Private apps your family will actually use

Signal

Messaging29.5k

Free messenger where texts, calls and group chats are end-to-end encrypted by default, run by a nonprofit.

• No tracking
• Open source
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account needed
• Free

Proton MailAudited

Email5.7k

Swiss email where your mailbox is encrypted so the provider can't read it, with apps on every platform.

• Minimal tracking
• Partly open
• Partly encrypted
• Account needed
• Free plan

BitwardenAudited

Password managers14.1k

Open-source password manager that syncs an end-to-end encrypted vault across every device, with a full free plan.

• Minimal tracking
• Open source
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account needed
• Free plan

Ente PhotosAudited

Photos29.6k

Photo and video backup with end-to-end encryption, so Ente cannot see your library. Apps for every platform, plus family sharing.

• Minimal tracking
• Open source
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account needed
• Free plan

Organic Maps

Maps15.8k

Fast offline maps for hiking, cycling and driving built on OpenStreetMap, with no ads, no tracking and no registration.

• No tracking
• Open source
• Stays on device
• No account
• Free

Firefox

Browsers13.6k

Independent open-source browser with tracking protection on by default and end-to-end encrypted sync of tabs, passwords and history.

• Minimal tracking
• Open source
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account optional
• Free

DuckDuckGo

Search engines

Search engine that does not keep search history or build a profile; ads are based only on the current query.

• No tracking
• Closed source
• No account
• Free

Proton DriveAudited

Cloud storage

Swiss cloud drive where files, photos and the built-in Docs and Sheets are encrypted on your device before upload.

• Minimal tracking
• Partly open
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account needed
• Free plan

Proton PassAudited

Password managers

Password manager from the Swiss Proton team that encrypts logins, notes and passkeys on your device and adds email aliases.

• Minimal tracking
• Partly open
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account needed
• Free plan

Ente AuthAudited

2FA authenticators29.6k

Free 2FA app for phones, desktops and web that can sync your codes end-to-end encrypted, or run offline with no account.

• Minimal tracking
• Open source
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account optional
• Free

Brave

Browsers24k

Chromium-based browser that blocks ads, trackers and fingerprinting out of the box, so Chrome extensions still work.

• Minimal tracking
• Open source
• End-to-end encrypted
• No account
• Free

Proton VPNAudited

VPNs4.2k

Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap or ads, open-source apps, and yearly no-logs audits.

• Minimal tracking
• Partly open
• Account needed
• Free plan

Mullvad VPNAudited

VPNs7.7k

Swedish VPN with one flat price, accounts made of a random number with no email, and cash or Monero payment accepted.

• No tracking
• Partly open
• Account needed
• €5/month

Standard NotesAudited

Notes6.7k

Simple, end-to-end encrypted notes that sync on every device, from a company now owned by Proton.

• No tracking
• Open source
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account optional
• Free plan

Proton Calendar

Calendars

Calendar from Proton that encrypts event titles, notes, places and guests end to end.

• Minimal tracking
• Partly open
• Partly encrypted
• Account needed
• Free plan

Joplin

Notes56.9k

Open-source notebooks and to-dos that sync through Joplin Cloud or your own storage, with optional encryption.

• Minimal tracking
• Open source
• Partly encrypted
• Account optional
• Free plan

Magic Earth

Maps

Navigation app on OpenStreetMap data with offline maps, traffic and CarPlay, which says it does not track or profile your location.

• No tracking
• Closed source
• Stays on device
• No account
• Free plan

Tuta

Email8k

German email and calendar that encrypt the whole mailbox, including subject lines and contacts.

• No tracking
• Partly open
• End-to-end encrypted
• Account needed
• Free plan

CryptomatorAudited

File encryption16.3k

Encrypts files one by one inside a vault folder before they sync to Dropbox, Google Drive or any other cloud.

• No tracking
• Open source
• Stays on device
• No account
• Free plan

Duck.ai

AI assistants

DuckDuckGo's free chat with several AI models; your IP is removed and recent chats are saved only on your device.

• No tracking
• Closed source
• Partly encrypted
• No account
• Free plan