Take Back Control of Your Digital Life
The internet shouldn't be controlled by a handful of corporations tracking your every move. There are better alternatives that respect your privacy, avoid manipulative algorithms, and put people before profits. This guide helps you find the best options based on your priorities.
Why decentralization matters: Services marked as "Decentralized/Community-run" can't be unilaterally censored by any single entity. This protects free speech while still allowing individual communities to set their own rules.
How to read the tables:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ✅ Yes | The service meets this criterion fully |
| ◐ Mixed | The service partially meets this criterion |
| ❌ No | The service doesn't meet this criterion |
Jump to category:
Replace Google Search
Search engines track your queries to build profiles and target ads. These alternatives respect your privacy.
| Service | Privacy | No Ads | Open Source | Decentralized | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DuckDuckGo
duckduckgo.com
|
✅ Yes | ◐ Mixed | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Shows ads but doesn't track you. Based in USA. Good default choice. |
SearXNG
searxng.github.io
|
✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Meta-search engine. Self-hostable. Many public instances available. |
|
Kagi
kagi.com
|
✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | Paid service with excellent results. Based in USA. |
Quick Tip
For most people: Start with DuckDuckGo for a familiar experience, or try SearXNG if you want full control. Kagi is excellent if you don't mind paying for premium results.
Replace Messaging Apps
Most messaging apps collect metadata about who you talk to and when. These alternatives prioritize security.
| Service | Privacy | No Ads | Open Source | Decentralized | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Signal
signal.org
|
✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | Gold standard for private messaging. Requires phone number. |
|
Element
element.io
|
✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Uses Matrix protocol. Good for teams and communities. |
|
Session
getsession.org
|
✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | No phone number needed. Uses blockchain for decentralized identity. |
Quick Tip
Recommendation: Signal is the easiest transition from WhatsApp. For more advanced users or teams, Element provides excellent group features through Matrix.
Quick Start Guide
If you're feeling overwhelmed, here are our top recommendations to get started with ethical alternatives:
Search
Replace Google with privacy-focused alternatives
Easy switch, good privacy, familiar interface
See all options →Social Media
Alternatives to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram
Decentralized Twitter alternative
See all options →Messaging
Private alternatives to WhatsApp, Messenger
End-to-end encrypted, easy to use
See all options →
Replace Social Media
Traditional social networks optimize for engagement at the cost of mental health and privacy.
Quick Tip
Getting started: For Twitter users, try Mastodon. Join an instance that aligns with your interests. For Instagram users, Pixelfed offers a similar photo-sharing experience without tracking.