awesome-privacy/README.md

<p align="center"><img width="500" src="misc/awesomeprivacy.png"> </img></p> 
<p align="center">List of free,open source and privacy respecting services and alternatives to privative services.</p>
<p align="center"><a href="https://github.com/pluja/awesome-privacy/blob/main/misc/ABOUT.md"> About </a> </p>

* [Search Engines](#search-engines)
* [Photo Storage](#photo-storage)
* [Photo Management](#photo-management)
* [Cloud Storage](#cloud-storage)
* [Encryption](#encryption)
* [File management / sharing](#file-sharing)
* [Maps / Navigation](#maps--navigation)
* [Social Networks](#social-networks)
  * [Instagram](#instagram)
  * [Youtube](#youtube)
  * [Twitter](#twitter)
  * [Reddit](#reddit)
* [Teamworking and Communication Tools](#teamworking-tools)
* [Instant Messaging](#instant-messaging)
* [Password Managers](#password-managers)
* [Video conferencing](#video-conferencing)
* [Media Streaming Platforms](#media-streaming-platforms)
  * [Video/Audio](#video-audio)
  * [Audio](#audio)
  * [Podcasts](#podcasts)
* [Operating Systems](#operating-systems)
  * [Android](#android-1)
  * [Smart TV](#smart-tv)
  * [PC](#PC)
* [Analytics](#analytics)
* [Cloaking](#cloaking)
* [Office](#office)
* [Uncategorized](#uncategorized)

## Search Engines

<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**
* Google Search
* Yahoo Search
* Bing
* Yandex

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Whoogle Search](https://github.com/benbusby/whoogle-search) - A self-hosted, ad-free, privacy-respecting Google metasearch engine.
* [Qwant](https://www.qwant.com/) - A privacy oriented search engine made in France with no tracking.
* [SearX](https://searx.me/) - Privacy-respecting metasearch engine.

## Photo storage
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**
* Google Photos
* Amazon Photos

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Stingle Photos](https://stingle.org/) - Open source solution that provides strong security, privacy and encryption to backup your photos.
* [Crypt.ee](https://crypt.ee/) - A private and encrypted place for all your photos, documents, notes and more.
* [Photoprism](https://photoprism.app) - Feature rich server-based application for browsing, organizing and sharing your personal photo collection. The most similar to Google Photos.
* [Photostructure](https://photostructure.com/) - Self-hosted photo library that makes browsing and sharing a lifetime of memories delightful.
* [LibrePhotos](https://github.com/LibrePhotos/librephotos) - Active [OwnPhotos](https://github.com/hooram/ownphotos) fork. Self hosted alternative to Google Photos.
* [Nextcloud](https://nextcloud.com/) - The open source self-hosted productivity platform that keeps you in control. It has a [*Photos*](https://github.com/nextcloud/photos) plugin to help you organize and visualize your photos.

## Photo management
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator / Lightroom
* VSCO

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
#### Desktop:
* [GIMP](https://www.gimp.org/) - The Free & Open Source Image Editor.

#### Android:
* [PocketPaint](https://github.com/Catrobat/Paintroid) - The standard image manipulation app for Catroid.
* [Scrambled Exif](https://gitlab.com/juanitobananas/scrambled-exif) - Remove Exif data from pictures before sharing them.
* [ImagePipe](https://codeberg.org/Starfish/Imagepipe) - Reduces image size and removes exif-tags when sharing images on android devices.

## Encryption
Remember: Without strong encryption, you will be spied on systematically by lots of people.

* [Veracrypt](https://www.veracrypt.fr/en/Home.html) - VeraCrypt is a free open source disk encryption software for Windows, Mac OSX and Linux.
* [Hat.sh](https://hat.sh/) - A Free, Fast, Secure and Serverless File Encryption.
* [Cryptomator](https://cryptomator.org/) - Cryptomator encrypts your data quickly and easily. Afterwards you upload them protected to your favorite cloud servic
* [Stegcloak](https://stegcloak.surge.sh/) - Hide secrets with invisible characters in plain text securely using passwords.

