---
created: '2022-07-26'
updated: '2022-07-27'
title: 'Software recommendations for privacy conscious people'
description: ''
keywords:
  - privacy
hidden: false
---

Moving away from BigTech is not an easy task. However, in these days, there are plenty polished
alternatives out there. Over the years I tried out many different services and software. I will
present what worked best for me here.

A very encompassing resource I am recommending is [PrivacyGuides](https://www.privacyguides.org/).
However, their recommendations are at times rather purist. Everyone should use whatever works best for them.
Privacy is not a black-and-white game.

## Utilities

| Name                                                      | Description                                  | Cost              | Selfhostable |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | :---------------: | :----------: |
| [Bitwarden](https://bitwarden.com/)                       | Password manager                             | free              | :white_check_mark:          |
| [SimpleLogin](https://simplelogin.io/)                    | Email aliases                                | free for students | :white_check_mark:          |
| [Mailbox.org](https://mailbox.org/en/)                    | Email hosting                                | 1 € / m           | :x:           |
| [Element](https://element.io/)                            | Instant messenging                           | free              | :white_check_mark:          |
| [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/)           | Global map                                   | free              | :x:           |
| [Baïkal](https://sabre.io/baikal/)                        | Lightweight calendar synchronisation         | free              | :white_check_mark:          |
| [Filebrowser](https://github.com/filebrowser/filebrowser) | Lightweight file organisation in the browser | free              | :white_check_mark:          |
| [xBrowserSync](https://www.xbrowsersync.org/)             | Bookmark sync                                | free              | :white_check_mark:          |

## PC Software

| Name                                                                           | Description                 | Cost | Selfhostable |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | :---------------: | :----------: |
| [Ungoogled Chromium](https://github.com/ungoogled-software/ungoogled-chromium) | Browser                     | free | -          |
| [KDE Software Suite](https://kde.org/)                                         | Desktop environment         | free | -          |
| [i3wm](https://i3wm.org/)                                                      | Desktop environment         | free | -          |
| [VSCodium](https://vscodium.com/)                                              | No telemetry VSCode         | free | -          |
| [Xournal++](https://xournalpp.github.io/)                                      | PDF annotation and creation | free | -          |

## Android Apps

| Name                                                                             | Description                | Cost | Selfhostable |
| --------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | :---------------: | :----------: |
| [Infinity](https://f-droid.org/packages/ml.docilealligator.infinityforreddit/)   | Reddit client              | free | -          |
| [Aegis](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.beemdevelopment.aegis)               | 2FA Manager                | free | -          |
| [FindMyDevice](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.nulide.findmydevice/)          | Remote phone control       | free | :white_check_mark:          |
| [AdAway](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.adaway/)                            | Adblocking with hosts file | free | -          |
| [OsmAnd+](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/net.osmand.plus/)                      | Global map                 | free | :x:           |
| [StreetComplete](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/de.westnordost.streetcomplete/) | Improve OpenStreetMap      | free | -          |