Firegap Approved
A curated list of tools I trust to keep my family's digital life private and secure. Every app, service, and device here has been vetted for real privacy protection — not marketing claims.
Firegap Approved
Every app, service, and device on this list has been vetted for real privacy protection and transparent practices — not marketing claims. These are the same tools I use myself, and the ones I'd hand to a friend asking "where do I even start?"
No sponsorships. No affiliate links. No exceptions.
How This List Works
Not every tool fits every family the same way. I've marked each one by how much setup it takes:
🟢 Daily Drivers — Set it and go. No technical knowledge needed.
🔵 Power Users — Takes some setup or comfort with tech.
🟣 Experts — For those who want full control and know what they're doing.
🔥 — My personal pick. I use this every day.
Start small. Graduate when you're ready. You don't need to do everything at once.
Start Here
New to this? Don't try to do everything at once. Pick one from each of these four to begin:
- A browser (Firefox)
- An email (Proton Mail)
- A password manager (Proton Pass)
- A search engine (Kagi or Qwant)
This is your minimum viable privacy setup. Come back when you're ready for more.
The Full Collection
Email
Email Aliases
Messaging
Video Conferencing
Browsers
Search
VPNs
Password Managers
2FA
File Storage
File Sharing
Documents
Notes & Tasks
Calendar
Operating Systems
Devices
Security Hardware
Maps
Device Shielding
AI Assistants
Image Generation
Communication
Email
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
Mailfence |
Encrypted email with calendar and storage included |
Free tier |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton Mail |
End-to-end encrypted email, easy setup, free tier |
Free tier |
| 🟢 |
Tuta |
Encrypted email with zero-knowledge architecture |
Free tier |
Email Aliases
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
Addy.io |
Email aliases with custom domains and forwarding rules |
Free tier |
| 🟢 🔥 |
SimpleLogin |
Create email aliases to hide your real address |
Free tier |
Messaging
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
Session |
Encrypted messaging with no phone number required |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Signal |
Gold-standard encrypted messaging, free and open source |
Free |
| 🔵 |
SimpleX Chat |
Encrypted messaging with no user IDs or phone numbers |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Threema |
Paid encrypted messenger, no phone number or account needed |
Paid |
Video Conferencing
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
Briefing |
Open-source, browser-based video calls, self-hostable |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Jitsi Meet |
Open-source video conferencing, no account needed |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Nextcloud Talk |
Video calls integrated into self-hosted Nextcloud |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton Meet |
Encrypted video calls from Proton |
Free tier |
Browsing & Search
Browsers
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
Brave |
Chromium-based browser with built-in ad blocking |
Free |
| 🟢 |
DuckDuckGo |
Mobile-first browser that blocks trackers |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Firefox |
Independent, non-Chromium browser with strong privacy settings |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Orion |
Apple-native browser with built-in ad and tracker blocking |
Free |
| 🔵 🔥 |
Tor |
Routes traffic through encrypted relays for anonymity |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Zen |
Privacy-focused Firefox variant, clean and customizable |
Free |
Search
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
Brave Search |
Independent search engine with its own index |
Free |
| 🟢 |
DuckDuckGo |
Private search that doesn't track or store your data |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Ecosia |
Search engine that funds tree planting |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Kagi |
Ad-free, tracker-free search with a paid model |
Paid |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Qwant |
French-built, privacy-first search engine |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Startpage |
Google results served privately, no tracking |
Free |
VPNs
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
IVPN |
Privacy-focused VPN, audited and transparent |
Paid |
| 🟢 |
Mullvad VPN |
No-logs VPN, anonymous account, pay-in-cash option |
Paid |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton VPN |
Free and paid tiers, audited no-logs policy |
Free tier |
| 🔵 |
SPN |
Safing's privacy network — VPN alternative with app-level routing |
Paid |
Your Stuff
Password Managers
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
AliasVault |
Self-hosted password manager with built-in email aliases |
Free |
| 🟢 |
BitWarden |
Open-source password manager with free tier |
Free tier |
| 🟢 |
Padloc |
Encrypted password manager, simple and cross-platform |
Free tier |
| 🔵 |
Passky |
Open-source, self-hosted password manager |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton Pass |
Password manager with aliases and 2FA built in |
Free tier |
2FA
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
2FAS |
Two-factor codes, with optional smartwatch unlock |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Authenticator Pro |
Open-source 2FA app for Android |
Free |
| 🟢 |
ente Auth |
Encrypted 2FA with cross-device sync and backups |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton Authenticator |
2FA from Proton, encrypted and beginner-friendly |
Free |
File Storage
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
Nextcloud |
Self-hosted cloud storage you fully control |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Peergos |
Encrypted, peer-to-peer file storage with access control |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton Drive |
