Discover 150+ Free Privacy Tools
Find alternatives to popular apps that can track your data, compromise your security, or reduce your anonymity.
Every tool is chosen based on our strict vetting standards.
Chrome and Edge collect your activity by default. A private browser blocks trackers and reduces fingerprinting from the start. We chose free options with strong defaults, less leaks, regular updates, and good results on Australian sites.
Browser that routes traffic through Tor for stronger anonymity. Slower. For higher-risk browsing.
Browser with ad and tracker blocking on by default. Fast, and no account required.
Browser built to resist fingerprinting. Based on Firefox, with Tor Project input. Stronger when paired with a VPN.
Firefox with the telemetry and tracking stripped out. Stronger defaults from the start.
Android browser with ad and tracker blocking built in. Lighter than Chrome, and harder to fingerprint.
Ads and trackers follow you from site to site. A free blocker stops the scripts. We chose extensions that update often and do not add their own. Install one. Pages load faster, and less of your browsing leaves the browser.
Blocks ads and trackers in the browser. Light on resources. One of the most effective free blockers.
Sends YouTube, Reddit and similar links to private frontends automatically. One extension. Less tracking.
Loads common website files from your browser instead of third-party servers. Faster, and fewer trackers.
Strips tracking codes from web addresses before you open or share them. Links stop carrying a trail.
Browser extension from the Electronic Frontier Foundation that learns to block trackers as you browse.
Loads common website files from your browser instead of tracking servers. Pages are faster and leak less.
Deletes cookies when you close a tab. Sites do not keep the trail between visits.
Sends links from big platforms to private alternatives automatically. Less tracking on everyday sites.
Google stores every search and builds a profile. A private search engine does not. We chose free options that return useful results without logging your history, tying it to an account, or training an ad system.
Google results without Google seeing the search. European privacy standards. No account needed.
Search that pulls results from many engines and does not profile you. Can be self-hosted.
Search engine with its own index. Does not build a profile from your queries.
Search engine that does not build a profile from your queries. Simple switch from Google.
Search engine with its own index. Does not rely on Google or Bing, and does not build a profile from your queries.
German search engine that combines results from several sources. Does not build a profile from your queries.
Reusing a password means one leak opens every account. A password manager stores unique ones behind a single master password. We chose free, audited options with autofill and open-source builds.
Password manager from Proton with aliases and 2FA built in. Free tier. Encrypted.
Popular password manager with cloud sync and self-hosting options. Open-source with zero-knowledge encryption. Works well across all devices and browsers.
Desktop password manager that stores everything on your computer. No cloud by default. One master password.
Android password manager that works offline. Encrypted database stays on the phone.
Creates strong passwords in the browser. Part of Proton Pass. No need to invent them.
Password manager with autofill and a usable free tier. One master password for unique logins.
One master password. Unique passwords for every site, with sharing for a family or team.
Your internet provider sees the sites you open. A VPN encrypts the connection and hides the address. We chose free or free-tier options with no-logs policies, audits, and servers near Australia. Use one on public Wi-Fi. It does not stop the phone or the app from reporting.
Swiss VPN with a usable free tier and a no-logs policy. Open-source apps.
VPN with no-logs policy and anonymous account numbers. No email required to sign up. Audited.
Routes Android traffic through Tor. Stronger anonymity on the phone. Open-source.
VPN with a usable free plan and built-in ad blocking. Australian servers. Beginner-friendly.
VPN that routes through community-run nodes. Decentralised. Focus on privacy and resisting blocks.
VPN with a strict no-logs policy and regular audits. Paid, with a clear privacy focus.
A password is one door. 2FA adds a code that changes. We chose free authenticator apps that work offline and do not send your accounts elsewhere. Turn it on for email, banking and myGov. A leaked password then does less damage.
2FA app from Proton. Encrypted. Unlimited free. Fits with Proton Mail and Pass.
Authenticator app with encrypted backups. Codes stay protected if you change phones.
Offline authenticator for Android. Encrypted storage. Codes stay on the phone.