## File Sharing
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* WeTransfer
* SendAnywhere

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Instead Use:**
* [Lufi](https://framagit.org/fiat-tux/hat-softwares/lufi) - Let's Upload that FIle — File sharing software.
* [Croc](https://github.com/schollz/croc) - Easily and securely send things from one computer to another.
* [Dat-cp](https://github.com/tom-james-watson/dat-cp) - Copy files between hosts on a network using the peer-to-peer Dat network.
* [QRcp](https://github.com/claudiodangelis/qrcp) - Transfer files over wifi from your computer to your mobile device by scanning a QR code without leaving the terminal.
* [Snapdrop](https://snapdrop.net/) - A Progressive Web App for local file sharing inspired by Apple's Airdrop.
* [Paperless](https://github.com/the-paperless-project/paperless) - Scan, index, and archive all of your paper documents.

## Cloud Storage
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**
* Google Drive
* Dropbox
* OneDrive

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Nextcloud](https://nextcloud.com/) - The open source self-hosted productivity platform that keeps you in control.
* [Seafile](https://www.seafile.com/en/home/) - High performance file syncing and sharing. It includes a Wiki, WYSIWYG editing and other knowledge management features.

**Other useful tools**:
* [Cryptomator](https://cryptomator.org) - Cryptomator encrypts your data quickly and easily. Afterwards you upload them protected to your favorite cloud service.
* [Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/) - Continuous file synchronization program. It synchronizes files between two or more computers in real time, safely protected from prying eyes.
* [Rclone](https://rclone.org/) - Rclone is a command line program to manage files on cloud storage. It is a feature rich alternative to cloud vendors' web storage interfaces and like the tools listed above enables encryption for encrypting files in the cloud. 

## Maps / Navigation
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* Google Maps
* Apple Maps
* Yandex Maps
* Bing Maps
* Waze
* Sygic
* HERE WeGo

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Instead Use:**
* [Open Street Map (OSM)](https://www.openstreetmap.org/) - OpenStreetMap is built by a community of mappers that contribute and maintain data about roads, trails, cafés, railway stations, and much more, all over the world.
  * [OSMAnd](https://osmand.net/) - Android/iOS Navigation app using OSM. It is a feature-rich app with all you expect.

## Mail Services

## Operating Systems
### Android
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Try to avoid using Google Android or any Android that has been modified and tuned by any manufacturer such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, etc. Android is an Open Source project - [AOSP - Android Open Source Project]() - and it has many versions that will respect the user privacy and data and won't share it with private servers from manufacturers or service providers.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Instead Use:**

#### Android app compatibility
* [GrapheneOS](https://grapheneos.org/) - GrapheneOS is an open source privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility. 
* [CalyxOS](https://calyxos.org/) - CalyxOS lets you have your cake and eat it too, with  "Privacy by Design".
* [LineageOS](https://lineageos.org/) - A free and open-source operating system for various devices, based on the Android mobile platform.
* [Replicant](https://www.replicant.us/) - A free software mobile operating system putting the emphasis on freedom and privacy/security.

#### Based on Linux
* [UBPorts](https://www.ubports.com/) - Ubuntu Touch is the touch-friendly mobile version of Ubuntu.
* [postmarketOS](https://postmarketos.org/) - Touch optimised and pre-configured version of Alpine Linux.
* [PureOS](https://www.pureos.net/) - Operating system developed by purism for the Librem 5.
* [Plasma Mobile](https://www.plasma-mobile.org/) - Plasma, in your pocket. Privacy-respecting, open source and secure phone ecosystem.

