and Meta’s ecosystem.
Communication and identity
- Telegram – public channels, communities, and low‑risk chats.
- Signal – End‑to‑end encrypted messaging and calls, open source, has been well tested by activists and normal users.
- MySudo– Multiple phone numbers and identities for signups, marketplaces, and dating apps.
- SimpleLogin – Email aliases so you never give websites your real address.
Use Telegram for casual messaging, Signal for private messaging, and MySudo or Simplelogin to compartmentalize identities across your life.
Everyday tools
- AdGuard– System‑level ad and tracker blocking on desktop and mobile.
- Bitwarden – Open‑source password manager with strong encryption and good browser/app support.
- FreeTube – YouTube client without the tracking or official app bloat.
- Organic Maps – Offline maps with no telemetry, great for navigation without live tracking.
- Pocket Casts – A polished podcast app with careful settings that limits tracking.
Media, Usenet, and extras
- Plex – Run your own media server – you stream from yourself.
- Proton Drive – Keep backups and documents encrypted.
Devices
If you are feeling ambitious, you can use these desktop and mobile devices without surveillance.
- Above Phone – De‑Googled GrapheneOS phones with hardening, no default Big Tech connections.
- System76 computers – Linux laptops and desktops built for open‑source, with firmware you can actually inspect.
First time visiting your page. I’m not that computer savvy, THANK YOU for being able to browse and read different articles without being bombarded with ads and trackers. I will definitely be visiting this site often and recommending this site. Again, Thank you
I tried to use it last Saturday. It was a horrible, horrible experience.
Download speed was slow and often dropped to zero. Some websites not
loading until I reconnected. I tried various servers. Some of which
disconnected me after being connected for a while and then told me my
credentials were no longer valid. I used both the application as well
as the OVPN file.
Not sure what you are talking about. If it’s ProtonVPN, I have been using that service for years now, and the speeds are very fast.
Many servers were tested by me. There were a few that suddenly disconnected me, telling me my credentials were no longer valid. For both OVPN files and applications, I made use of both. Things are much better now that I’ve switched to a different vpn service. On the basis of my own personal experience, I find it difficult to comprehend the generally positive feedback.
What VPN service are your refering to?
There are a number of privacy-friendly services that are currently available and that are likely to become even more popular in the coming years. Among the most popular are those that allow users to remain anonymous while browsing the web or using specific applications. These services can be used to protect users’ privacy by ensuring that their personal data is not shared with third parties. Additionally, many of these services offer features that make it more difficult for trackers to follow users’ online activity. As the importance of privacy continues to grow, it is likely that more and more people will turn to these types of services in order to protect their online information.
What happened to Sync.com?
Sync.Com is a good service. I only include pCloud on this list, because it covers what most people need in terms of encrypted cloud storage.
Keep up the good work, Bro !
Some of which
disconnected me after being connected for a while and then told me my
credentials were no longer valid. I used both the application as well
as the OVPN file.
I’d enjoy seeing some recommendations for private cloud services apart from Sync.com (pCloud really does work better with photos than documents/records). I have spent quite a bit of time giving each one a fair trial and won’t be using either. I use Mac devices, OS and iOS. The Sync.com mobile app works very well — fairly easy to use and can immediately see results. The desktop app — not so much. It consistently fails to detect that I’m online, so doesn’t update or sync with any regularity. When attempting to upload files or folders through either the desktop or web panel while using my laptop, I get frequent stalls mid-operation so I have to start over again — or, when it says everything is synced — it misses files completely. These are not isolated incidents. Support is a joke — although someone responds, they answer questions with pasted info from their help files and marketing boilerplate instead of addressing the stated issue. This is not a criticism of the great work you do reviewing everything — I respect that enough to want to use your recommendations — but it would be nice to have another option or two. Thanks!
Skye,
I’m sorry that you’ve had trouble with the Sync Desktop app. I have the app installed on my Mac, and I haven’t had any issues uploading or syncing. However, I’ve only been a casual user.
I also use pCloud on a daily and it’s quite reliable.
Other alternatives to these services are SpiderOak and Tresorit. Both are encrypted cloud providers.
The information you are providing is very helpful for me and other curious readers also.
Thank You.
We would like you to test and ultimately recommend our private email service. What does it take?
Any help appreciated.
Thank You