A breach notice arrives after the data has already left. These tools scan for malware and check if your email has appeared in known leaks. We chose free, audited options that run with little collection.
Checks if your email has appeared in a known data breach. One search. Clear result.
Checks if your logins have appeared in known breaches. Alerts inside Proton Pass.
Scans files and email for viruses and malware. Open-source. Run it when you want a check, not all day.
Checks a Linux or Mac system for weak settings and suggests fixes. For people who manage their own machine.
Android app that scans for malware on the device. Uses local lists. Few permissions.
Scans a file or link with many antivirus engines at once. Quick check before you open a download.
Checks a link for malicious scripts before you open it. Useful for suspicious messages.
Applies stronger privacy settings on Windows and Mac in one go. Open-source. Beginner-friendly.
Scans a site and lists the trackers it loads. Useful before you trust a page.
A file you can open is a file anyone with the device can open. Encryption scrambles it so only the key works. We chose free, audited tools that are simple to use. Encrypt anything sensitive before you store or send it.
Creates an encrypted folder or encrypts a whole drive. Open-source. For files you want locked.
Encrypts files before they go into Dropbox, Google Drive or similar. The cloud holds the file. It cannot read it.
Encrypts a file or folder with a password. Simple. Works offline.
Emptying the bin does not erase the file. Secure deletion overwrites it so recovery tools fail. We chose free, open-source options that work on Windows, Mac and Linux.
Clears cache, cookies and junk, and can overwrite free space so deleted files are harder to recover.
Turns a risky PDF or document into a safe copy. Useful when a file comes from someone you do not fully trust.
Clears temporary files, browser junk and leftover data from the computer. Free version covers the basics.
A photo can carry your location, the camera, the time it was taken and more. Metadata tools strip that before you share. We chose free options that clean the file in one click and leave the image usable.
Strips hidden metadata from images and documents on your computer. Batch clean before you share.
Reads and removes metadata from almost any file. More control if you need to automate the clean.
Removes hidden data from photos, videos and PDFs. Drag, drop, done. Works offline.
Shows the hidden location and camera data in a photo. Check before you share. Prefer an offline tool for sensitive images.
Sites can identify your device without cookies. Fingerprinting reads the screen, fonts and browser details. We chose free extensions and settings that cut that signal and still let sites work. Pair one with a private browser. Tracking gets harder.
Shows how unique your browser fingerprint is. Use it to see what sites can already identify.
Tests how well your browser resists tracking and fingerprinting. From the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Tests what your browser leaks: IP, fonts, hardware and more. See how identifiable you are.
Your internet provider sees every site you open. A private DNS hides the names and can block known bad domains. We chose free, audited options with no logs and servers near Australia.
Custom DNS that blocks ads, trackers and chosen domains. Free tier. Works on phones and routers.
DNS that blocks malware and phishing sites. Nonprofit. No logs. Set it once on the network.
DNS that blocks ads and trackers before the page loads. No logs. Works on the whole network.
SMS and mainstream chat apps can be read by the company or requested by others. A private messenger encrypts the conversation so only the people in it can open it. We chose free, open-source options with little metadata, including some that need no phone number. Use one for anything you would not say in public
Hardened Signal for Android. Extra encryption on the message database. Install from F-Droid.
Messenger with no phone number. Messages route through multiple nodes. Groups and voice notes.
Messenger with no user ID and no central server. Designed so there is no account to link the chats.
Encrypted messenger for personal use and teams. Open-source. Can be self-hosted.
Video calls with no account required. Can be encrypted. Useful when Zoom wants a login.
Video meetings from Proton. Encrypted. No account needed to join. Runs in the browser.
Messenger with no phone number and no central server. Works offline and over peer-to-peer.
Encrypted chat for groups, voice and video. Useful for a team that does not want Slack reading the room.
One email address becomes the key to every account. Aliases and private email let you sign up without handing over the real inbox. We chose free or free-tier options with strong encryption. A leak then hits one alias, not your main address.
Encrypted email from Switzerland. Free tier. Works with the rest of Proton.
Encrypted email from Germany. Free tier. Aliases on paid plans. Open-source apps.
