How to Find a Private Alternative to an App You Use on privacytools.io

Updated

To find a private alternative to an app you already use, open privacytools.io and start from the "Private Alternatives" section, which lists everyday apps such as Chrome, LastPass, Gmail, Google Search, Google Drive, WhatsApp, Evernote, Google Photos, Windows, YouTube, and Google Maps. Pick the app you use, follow its link, and you'll get private alternatives that "actually work" according to the site. If your app isn't in that shortlist, use "See every app you can replace" to reach the full set of replaceable apps.

Step-by-step: from the app you use to a shortlist

  1. Identify the app you want to replace. Be specific: "Chrome" rather than "browser," "LastPass" rather than "password manager." The site organizes alternatives by the app you use today.
  2. Open the matching alternative page. On the homepage, the "Private Alternatives" block links directly to pages like Chrome Alternatives, LastPass Alternatives, Gmail Alternatives, Google Search Alternatives, ISP snooping Alternatives, Google Drive Alternatives, WhatsApp Alternatives, Evernote Alternatives, Google Photos Alternatives, Windows Alternatives, YouTube Alternatives, and Google Maps Alternatives.
  3. Read the alternatives on that page. Each page is framed as replacing an app that tracks you with one that "respects your data." Compare the options on the criteria that matter to you (see the comparison table below).
  4. If your app isn't listed, use "See every app you can replace." This link opens the full list of replaceable apps, so you can find your app even if it isn't in the homepage shortlist.
  5. Browse the category page for broader options. If you want more than the app-specific page shows, go to the relevant category (Browsers, Password Managers, Email, Search Engines, VPN, Cloud Storage, Messaging, Notebooks, Ad Blocking, Maps). The site states it covers "All categories."
  6. Use the Editor's Top Picks as a starting shortlist. The "Editor's Top Picks | 2026" section lists twelve tools the editors would install on a fresh machine — a fast way to narrow choices before you dig into a category.

Expected result: a short list of private alternatives for the specific app you use, plus a category page if you want to compare more broadly.

What the site gives you to compare

Section What it contains When to use it
Private Alternatives App-by-app replacement pages (Chrome, LastPass, Gmail, WhatsApp, etc.) You know exactly which app you want to replace
See every app you can replace Full list of replaceable apps Your app isn't in the homepage shortlist
European Alternatives Top pick per category for tools that "answer to European law, not a US subpoena" — e.g., Mullvad Browser (Browsers), NordPass (Password Managers), StartMail (Email), Mojeek (Search Engines), Surfshark VPN (VPN), Internxt Drive (Cloud Storage), SimpleX Chat (Messaging), plus "+117 more Made in Europe" Jurisdiction is your deciding factor
Editor's Top Picks | 2026 Twelve tools with ratings, e.g., LibreWolf (Browsers, 4.7), PrivacyNotes (Notebooks, 4.8), ProtonMail (Email, 4.5), Bitwarden (Password Managers, 4.7), NextDNS (Ad Blocking, 4.7), Organic Maps (Maps, 4.0) You want a vetted shortlist before comparing details
Category pages Broader options per category (Browsers, Email, VPN, etc.) You want more choices than one app page shows

Reading the entries critically

The site mixes editorial picks with advertising, and the labels are visible in the listings. For example, the ProtonMail entry (4.5) and the Surfshark VPN entry (3.5) are marked "Ad," while Bitwarden (4.7) and NextDNS (4.7) are not. Treat ad-marked entries as paid placements and weigh the description accordingly — the Surfshark entry, for instance, notes it is based in The Netherlands, operating since 2018, uses RAM-only servers, and was audited by Cure53.

Ratings are editorial scores, not independent benchmarks. Use them to shortlist, then verify the specific claims that matter to you (audits, jurisdiction, open-source status) on the tool's own site.

Common sticking points

  • Your app isn't on the homepage list. Use "See every app you can replace" rather than assuming there's no alternative.
  • You want a European tool specifically. Skip the general app pages and go straight to "European Alternatives," which gives one top pick per category plus a link to 117 more.
  • You're overwhelmed by category pages. Start with Editor's Top Picks, then open only the category pages for the tools you're seriously considering.
  • You need pricing details. The site's listings don't consistently state pricing; check each tool's own page. The only pricing signal in the site's own materials is a reference to "subscription" — don't assume any listed tool is free.