The reference anonymity browser. Bundled with Tor + NoScript + safe defaults.
Free · GPLv3
Tools — browsers, password managers, hardware
Adjacent tooling that doesn't fit into the other categories — hardened browsers, anonymity-OS distros, password managers, file-share, hardware wallets reviewed in their own right. We don't earn affiliates on most of these; they're listed because they belong in the kit.
last reviewed 2026-05-13
› Tools — browsers, password managers, hardware » Browsers 1
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Qubes OS
Security-via-compartmentalisation desktop OS. Every app runs in its own Xen VM.
Free · GPLv2
Offline, file-based password vault. No cloud, no account.
Free · GPLv3
Open-source cloud password manager. Optional self-host.
Free tier · paid $10/yr · self-host free
Open-source TOTP/HOTP for Android — encrypted local vault, exportable backups.
Free · GPLv3
P2P file-share over Tor onion services. No third-party hosting.
Free · GPLv3
Full-disk + container encryption with plausible deniability.
Free · Apache 2.0
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404.cash
Crypto checkout widget for merchants — XMR / BTC / LN / USDT, no KYC.
Per-tx fee 0.5-1% · BYOK or managed routing
Decentralised messenger with no user IDs at all. The only major messenger that doesn't identify users.
Free · open-source · self-hostable relays
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Briar
Peer-to-peer messenger over Tor, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. No servers, no metadata.
Free · F-Droid + Play Store · Android primary
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Element
Federated E2E chat. Self-hostable, open-source, hosts most XMR/privacy community rooms.
Free · federated · self-hostable · clients on all platforms
End-to-end encrypted messaging over Nostr relays. PGP-encrypted payloads, no accounts, no servers, no logs.
Free · MacOS/Win/Linux/Web · PGP over Nostr
E2E-encrypted notes app. Open-source, audited, accepts crypto on paid tiers.
Free · paid from $90/yr · BTC/XMR · self-host option
Self-hostable Bitcoin block + mempool explorer. Reference UX for inspecting on-chain activity.
Free · self-hostable · public + Tor mirror
Open-source Rust reimplementation of the Bitwarden server. Self-host the official client backend on a $4 VPS.
Free · Rust · self-host · Bitwarden-client compatible
Newsroom-grade anonymous-source submission system. Run by ~70 outlets (NYT, WaPo, ProPublica, Guardian).
Free · audited · run by ~70 newsrooms
Encrypted-in-browser pastebin. The server never sees plaintext. Self-host on a $4 VPS.
Free · PHP · self-host or public instances
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CryptPad
Encrypted-in-browser real-time office suite. Documents, sheets, slides — server never sees plaintext.
Free · AGPL · self-host or cryptpad.fr public
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FreeTube
Privacy-respecting YouTube desktop client. No Google account, no ads, downloads + Sponsorblock built in.
Free · AGPL · MacOS/Win/Linux
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Veilid
P2P privacy-focused application framework from Cult of the Dead Cow. Anti-Tor in design — every node also routes.
Free · Rust · P2P framework · alpha