German email with custom domains and aliases. Paid. Strong privacy focus, no free tier.
Creates email aliases that forward to your real inbox. A leak hits the alias, not the main address.
Email aliases that forward to your real inbox. A leak hits the alias, not the main address.
Temporary email that disappears. Use it for a sign-up so the real address is not in another database.
Shows where an email came from and whether the sender address was faked. Useful before you click.
Mainstream social apps build a profile from every like and follow. Private networks and communities let you connect with less of that collection. We chose free, open-source or decentralised options with stronger controls.
Social network without a central company ranking your feed. Communities run their own servers.
Social posts and messages where you hold the keys. No single company can delete the account.
Photo sharing without a central company ranking your feed. Chronological. Federated.
Forums and link sharing without a central company tracking every click. Communities run their own servers.
These utilities generate details, check terms, or point to open-source alternatives. We chose free tools that do one thing and collect little. Bookmark a few.
Shows your public IP, rough location and provider. Useful to confirm a VPN is on.
Checks speed, latency and whether a VPN is working. Useful on Australian connections.
Rates how trustworthy a website looks. Useful before you shop or sign up. Simple check.
Grades privacy policies in plain language. See what a service actually does with your data before you agree.
Finds alternatives to apps that track. Useful when you want the job done without the profile.
Stream your own movies and music from a computer you control. No company account. Nothing leaves your network.
Streams films and shows from sources you choose, in one interface. Open-source. Minimal tracking.
List of free public TV channels you can play in VLC. No subscription account.
Hides a short message inside ordinary text. Password-protected. Useful for a discreet note.
Creates realistic fake names and details for forms and test sign-ups. Does not store what you generate.
Directory for finding open-source software. Useful when you want an alternative that is not tracking you.
Plain-language guides on protecting yourself from surveillance. From the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Directory of tools for researching public information. Useful for checking what is already online about a name or site.
Grammar and spell check that does not send your writing to a company for ads. Alternative to Grammarly.
Cloud AI sends your prompts and files to someone else's server. Local tools run on the device you control. We chose free, open-source options that stay active and do not require an account. Use one when the question should not leave the machine.
AI assistant from Proton for writing and questions. Does not train on what you type.
Run AI models on your own computer from the command line. Offline after setup. Prompts stay local.
Download and run AI models on your own computer. Prompts stay on the machine.
Local AI chat with your own documents on the device. Nothing is sent to a cloud model.
Most analytics build a profile of every visitor. Privacy tools count pages and paths without cookies or third parties. We chose free, open-source options that stay under your control. Use one when you need numbers and do not want the visitor as the product.
Website analytics you can host yourself. Counts visits without building a profile of each person.
Website analytics without cookies or personal profiles. Simple visitor counts. EU-hosted option.
Counts page views without building a profile of each visitor. Simple stats, no cookies.
Ordinary cloud storage can be opened by the company that holds it. Encrypted options scramble the files so only your key works. We chose free or free-tier services with strong encryption.
Encrypted file storage from Proton. Free tier. The service cannot read the files.
Your own cloud for files, calendar and notes. You host it, or use a provider. You control the data.
Cloud storage that encrypts files so the provider cannot read them. Free tier. Works on phone and desktop.
European cloud storage with end-to-end encryption. Free tier. The provider cannot read the files.
Send a file to another device with a code. Encrypted. No account and no cloud.
Cloud sync puts your files on someone else's servers. Private sync and sharing keep them on devices you control, encrypted in transit. We chose free, open-source options that are simple to set up. The files stay reachable. The company does not hold the copies.
Keeps folders in sync between your devices. Peer-to-peer. No cloud company holds the files.
Share a file over Tor with a link that can self-destruct. For sensitive transfers. No account.
Send files between devices on the same Wi-Fi. Encrypted. No internet and no account.
Send a file to another computer with a short code. Encrypted. No account and no cloud.
Google Maps records where you go. Private maps work offline and do not build that trail. We chose free, open-source options with good Australian coverage. Download the area once. Navigation does not need a company watching.
Offline maps with no ads and no tracking. Light app for walking, cycling and driving.
