As someone just starting their journey into privacy-focused, open-source software, I’d love to hear what apps the community recommends.
I’m particularly interested in:
- What messaging apps you use instead of WhatsApp/Messenger
- Alternatives to Google services (email, calendar, cloud storage)
- Social media alternatives that respect privacy
- Browsers
- Password managers worth using
- Any other productivity apps you’d recommend me to use
I’m using Apple devices (I know, I know), so apps that work well in this ecosystem would be ideal. Which ones have you found perform exceptionally well?
What was your experience transitioning away from corporate services? Any pitfalls to avoid or strategies that made the switch easier?
I’d say try Linux. Ubuntu or Fedora and you’ll realize how much of your computer usage is based out a web browser and it doesn’t matter whether you have a Linux, Mac, or Windows computer
Email you’ll be stuck with some corporate entity that won’t be 100% open source. Running an email server and your emails not being filtered is a pain. I use Proton applications for email, VPN, and Dropbox type service. They have a calendar but hard to beat google calendar
Signal for pretty much texting. I actually have around a dozen people I primarily message through Signal so it’s viable for me
Matrix/Element for something like discord.
Onlyoffice, Libreoffice, or WPS Office instead of MS Office. WPS may not be open source
Browser use Firefox or Firefox forks
Krita, Darktable, GIMP for image editing
KeepassXC for my desktop password manager and whatever is available on Android
Maps you can use Organic Maps
Video editing i use kdenlive