Every day, your browsing habits, emails, and messages are tracked, logged, and sold. The good news: there are excellent tools to fight back. We've tested and compared the top privacy tools across categories so you can make an informed choice based on features, security audits, jurisdiction, and price — not hype.
Top privacy tools compared
Mullvad is the gold standard for privacy-first VPNs. No email required to sign up — you get a random account number. They accept cash by mail. Independently audited with a strict no-logs policy.
-
No email or personal info required,Independently audited no-logs policy,WireGuard and OpenVPN support,Accepts cash, crypto, and card,Based in Sweden (strong privacy laws)
From the makers of ProtonMail, ProtonVPN offers a generous free tier and integrates seamlessly with the Proton privacy ecosystem. Based in Switzerland with strong legal protections.
-
Free tier with unlimited data,Based in Switzerland,Secure Core (multi-hop) routing,Integrates with ProtonMail and Drive,Open-source apps, independently audited
The most popular encrypted email service with over 100 million users. Zero-access encryption means even Proton can't read your emails. Free tier includes 1GB storage and 150 messages per day.
-
End-to-end encryption by default,Zero-access encryption at rest,Free tier with 1GB storage,Custom domain support on paid plans,Open-source, independently audited
Formerly Tutanota, Tuta offers fully encrypted email including subject lines — something ProtonMail doesn't do. Built-in encrypted calendar. Very affordable paid plans.
-
Encrypts subject lines too,Built-in encrypted calendar,1GB free storage,Based in Germany,Open-source clients
Chromium-based so it works with all your extensions, but with aggressive tracker blocking built in. Includes a private search engine, optional Tor windows, and a built-in crypto wallet.
-
Built-in ad and tracker blocking,Tor private windows,Brave Search (private search engine),Chromium-based (Chrome extension support),Earn BAT tokens for optional ads
The veteran privacy browser. Firefox is fully open-source, backed by a nonprofit, and offers Enhanced Tracking Protection out of the box. Highly customizable with about:config.
-
Enhanced Tracking Protection built-in,Fully open-source,Backed by Mozilla (nonprofit),Massive extension ecosystem,Containers for isolating sessions
Signal is widely regarded as the most secure messaging app available. Used by journalists, activists, and security researchers worldwide. The Signal Protocol is so good that WhatsApp and others adopted it.
-
End-to-end encrypted messages and calls,Open-source protocol and apps,Disappearing messages,No ads, no trackers, nonprofit,Sealed sender (hides metadata)
One of the most popular VPNs with 6,000+ servers in 111 countries. Includes threat protection (malware/tracker blocking), meshnet for private networking, and dark web monitoring.
-
6,000+ servers in 111 countries,Threat Protection (blocks malware and trackers),Meshnet for private file sharing,Double VPN and Onion over VPN,Independently audited no-logs policy
Your passwords are the keys to your digital life. Bitwarden is open-source, audited, and offers a generous free tier. End-to-end encrypted vault syncs across all your devices.
-
Open-source and independently audited,Free tier with unlimited passwords,Cross-platform sync,Self-hosting option available,TOTP authenticator on premium
How to build your privacy stack
Start with a VPN
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address from your ISP, Wi-Fi snoops, and websites. Look for a provider with a no-logs policy that has been independently audited, a kill switch, and servers in countries with strong privacy laws.
Switch to encrypted email
Standard email providers like Gmail scan your messages for advertising. Encrypted email services use end-to-end encryption so only you and your recipient can read your messages. Most offer free tiers that are more than enough for personal use.
Use a private browser
Chrome sends enormous amounts of data back to Google. Privacy-focused browsers block trackers by default, don't collect telemetry, and some even route your traffic through Tor for maximum anonymity.
Secure your messages
Regular SMS and many chat apps store your messages on their servers in plaintext. End-to-end encrypted messengers ensure that even the service provider can't read your conversations.