Detailed offline maps and navigation. Strong for remote areas in Australia. No data collection.
Community map anyone can view and improve. No central company tracking your searches. Works with private map apps.
Navigation with offline maps and no ads. Works in Australia without sending a trail to Google.
Cloud notes can be scanned for features and ads. Private tools keep the files on your device or encrypt them. We chose free, open-source options that work offline. The research stays yours until you decide to share it.
Encrypted notes with a clean interface. Free tier. Works across devices.
Notes and to-do lists that stay on your device, with optional encrypted sync. Works offline.
Documents, spreadsheets and presentations that are encrypted. Collaborate without the file sitting open on a company server.
Photo and video backup that is encrypted. You can share with family. The service cannot read the files.
Notes that link together, like a personal wiki. Works offline. Nothing is sent for ads.
Notes and knowledge base that stay on your device, encrypted. Works offline.
Cloud editors upload the file before you can cut it. Private media tools run on the device and need no account. We chose free, open-source options that work offline. Edit the photo or the clip locally. It leaves only when you send it.
Screen recording and live streaming on your computer. Open-source. No account required for local recording.
Video editor that runs on your computer. Timeline, effects, multi-track. No upload.
Record and edit audio on the device. No account. No upload.
Full photo and image editor. Runs on your computer. No account, no upload.
Simple screen recorder with drawing tools. Runs locally. No upload for a quick capture.
Professional video editor that runs on your computer. Free version is full enough for most work. No upload required.
Video editor that runs offline. Open-source. No account. No usage tracking.
Cloud design tools can see every file you open. Private options run on your machine and do not require an account. We chose free, open-source tools with a solid reputation. The work stays on the device until you choose to share it.
Windows, macOS and stock Android report home by default. A privacy operating system cuts that layer. We chose free, well-supported options that beginners can run, including hardened Android and Linux.
Linux system that runs each app in its own isolated box. Strong separation. For higher-risk work.
Linux that feels like Windows or Mac. No built-in tracking. The system for Privacy Laptops.
The default store expects an account and can see what you install. Private stores offer apps without that login. We chose trusted free options with strong privacy standards, mainly for Android. The store does not build the profile.
Android app store for free, open-source apps. No account. Listings note trackers. Pre-installed on all Privacy Phones.
Install Play apps without a personal Google account. Useful when a bank or government app still asks for Play. Pre-installed on all Privacy Phones.
Updates Android apps directly from GitHub and other sources. Skips the Play Store for those apps.
Cleaner way to browse and install F-Droid apps. No account. No tracking.
YouTube and Reddit load trackers with every page. A private frontend strips them and still shows the content. We chose free, open-source options that stay maintained.
Watch YouTube without ads, an account, or Google tracking. Works in the browser.
Browse Reddit without ads, an account, or the usual trackers.
View Instagram profiles and posts without an account or the usual trackers.
Read X/Twitter without ads, an account, or the usual trackers.
Desktop app for watching YouTube without ads or a Google account.
Android app for YouTube with no ads and no Google account. Lightweight.
Banking apps and payment tools collect more than the transaction. Private finance options let you track spending and subscriptions with less of that sharing. We chose free or low-cost tools that collect little.
An exchange wallet is the company's account. A non-custodial wallet keeps the keys on a device you control. We chose free, open-source options with a solid reputation. Use one if you hold cryptocurrency. The coins stay reachable without the exchange holding them.
Mobile wallet for Bitcoin and Monero. Open-source, audited, with private transaction options.
Bitcoin wallet you control. Open-source, works with hardware wallets, and keeps the keys on your device.
Bitcoin wallet from Proton. You hold the keys. Encrypted. Swiss-based.
A public blockchain shows every transfer. Privacy tools and careful wallet use reduce how easily those transfers link back to you. We chose free or accessible options that are straightforward to run. The record stays public. The link to you does not have to be obvious.
Cryptocurrency where transactions are private by default. Amounts and parties are not visible on a public list.
Cryptocurrency with optional private transactions. You choose transparent or shielded.
Cryptocurrency where transaction details are hidden by default.
