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Recommendations

WIP

This category is being heavily worked on and isn't ready yet.

In this category, you will find a curated list of software and hardware that can help protect your privacy. Feel free to explore each entry and choose the tools that best fit your needs.

Categories


Requirements

Blobs

Sadly, many free and open-source software contain blobs, notably the Linux kernel. Binary blobs are proprietary, precompiled software components that lack publicly accessible source code.

Many hardware devices require firmware, which is a specialized software embedded in the device itself. This firmware is responsible for low-level operations and often comes as a binary blob. Without it, the device may not function correctly or at all.

In the long run, free software could become reliant on these non-free components, undermining the principle of freedom.

We use the following symbols in recommendation cards to indicate how essential the blobs are for a given software:

IconMeaningExample
The software depends on these blobs for normal operation. Removing them would break core functionality.Required drivers, firmware, etc.
The blobs are optional; the user may choose to enable them for extra features.Drivers, firmware, etc. in optional distribution repositories
The blobs are situational; they are only used under specific circumstances or configurations.Required proprietary debug toolkits.
The blob status is unknown.

Frequently asked questions

How can I trust all of this?

We are an independent community. We do not accept sponsorships that influence or endorse specific product recommendations.

Our goal remains to provide unbiased, community-driven guidance, and any sponsorships are strictly limited to non-commercial activities that won't introduce any biases.

Is this a copy of AlternativeTo, PrismBreak, PrivacyTools etc.?

We draw inspiration from various sources. However, we are not copying any recommendations from other websites. We are giving our perspective on the many tools available today.

In fact, we disagree on some points with the curated recommendations of websites. For example, PrismBreak lists outdated tools like "HTTPS Everywhere" (which is already a default in major browsers) and recommends Firefox, which includes telemetry by default and DRM.

I have a suggestion, how can I add it?

Follow this guide.