Privacy Friendly Services

Recommended Privacy-Friendly Services

If you care about privacy, security, and digital independence, these services can help you take back control over your data. Whether it’s email, messaging, browsing, or cloud storage, there are privacy-first alternatives to mainstream services like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.

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🇪🇺EU Alternatives to US Services

https://european-alternatives.eu/alternatives-to

📧 Private Email Providers

Mainstream email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo) scan your emails for advertising and share data with governments. These alternatives encrypt your emails and keep them private.

• ProtonMail (Switzerland) – End-to-end encrypted email with strong privacy laws, supports custom domains, calendar, and VPN
• Tutanota (Germany) – Fully encrypted email and calendar, open-source, with a focus on security.
• Mailbox.org (Germany) – Privacy-friendly email with business features, supports aliases and PGP encryption.
• Infomaniak Mail (Switzerland) – GDPR-compliant email, offering better security than mainstream providers.

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💬 Private Messaging Apps

Apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram collect metadata (who you talk to, when, and where), making you traceable. These apps offer real privacy.

• Element (Decentralized, Matrix-based) – Open-source, encrypted messaging with group chats, file sharing, and voice/video calls.
• Threema (Switzerland) – Anonymous messaging with no phone number required, end-to-end encryption.
• Session (Anonymous, decentralized) – Based on blockchain, with no phone number or metadata collection.
• SimpleX (Peer-to-peer encrypted) – No central server, private and truly decentralized messaging.

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🔑 Password Managers

Using weak passwords or reusing the same ones across multiple sites is a major security risk. These password managers keep your credentials safe.

• Bitwarden (Open-source, cross-platform) – Cloud or self-hosted password manager with encryption.
• KeePassXC (Offline, open-source) – No cloud storage, full local control, and advanced security features.
• Proton Pass (Switzerland) – End-to-end encrypted password manager from the makers of ProtonMail.

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🌐 Private Browsers

Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge track everything you do online. These browsers block trackers, ads, and fingerprinting.

• Firefox (Customizable, open-source) – A privacy-first browser that can be enhanced with add-ons.
• Brave (Built-in ad blocker, Tor mode) – Blocks trackers and ads by default, offers private Tor browsing.
• Tor Browser (Ultimate anonymity) – Routes your traffic through the Tor network, making it hard to track you.

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🔍 Private Search Engines

Google tracks and stores every search you make, profiling your habits. These search engines don’t collect personal data.

• Startpage (Netherlands) – Google results without tracking, logs, or profiling.
• DuckDuckGo (US-based, privacy-focused) – No personalized tracking, with decent search results.
• Qwant (France) – EU-based, no tracking or personalized ads.
• Mojeek (UK) – Independent search engine with its own index, fully private.

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🛡️ VPN Services

Free VPNs often log your activity and sell your data. Choose a trusted, no-logs VPN to keep your browsing private.

• OVPN (Sweden) – No logs, strong legal protection against data requests.
• Mullvad (Sweden) – Anonymous sign-up, no logs, supports cryptocurrency payments.
• IVPN (Gibraltar) – Open-source, transparent, with multi-hop capabilities.
• Proton VPN (Schweiz) – No log VPN with many features

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☁️ Private Cloud Storage

Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox scan your files for ads, AI training, and government requests. These cloud services encrypt your data and keep it private.

• Nextcloud (Self-hosted) – Full control over your data, integrates with many apps.
• Tresorit (Switzerland) – End-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge storage.
• Infomaniak kDrive (Switzerland) – GDPR-compliant, private cloud storage.
• Sync.com (Canada) – Zero-knowledge encryption, affordable plans.

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📱 Privacy-Respecting Smartphones

Apple and Google track everything you do on your phone. These options give you back control.

• Fairphone – Sustainable, privacy-respecting phone with open-source OS options.
• GrapheneOS (For Google Pixel) – Hardened, secure, Google-free Android alternative.
• CalyxOS (For Google Pixel) – Open-source Android with better privacy.
• /e/OS – DeGoogled Android with built-in privacy tools.

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📷 Decentralized Social Media Alternatives

Big Tech social media platforms track every like, comment, and interaction. These alternatives put privacy first.

• Mastodon (Twitter/X alternative) – Open-source, decentralized microblogging.
• Pixelfed (Instagram alternative) – No ads, no tracking, federated photo sharing.
• PeerTube (YouTube alternative) – Decentralized video hosting.
• Lemmy (Reddit alternative) – Federated, open-source discussion platform.

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📜 Encrypted Note-Taking Apps

• Standard Notes – End-to-end encrypted, open-source notes.
• Joplin – Markdown-based note-taking, syncs with your storage.
• Logseq – Privacy-focused, self-hostable outliner and knowledge base.

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📞 Private VOIP & Video Calls

• Jitsi Meet – Open-source Zoom alternative, no registration needed.
• Element Call – Secure Matrix-based video calling.
• Mumble – Encrypted VOIP for gaming and communities.

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Mass surveillance is everywhere, but you don’t have to accept it. By switching to privacy-first services, you reduce your exposure to tracking, data harvesting, and corporate surveillance.

You don’t need to change everything overnight—start small, pick one service, and go from there. Every step you take makes mass surveillance harder and pushes us towards a more private, decentralized internet.