### Smart TV
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Don't use Android TV, LG WebOS or any other privacy-invasive common TV OS that comes preinstalled with your TV.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Instead Use:**
* [Kodi](https://kodi.tv/) - It is an entertainment hub that brings all your digital media together into a beautiful and user friendly package. It is 100% free and open source, very customisable and runs on a wide variety of devices.
* [Jellyfin](https://jellyfin.org/) - Jellyfin is the volunteer-built media solution that puts you in control of your media. Stream to any device from your own server, with no strings attached.
* [OSMC](https://osmc.tv/) - OSMC is a free and open source media center built for the people, by the people.
* [RaspberryCast](https://github.com/vincelwt/RaspberryCast) - Transform your Raspberry Pi into a streaming device. Cast videos from mobile devices or computers to your TV.

### PC
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Don't use MS Windows.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Instead Use:**
* [GNU/Linux](https://www.linux.com/what-is-linux/) - GNU/Linux is a family of mostly free and open source Operating Systems mostly developed by the community. If you don't know where to start, [Linux-Mint(Cinnamon)](https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=281) is a beginner friendly Distribution. If you want to try it out without installing it to your computer, you can use a [Live USB Stick](https://www.fosslinux.com/274/how-to-create-linux-mint-live-usb-drive-on-windows.htm). If you want to install Linux but keep your current operating System, you can set up [dual boot](https://averagelinuxuser.com/dualboot-linux-windows/).

## Social Networks
### Instagram
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Don't use instagram (or at least the official client). Instagram is a very privacy-invasive app with biased results and feeds based on user profiles, it is also used as a manipulation tool and has a lot of censorship going against free speech. Lastly, it has an addictive and toxic ui-design.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Instead Use:**

**Alternatives to Instagram**:
* [Pixelfed](https://pixelfed.org/) - Decentralized, federated and Open Source alternative to Instagram with posts, videos, stories, tags, etc.

**Alternative Instagram clients**:
* [Barinsta](http://barinsta.austinhuang.me/) - The beautiful, open source, and privacy-friendly alternative Instagram client for Android.

### Youtube
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Don't use YouTube (or at least the official client). Youtube is very privacy invasive, it generates a very accurate profile based on your interests. Also it is a [radicalization tool](https://www.pcmag.com/news/does-youtubes-algorithm-lead-to-radicalization) which shows [biased content to users](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1908.08313.pdf) in order to get more engadgement and to get them to watch more and more content creating an [adiction](https://medium.com/dataseries/how-youtube-is-addictive-259d5c575883). It never shows you [alternative opinions](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1908.08313.pdf) to your ideology/bias. Youtube censors a lot. Youtube collects a LOT of your data: interesnts, free time, ideology, likes, dislikes, music taste, etc...

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Instead Use:**
* [Peertube](https://joinpeertube.org/en/) - A free, open and decentralized alternative to video platforms.
* [LBRY](https://lbry.tv/) - LBRY is a secure, open, and community-run digital marketplace. Enjoy the latest content from your favorite creators - as a user, not a product.
* [Odysee](https://odysee.com/) - Odysee is a video platform backed by the creators of lbry and uses the lbry blockchain protocol.
* [DTube](https://github.com/dtube/dtube) - A full-featured video sharing website, decentralized.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Privacy respecting Youtube clients:**
- [Yotter](https://github.com/ytorg/yotter) - Youtube and Twitter with privacy. Never share any of your data to Youtube, yet be able to watch Youtube videos.
- [Invidious](https://github.com/iv-org/invidious) - Alternative and privacy respecting Youtube frontend.
- [FreeTube](https://github.com/FreeTubeApp/FreeTube) - FreeTube is an open source desktop YouTube player built with privacy in mind. (Uses Local RSS API or Invidious for backend)
- [NewPipe](https://newpipe.net/) - Alternative android Youtube app. No account needed, privacy respecting. **Shares IP with Youtube**

#### Worth mentioning:
- [Piped](https://github.com/TeamPiped) - Work in progress.

### Twitter
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Avoid using Twitter official app / website. It tracks users and creates user profiles based on what they follow, retweet and like. Twitter harms and vulnerates users privacy with their policies.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Alternatives to Twitter:**

> **Federated social networks**: A federated social network isn’t a single website like Twitter or Facebook, it's a network of thousands of communities operated by different organizations and individuals that provide a seamless social media experience.

