Disroot is a platform providing online services based on principles of freedom, privacy, federation and decentralization.


Part 2 of 3 in Series: lists will continually be updated periodically.
This is a continuation of my list, “Recommended Software for the Average Joe and Jane”, but with software I believe needs a bit more technical know-how.
Criteria I look for universally for my lists are as follows: — Open source code: publicly audited — Privacy-focus: minimal data collection, encryption by default — Security-focus: 2FA available, encryption by default — Zero Knowledge end-to-end encryption (E2EE) when appropriate — Cross-platform or progressive web apps (PWAs) + cloud backup/sync — Freemium subscription model, so basic features are always available for free — Oligarchy / Big Tech alternative — Absence of “dark” or deceptive patterns
Criteria specifically for this list: — Small organizations and up-and-coming software are welcome on this list — User experience may require more configuration, less convenience, and more tech literacy — Features available can replace or nearly replace Big Tech’s popular apps
Email providers that don’t have cross platform apps, so they didn’t make it on the “Average Joe and Jane” list, but they are privacy respecting.
Disroot is a platform providing online services based on principles of freedom, privacy, federation and decentralization.


Murena Workspace is your personal email account, your agenda and contacts, your drive on the cloud and your online office suite. All combined in one single service at murena.io, simple to use. It is powered by proven open-source software like NextCloud and OnlyOffice.


Zero Knowledge, E2EE cloud storage. You will need to be a bit more tech-savvy than the average user to even understand their website.
Filen is a cutting-edge cloud storage provider that offers client-side, end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption. Headquartered and operated entirely in Germany, Filen is at the forefront of combining comprehensive features with uncompromising privacy and security.




Peergos is a secure and private online space where you can store, share and view your photos, videos, music and documents.




Nextcloud is self-hosting, CryptPad is only a PWA, and LibreOffice has no mobile apps or cloud sync.
On-premises file sync, universal access, integrated collaboration, real-time communication with privacy and data control focus.




CryptPad is a private-by-design alternative to popular office tools and cloud services. All the content stored on CryptPad is encrypted before being sent, which means nobody can access your data unless you give them the keys.




Free and open-source office suite with advanced word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, vector graphics, math formula editor, and database tools.




locally hosted web application that allows you to perform various operations on PDF files.




Cryptomator provides transparent, client-side encryption for your cloud. Protect your documents from unauthorized access. Cryptomator is free and open source software, so you can rest assured there are no backdoors.



We are committed to offering an excellent writing experience on all of your devices. A great writing app gets out of your way and makes it simple to get your thoughts down as easily as possible. Markdown is a great language for writing content, especially when there is code...

Free multi-platform software for task management, time tracking, and personal project management. Seamless integration with Jira, GitHub, and GitLab.




A complete Getting Things Done (GTD) productivity system for desktop and mobile. Mind Like Water.




Perfice is an open-source self-tracking platform that helps you track anything you like, and see how different metrics impact other areas of your life. It is built to be heavily customizable and local-first, leaving you in control of your tracking journey.




Hugging Face is an online community dedicated to advancing AI and democratizing good machine learning. Hugging Face empowers the field of AI through various open-source developments, free and low-cost hosting of machine learning resources and by providing an accessible and...

Public platform for evaluating large language models using anonymous pairwise comparisons, crowd-sourced voting, real-time result updates, and global performance tracking.


Open-source design tool with code inspection, flexible responsive layouts, real-time collaboration, layer support, auto layout, reusable components, and no tracking.




Open source vector graphics editor supporting SVG with features like custom brushes, pressure sensitivity, and layer management across multiple platforms.




Free open-source suite with advanced photo retouching, composition, batch processing, plugin extensibility, custom scripting, and wide file format compatibility.




Clean hidden data from your files, right in your browser. No uploads. No tracking. Open source. Private by design.

A simple and straightforward utility that enables you to effortlessly download any type of file from the Internet and that comes with some privacy settings.




Unlimited, private video calls, right in your browser. No extra apps. No tracking. Just free connections, powered by Brave .

Powered by WebRTC, Real-time video call, chat room and screen sharing entirely browser based.



Excalidraw is an open-source whiteboard tool that lets you easily sketch diagrams that have a hand-drawn feel to them. Available directly online as a web app and also through CodeSandbox to easily see how the code works, and the app is available for self-hosting.




Peer-to-peer group chat platform syncing messages over Tor and IPFS, ensuring private, encrypted, decentralized collaboration without any central servers.


Cross-platform email client providing POP/IMAP support, robust filtering, multiple accounts, and chat. Extendable via add-ons with RSS/Atom, etc.




Create unlimited disposable email adresses on the go and forward them to your main email adress, with this free and open-source solution.

Decentralized messenger with end-to-end encryption, no registration, no tracking, metadata protection, secure file sharing, and multi-device syncing.




Encrypted platform supporting private, identifier-free messaging, group conversations, file sharing, and audio/video calling, using a double-ratchet protocol.




The Mullvad Browser is a privacy-focused web browser developed in a collaboration between Mullvad VPN and the Tor Project. It’s designed to minimize tracking and fingerprinting. You could say it’s a Tor Browser to use without the Tor Network.



Privacy-focused browser with over 500 settings for enhanced security and performance, independent of Firefox, and not affiliated with Mozilla.


This efficient browser add-on blocks ads, trackers, and malware by default employing various filter lists, acting as a comprehensive wide-spectrum blocker.




The NoScript Firefox extension provides extra protection for Firefox, Seamonkey and other mozilla-based browsers: this free, open source add-on allows JavaScript, Java, Flash and other plugins to be executed only by trusted web sites of your choice (e.g. your online bank).






Our public DNS service offers DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT), with QNAME minimization and basic ad blocking.
The Psono password manager keeps hackers out and your passwords secure. Psono is free and open source and available for Windows, Linux and Mac. Organize your passwords now!




Think I’m missing something? Maybe it’s on my list: “Software for the average Joe and Jane [1/3]” or “Software for Advanced Administrators [3/3]”.