End-to-end encrypted cloud storage, easy setup |
Free tier |
| 🟢 |
Tresorit |
Encrypted cloud storage aimed at businesses and families |
Paid |
| 🟢 |
Tuta |
Encrypted storage from the Tuta team |
Free tier |
File Sharing
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
Blaze |
Peer-to-peer file sharing in the browser, no account needed |
Free |
| 🟢 |
PairDrop |
Share files directly between devices on the same network |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Send |
Encrypted file transfer, links expire automatically |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Wormhole |
Encrypted file sharing up to 10GB, links expire |
Free |
Documents
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 🔥 |
CryptPad |
Encrypted, collaborative docs — no account needed to start |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Fileverse |
Decentralized, encrypted document collaboration |
Free tier |
| 🟢 |
LibreOffice |
Free, offline office suite — word processor, spreadsheets, more |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton Documents |
Encrypted docs inside Proton Drive |
Free tier |
Notes & Tasks
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
Joplin |
Encrypted, open-source notes with sync and plugins |
Free |
| 🔵 🔥 |
Logseq |
Privacy-first knowledge base and outliner |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Obsidian |
Local-first markdown notes, powerful but simple to start |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Quillpad |
Encrypted notes and lists, Android-focused |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Standard Notes |
Encrypted notes with cross-device sync, easy setup |
Free tier |
| 🟢 |
TinyList |
Minimal, encrypted to-do lists and reminders |
Free |
Calendar
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
Nextcloud Calendar |
Self-hosted calendar you fully control |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Proton Calendar |
Encrypted calendar, easy setup, mobile apps |
Free tier |
| 🟢 |
Tuta |
Encrypted email and calendar in one service |
Free tier |
Your Devices
Operating Systems
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
GrapheneOS |
Hardened Android alternative for Pixel phones |
Free |
| 🟣 🔥 |
Kali Linux |
Penetration testing and security research OS |
Free |
| 🔵 |
PureOS |
Free, privacy-focused Linux from Purism |
Free |
| 🟣 |
Qubes OS |
Compartmentalized OS where each app runs in isolation |
Free |
| 🟣 |
secureblue |
Hardened Fedora variants for high-security needs |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Tails |
Amnesic live OS that leaves no trace on hardware |
Free |
Devices
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🔵 |
Fairphone |
Modular, repairable phone built for longevity |
Paid |
| 🟣 |
Liberty Phone |
Purism's hardware-kill-switch privacy phone |
Paid |
| 🟣 |
Librem 5 |
Linux phone with hardware privacy switches |
Paid |
| 🔵 |
Librem 11 |
Linux tablet with kill switches for mic and camera |
Paid |
| 🔵 |
Librem Laptop |
Linux laptop with hardware privacy switches |
Paid |
Security Hardware
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟣 |
Librem Key |
Hardware security key for Purism devices |
Paid |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Mic-Lock |
Hardware mic blocker for physical audio privacy |
Paid |
| 🔵 🔥 |
YubiKey |
Physical security key for 2FA and passwordless login |
Paid |
Real World
Maps
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
CoMaps |
Privacy-focused offline maps, community-driven |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Organic Maps |
Offline maps with no tracking, based on OpenStreetMap |
Free |
| 🟢 |
OpenStreetMap |
Open-source, community-built map of the world |
Free |
Device Shielding
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Faraday Defense |
Faraday bags and shielding gear for devices offline |
Paid |
| 🟢 |
GoDark |
Faraday pouches for phones and key fobs |
Paid |
| 🟢 |
MOS Equipment |
RF-shielding cases and faraday bags |
Paid |
| 🟢 |
Simket |
Faraday pouches and signal-blocking accessories |
Paid |
| 🟢 |
SLNT |
Signal-blocking bags for everyday carry |
Paid |
AI
AI Assistants
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
| 🟢 |
Brave Leo AI |
Built into the Brave browser with privacy-firsrt architecture |
Free Tier |
| 🟢 |
Confer |
End-to-end encryption, no training on user data |
Free |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Kagi AI Assistant |
Private AI search assistant, no tracking |
Paid |
| 🟢 🔥 |
Lumo |
Proton's privacy-first AI assistant |
Free tier |
| 🔵 |
LibreChat |
Self-hosted ChatGPT-style interface you control |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Open WebUI |
Run AI models locally on your own machine |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Tinfoil |
Private AI in a hardened, attested mobile environment |
Free tier |
Image Generation
| Level |
Tool |
Description |
Price |
|---|
| 🟢 |
Draw Things |
Free offline AI image generation for Mac, iPhone, and iPad |
Free |
| 🟢 |
Fooocus |
Simplified local image generation — Midjourney-like ease, runs on your GPU |
Free |
| 🔵 🔥 |
ComfyUI |
Node-based local image generation — powerful workflows, steeper learning curve |
Free |
| 🔵 |
Easy Diffusion |
One-click Stable Diffusion installer for beginners with a GPU |
Free |
ℹ️
Note: All of these AI image generation tools run locally on your hardware. You'll need either an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later) or a PC with a dedicated GPU (4GB+ VRAM). Cloud-based alternatives like Midjourney and DALL-E are not listed here because they log prompts and may train on your inputs.
A Reminder About Our Independence
In accordance with our policies, we are not affiliated with any of these companies or products, and we never accept compensation for positive coverage or links.
The Briefing
Your bi-weekly digest of the most critical insights on privacy, security, and raising digitally sovereign kids. No fluff. Just the truth and the tools you need to act.