* [Pleroma](https://pleroma.social/) - Pleroma is a free, federated social networking server built on open protocols.
  * [Soapbox](https://gitlab.com/soapbox-pub/soapbox-fe) - A frontend for Pleroma with a focus on custom branding and ease of use.
* [Mastodon](https://joinmastodon.org/) - Free, federated microblogging social network built on open protocols.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Alternative Twitter Frontends:**
* [Nitter](https://github.com/zedeus/nitter/wiki/Instances) - Nitter is a free and open source alternative Twitter front-end focused on privacy.
* [Yotter](https://github.com/ytorg/yotter) - Twitter with privacy with a simple yet beautiful UI.

### Reddit
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Try to avoid using Reddit or at least avoid their official clients as they are plenty of trackers, ads and share unnecessary user data with their servers.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Reddit alternatives:**
* [Lemmy](https://join.lemmy.ml/) - A federated and open alternative to reddit in rust.
* [Aether](https://getaether.net/) - Peer-to-peer ephemeral public communities.
* [SaidIt](https://saidit.net/) - Open source Reddit clone.
* [Ruqqus](https://ruqqus.com) - Open source Reddit alternative without censorship.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img> **Privacy respecting Reddit clients:**
* [Teddit](https://teddit.net/) - Alternative Reddit front-end focused on privacy
* [Infinity](https://github.com/Docile-Alligator/Infinity-For-Reddit) - A beautiful Reddit client for Android.
* [Slide](https://github.com/ccrama/Slide) - Slide is an open sourced, ad free Reddit browser for Android and iOS.

## Teamworking Tools
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* Slack
* Google Hangouts
* Microsoft Teams
* Discord

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Zulip](https://zulip.com/) - Chat for distributed teams.
* [Twake](https://twake.app/) - Work in a team faster. Twake covers all of your organizational needs through a single platform.
* [RocketChat](https://rocket.chat/) - Control your communication, manage your data, and have your own collaboration platform to improve team productivity.
* [Nextcloud Talk](https://nextcloud.com/talk/) - Keep conversations private with Nextcloud Talk.
* [Mattermost](https://mattermost.com/) - Open-source Slack alternative.

## Instant Messaging
**Check out [this site](https://www.securemessagingapps.com/) for comparisons*

<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* Whatsapp
* Instagram DM
* Facebook Messenger
* Skype
* Zoom
* Google Hangouts / Chat

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Signal](https://signal.org/) - Extreme focus on privacy, combined with all of the features you expect. Strong encryption by design.
  * [Molly](https://github.com/mollyim/mollyim-android) - Signal-compatible fork client with some security enhancements.
* [Element](https://element.io/) - All-in-one secure chat app for teams, friends and organisations. Keeps conversations in your control, safe from data-mining and ads. Talk to everyone through the open global Matrix network, protected by proper end-to-end encryption.
* [Jabber / XMPP](https://xmpp.org/) - The universal messaging standard. Tried and tested. Independent. Privacy-focused.
  * [Conversations](https://conversations.im/) - Jabber/XMPP client for Android 4.0+ smartphones that has been optimized to provide a unique mobile experience
  * [AstraChat](https://astrachat.com/) - Another XMPP client.
* [Session](https://getsession.org/) - Extreme focus on privacy. Blockchain technology.
* [Status](https://status.im/) - Status is a secure messaging app, crypto wallet, and Web3 browser built with state of the art technology.
* [Tox](https://tox.chat/) - Tox is easy-to-use software that connects you with friends and family without anyone else listening in. 
* [Briar](https://briarproject.org/) - Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging and forums.
* [DeltaChat](https://delta.chat/) - Chat over encrypted e-mail.
* [Tinfoil Chat](https://github.com/maqp/tfc) - Onion-routed, endpoint secure messaging system.

