Most people do not need to become security experts. They need better defaults. Swap a few apps, change a few settings, and you close off the vast majority of tracking and data collection that happens on your phone and computer.
We reviewed over 30 privacy tools and narrowed it down to nine that cover the essentials without making your daily life harder.
What makes a privacy app worth using
Not all privacy tools are equal. The ones on this list meet four criteria:
- Actually reduces data collection in a meaningful way
- Works reliably enough to use as a daily driver
- Has been independently audited or is open-source (so claims can be verified)
- Does not require technical expertise to set up
The apps
1. Mullvad VPN — best VPN, period
Mullvad costs 5 EUR/month, accepts cash payment by mail, and does not require an email address to sign up. You get an account number and that is it. No logs, audited infrastructure, WireGuard and OpenVPN support.
Unlike most VPN providers, Mullvad does not have an affiliate program. Nobody is getting a commission for recommending it, which is exactly why independent reviewers consistently rank it first.
Pricing: 5 EUR/month flat Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
2. Brave Browser — best privacy browser for most people
Brave blocks ads and trackers by default, right out of the box. No extensions needed. It is built on Chromium, so every Chrome extension works. Fingerprinting protection is aggressive but rarely breaks websites.
The Brave Rewards/BAT token system is optional and easy to ignore. Turn it off in settings and you have a fast, private browser with built-in ad blocking.
Pricing: Free Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
3. Proton Mail — best email for leaving Gmail
Proton Mail is end-to-end encrypted, based in Switzerland, and has improved its web and mobile apps significantly over the past two years. Calendar, Drive, and VPN are bundled in paid plans, making it a realistic full replacement for Google Workspace.
The free tier gives you 1 GB of storage and one email address. Paid plans start at $3.99/month.
Pricing: Free tier, from $3.99/month Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, desktop apps (Windows, macOS)
4. Signal — best messaging app
Signal is end-to-end encrypted, collects near-zero metadata, and the app itself is straightforward to use. It replaced SMS for over 100 million people and works reliably for calls, groups, and disappearing messages.
The only real limitation is that it requires a phone number. For most people that is fine.
Pricing: Free, open-source Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux
5. Bitwarden — best password manager
Bitwarden is open-source, audited, and the free tier is genuinely usable (unlimited passwords, sync across devices). The premium plan at $10/year adds TOTP authenticator, emergency access, and vault health reports.
It works well in browsers, on mobile, and has a desktop app. Import from LastPass, 1Password, or Chrome is seamless.
Pricing: Free, premium $10/year Platforms: All major platforms and browsers
6. Standard Notes — best private note-taking
Standard Notes is end-to-end encrypted by default. Every note you write is encrypted before it leaves your device. The free plan covers basic notes with sync. Paid plans add markdown, code editors, spreadsheets, and longer revision history.
It will never match Notion in features, and that is the point. If you want private notes that nobody, including the company, can read, this is the tool.
Pricing: Free, from $2.13/month (annual) Platforms: Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux
7. Aegis Authenticator — best 2FA app (Android)
Aegis is open-source, stores tokens encrypted, and lets you export/backup your 2FA database. Unlike Google Authenticator, your tokens are not locked to one device with no recovery option.
Android only. iOS users should look at Raivo OTP or 2FAS.
Pricing: Free, open-source Platforms: Android
8. Firefox — best browser for customization
Firefox is the only major browser not built on Chromium. It supports powerful privacy extensions (uBlock Origin, which Chrome is slowly breaking via Manifest V3), offers containers for isolating sites, and has strong tracking protection built in.
It requires more setup than Brave to be maximally private, but the customization ceiling is higher.
Pricing: Free, open-source Platforms: All major platforms
9. NetGuard — best firewall (Android, no root)
NetGuard lets you block internet access per-app on Android without root. You can see exactly which apps are phoning home and cut them off individually. Free apps that work offline but still try to send analytics data? Blocked.
The VPN-based approach means you cannot use NetGuard alongside a traditional VPN. That is the main limitation.
Pricing: Free, open-source (pro features via donation) Platforms: Android
Picking the right stack
Start with a browser (Brave or Firefox) and a password manager (Bitwarden). Those two changes eliminate the most risk for the least effort.
Add Signal for messaging and Proton Mail when your current email provider contract is up. A VPN (Mullvad) makes sense if you use public Wi-Fi regularly or want to reduce ISP tracking.
You do not need all nine. Even swapping two or three apps makes a real difference.
