My privacy & user friendly setup [2026]

Darlene Sonalder
Darlene SonalderList by Darlene Sonalder, last updated 
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  1. The e-mails

  2. ProtonMail is a fine e-mail provider. Their clients are open source, your e-mails are encrypted and they have a free tier which is really usable ! Hosted in Switzerland.

    Worth mentioning :

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Tor
    Proton Mail screenshot 1
    Proton Mail screenshot 1
    Proton Mail screenshot 2
    +9
    Proton Mail screenshot 3
  3. I never give a website my ProtonMail adress I always give them an alias generated with SimpleLogin. The free tier allow you to have 15 aliases for one e-mail adresse and the premium plan is really affordable ! You can activate and deactivate aliases any time so you don't get spams. Open source of course.

    Worth mentioning :

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari
    • F-Droid
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Open source solution to protect your email address.
    Create alias quickly with SimpleLogin Chrome & Firefox extension.
    Alias management dashboard.
    +1
    Visualize all emails sent to or replied from an alias.
  4. If you don't want to use a web client Thunderbird is the go to. The UI is outdated but the app doesn't spy on you.

    Mobile client is based on K-9 Mail icon K-9 Mail

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • BSD
    • AppImageHub
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • F-Droid
    • Haiku
    • Homebrew
    • Chocolatey
    Thunderbird screenshot 1
    Thunderbird screenshot 1
    Thunderbird screenshot 2
    +8
    Thunderbird screenshot 3
  5. I don't have good recommendations, Canary Mail looks to be the best but it's closed source !

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    iOS-1
    iOS-2
    iOS-3
    +11
    iOS-4
  6. Translator

  7. This translator is great and privacy respecting enough for me

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    Kagi Translate screenshot 1
    Kagi Translate screenshot 1
    Kagi Translate screenshot 2
    +4
    Kagi Translate screenshot 3
  8. The passwords

    Always use strong and unique passwords, how to remember them ? You don't have to, use a password manager ! Also enable TOTP everywhere you can ! Or use a YubiKey if you can afford one.

  9. Bitwarden icon
     Like

    BitWarden is going under a radical and discreet shift within the company: https://blog.ppb1701.com/the-quiet-renovation-at-bitwarden

    A very good easy-to-use and cloud sync and open source password manager on a really nice freemium model. You can self host it if you want !

    Worth mentioning:

    Worth mentioning (if you don't need cloud sync or are willing to sync it yourself) :

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Apple Watch
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Vivaldi
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Microsoft SQL Server
    • Tor Browser
    • Safari
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak
    • Cloudron
    • Docker
    • Opera
    • Chocolatey
    • Mono
    • Brave
    • AppImage
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Bitwarden screenshot 1
    Bitwarden screenshot 1
    Bitwarden screenshot 2
    +11
    Bitwarden screenshot 3
  10. I always go with Aegis. Secure, beautiful, easy-to-use and open source !

    BACKUP YOUR SEEDS !!!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Aegis Authenticator screenshot 1
    Aegis Authenticator screenshot 1
    Aegis Authenticator screenshot 2
    +5
    Aegis Authenticator screenshot 3
  11. Ente Auth icon
     Like

    Optional cloud sync with e2ee !

    BACKUP YOUR SEEDS !!!

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Flatpak
    Ente Auth screenshot 1
    Ente Auth screenshot 1
    Ente Auth screenshot 2
    +6
    Ente Auth screenshot 3
  12. DNS

    You should set a custom DNS, you can do it directly in the settings of Windows, macOS, Linux, Android (9+) and iOS (14+)

  13. Pi-hole icon
     Like

    I host a PiHole that uses Quad9 icon Quad9 DNS and block all the ads and trackers that it can.

    Worth mentioning:

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • CentOS
    • Fedora
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Raspberry Pi OS
    • Raspberry Pi
    The Web interface shows how many ads were blocked, a query log, and more.
    Domains can be whitelisted and blacklisted using either the web interface or the command line.
    The settings page lets you control and configure your Pi-hole.
    +2
    Pi-hole screenshot 3
  14. Quad9 icon
     Like

    My DNS of choice ! Privacy focused ;) By default it only blocks malware stuff but they also have an unsecure version without blocking.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
  15. DNSCloak icon
     Like

    DNSCloak is the only app you'll ever need to use a custom DNS for iOS 13 or below or if you want simplicity.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    DNSCloak screenshot 1
    DNSCloak screenshot 1
    DNSCloak screenshot 2
    +1
    DNSCloak screenshot 3
  16. DNSNet icon
     Like

    Android let you change your DNS in your network settings since A9 but if you have an older version go with DNSNet !

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid
    DNSNet screenshot 1
    DNSNet screenshot 1
    DNSNet screenshot 2
    +2
    DNSNet screenshot 3
  17. VPN

    STOP thinking that a VPN will provide you anonymity, it's a trust transfer from your ISP to your VPN provider!

    You might not need a VPN but if you think you do or want one:

  18. NymVPN icon
     Like

    My VPN of choice for most of my devices !

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • AppImageHub
    • Arch Linux
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • WireGuard
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    • Flatpak
    • GitHub
    More than a VPN
    Keep your identity private
    Access the world's most secure VPN
    +5
    Remain anonymous wherever you go
  19. As NymVPN icon NymVPN uses the decentralised mixnet Nym icon Nym you can't download a wireguard config file (at least for now) if you do need that for your OpenWrt icon OpenWrt or else Mullvad is the best choice IMO.

    Worth mentioning:

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • F-Droid
    • WireGuard
    • OpenWrt
    • Tomato
    • pfSense
    • DD-WRT
    Mullvad VPN screenshot 1
    Mullvad VPN screenshot 1
    Mullvad VPN screenshot 2
    +10
    Mullvad VPN screenshot 3
  20. If you can't afford a VPN but would need to use a free one use Windscribe, it's limited in many ways but protect your privacy better than all other free VPNs and most popular paid options.

    Worth mentioning:

    • Proton VPN icon Proton VPN Another great Free VPN that is limited in a different manner
    • Calyx VPN icon Calyx VPN Privacy Advocate Foundation Server proxy-like VPN
    • RiseupVPN icon RiseupVPN Privacy Advocate Foundation Server proxy-like VPN

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • iPad
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Apple TV
    • F-Droid
    • Android TV
    • Fire TV
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Windscribe screenshot 1
    Windscribe screenshot 1
    Windscribe screenshot 2
    +5
    Windscribe screenshot 3
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