#### Worth mentioning
* [Berty](https://berty.tech/) - Not released yet.
* [Telegram](https://telegram.org/) - Not fully open source. No E2E encryption by default on chats.

## Password Managers
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* Lastpass
* Dashlane

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Bitwarden](https://bitwarden.com) - An open source cloud based password manager
* [KeepassXC](https://keepassxc.org/) - Securely store passwords using industry standard encryption, no sync just storage.
  * [KeepassDX](https://www.keepassdx.com/) for Android.
  * [Strongbox](https://strongboxsafe.com/) for iOS.
  * [KeeWeb](https://keeweb.info/) for Web and other platforms.

## Video Conferencing
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* ZOOM
* Skype
* Google Meet
* Whatsapp
* Instagram
* Discord

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Jitsi Meet](https://meet.jit.si/) - More secure, more flexible, and completely free video conferencing. **No account needed, no installation needed**
* [Jami](https://jami.net/) - P2P audio and video conferences.
* [BigBlueButton](https://bigbluebutton.org/) - BigBlueButton is a web conferencing system designed for online learning.
* [PeerCalls](https://peercalls.com/) - Group peer to peer video calls for everyone written in Go and TypeScript.

## Media Streaming Platforms
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**:
* Amazon Prime Video
* Netflix
* Disney+
* Plex
* Spotify
* Soundcloud

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
#### Video/Audio:
* [Jellyfin](https://jellyfin.org/) - Jellyfin is the volunteer-built media solution that puts you in control of your media. Stream to any device from your own server, with no strings attached.
* [Streamio](https://www.stremio.com/) - Stremio is a modern media center that's a one-stop solution for your video entertainment.

#### Audio:
* [Funkwhale](https://funkwhale.audio/) - A social platform to enjoy and share music (Soundcloud alternative)
* [Subsonic](http://www.subsonic.org/pages/index.jsp) - Your complete, personal music streamer.
* [Koel](https://koel.dev/) - a personal music streaming server that works.
* [Nuclear](https://nuclear.js.org/) - Modern music player focused on streaming from free sources.
* [Navidrome](https://navidrome.org/) - Lightweight, fast and self-contained personal music streamer.

#### Podcasts
* [Antennapod](https://antennapod.org/) - The Open Podcast Player

## Analytics
<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> Avoid any analytics service that comes from Google, Facebook, Microsoft or any privative service. These kind of analytics hurt the users privacy.

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [Matomo](https://matomo.org/) - Google Analytics alternative that protects your data and your customers' privacy.
* [Plausible](https://plausible.io/) - Simple and privacy-friendly alternative to Google Analytics

## Cloaking
### Images
* [Fawkes](https://github.com/Shawn-Shan/fawkes) - privacy preserving tool against facial recognition systems.
  * [CloakMe](https://github.com/pluja/CloakMe) - Web interface for Fawkes algorithm.
* [ImageScrubber](https://github.com/everestpipkin/image-scrubber) - A friendly browser-based tool for anonymizing photographs taken at protests ([hosted version provided by everestpipkin](https://everestpipkin.github.io/image-scrubber/)).

### Text
* [Stegcloak](https://stegcloak.surge.sh/) - Hide secrets with invisible characters in plain text securely using passwords ([repo](https://github.com/kurolabs/stegcloak)).

## Office

<img width="16" src="misc/forbidden.png"> </img> **AVOID**
* Microsoft Office
* Google Docs

<img width="16" src="misc/check.png"> </img>  **Instead use:**
* [LibreOffice](https://www.libreoffice.org/) - Free and open source offline office
* [OnlyOffice](https://www.onlyoffice.com/) - Free and open source online office for collaboration

## Uncategorized
* [Skymap](https://skymaponline.net/) - Open online planetarium program.
* [CrowdSec](https://github.com/crowdsecurity/crowdsec) - An open-source, modernized and collaborative fail2ban
* [Hetty](https://github.com/dstotijn/hetty) - Hetty is an HTTP toolkit for security research. It aims to be an open-source alternative to Burp Suite Pro.