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Network Pro Strategies (Network Pro™)
Last Updated: November 7, 2025
A listing of the best apps and services—open source, where possible—for protecting your security and privacy online. For a human-friendly version of this page, please visit apps.netwk.pro.
- App Stores & Client Apps
- 2FA Authenticators
- Browsers
- Email Clients
- File Encryption Apps
- File Managers
- Gallery Apps
- Health and Wellness Apps
- Instant Messaging Apps
- Default Messaging Apps
- Keyboards
- Music Apps
- Navigation Apps (Maps)
- Network Security & Privacy Tools
- Notes Apps
- Password Managers
- PDF Readers
- Video Players
- Weather Apps
- Work Profile Apps
- YouTube Client Apps
| Emoji | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 👑 | Privacy Community Favorite |
| ❤️ | Top Recommendation |
| ⭐ | Highly Recommended |
| ❤ | Personal Favorite |
| 💲 | Paid App or Service |
| 🌎 | Community-maintained |
Online:
- While Ente is an Indian company, its infrastructure is hosted in Germany and complies with the EU GDPR.
Offline:
Be sure to have a plan in case you lose access to your 2FA codes!
You should have backup/recovery codes stored securely for use in such an event.
- We highly recommend using FFUpdater F-Droid | GitHub to install and manage privacy-centric browsers on mobile.
There's a misconception that in order for Firefox to be useable, it requires lots of changes and addons. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, there are only a handful of truly useful addons (uBlock Origin, CanvasBlocker, etc.).
Realistically, Firefox is no more complicated to set up and configure than Brave, for example. However, if you feel you need a guide, you may want to take a look here:
Firefox user.js mods typically consist of a user.js file, a prefs.js file, or both. The user.js file is a user-defined configuration script that enforces specific settings each time the browser starts, allowing users to create a highly customized, secure, and private browsing environment without manually navigating Firefox’s settings or about:config.
Betterfox 🌎 ⭐ ❤️ ❤
- Removes much of the uncertainty and ambiguity involved with crafting a custom
user.jsfile. - This project consists of the best parts of arkenfox and similar projects without the complexity.
- A very simple, straightforward tool for creating a custom
prefs.jsfile (similar in function touser.js). - If you don't mind spending a little more time setting things up, Betterfox is a significant upgrade and allows for more customization.
- The original
user.jsmodification project. While highly functional, this is only recommended for extremely advanced users. - For a visual overview, an arkenfox GUI is also available.
- Zen Browser
- LibreWolf
- Harden Brave Browser before using it! See caveat.
- Can be installed using FFUpdater F-Droid | GitHub on mobile.
- If you want a Chrome interface, you may like Cromite. Similarly to Brave, it offers fairly robust privacy features, including Adblock. See caveat.
- Can be installed on mobile with FFUpdater F-Droid | GitHub.
🚫 If possible, avoid using Chrome at all costs. Let your family and friends know that there are better alternatives. We recommend you let them try Cromite, as it looks very similar.
Bear in mind that by utilizing Chromium-based browsers, such as Cromite and Brave, you're choosing to perpetuate Google's domination of the browser market, as well as aiding in the further proliferation of the Chromium framework.
Cromite and Brave will significantly improve your security and better safeguard your privacy, but these browsers are, sadly, fruit of the poisonous tree. As such, you are strongly urged to utilize Firefox or its FOSS fork, Fennec.
- An incredibly privacy-conscious app with lots of options and functionality.
- Once you get past the learning curve, it's probably one of the best email clients period.
- Newer on the scene, but feature set is similar to K-9 Mail.
- K-9 Mail has long been one of the leading email clients on Android. It's mature, privacy-focused, and open source.
Thunderbird Mobile and K-9 Mail share the same code base and are, therefore, very similar. It's expected that K-9 Mail will ultimately wind down at some point, as the K-9 Mail project joined the Thunderbird family in 2022.
- Note that the F-Droid version of Cryptomator cannot interface with Google Drive, as it is stripped of third-party libraries.
- If you want Google Drive integration, use the Play Store version.
- OpenKeychain requires a compatible app, such as FairEmail, K-9 Mail, etc.
- Proprietary, contains trackers. Included for functionality reasons.
❌ Avoid Files by Google if possible.
- A hardened Signal fork for Android with enhanced security features, including stronger sandboxing, PIN protection, reproducible builds, and optional Tor support.
- Molly maintains full compatibility with Signal’s servers and protocol, offering a drop-in replacement with better local device security.
- The gold standard for end-to-end encrypted messaging, with strong forward secrecy and minimal metadata exposure.
- Centralized infrastructure; self-hosting not supported.
- Federated and self-hostable secure messaging platform built on the Matrix protocol.
- Encryption is optional and slightly weaker than Signal, but still robust for most use cases.
- Anonymous, Signal-based messenger using a decentralized relay network.
- Strong metadata resistance, but slower sync and limited federation.
- Fully anonymous messenger with no user IDs or contact lists.
- Extreme metadata privacy; ideal for sensitive use cases but still early in development.
Section pending update.
- Free and open source messaging app.
- A highly functional, paid messaging app. Not strictly privacy/security-related.
- Proprietary, has several trackers, but worth mentioning for pure functionality.
Section pending update.
- Privacy stack (Tor, I2P, DNSCrypt).
- Typically used alongside a firewall, such as NetGuard.
- Advanced proxy core / tunneling engine.
- Used by RethinkDNS and others to enable censorship circumvention, encryption, and protocol obfuscation.
- Private, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app with a focus on zero-knowledge sync.
- Open source and cross-platform, with no account required for local use.
- Encrypted, cross-platform note-taking app based in the United States.
- Offers end-to-end encryption for all data, with optional advanced features like encrypted file attachments and publishing.
- Powerful Markdown-based note system focused on local-first storage and offline access.
- Not open source, but no account required and all data stays on-device by default.
Online:
Offline:
Section pending update.
- FOSS sandboxing tool using Android's Work Profile; great for isolating untrusted apps and managing dual accounts
- Power-user variant of Shelter with additional controls, but less consistently maintained and more opinionated in design
Android Work Profile is used to isolate apps that present a security or privacy risk. It creates an isolated profile from which you can install and run sensitive applications.
- End-to-end encrypted storage.
- Proton currently grants 2 GB of free storage upon account creation. If you complete their onboarding steps, you can obtain 5 GB total of free storage.
- End-to-end encrypted storage.
- Tresorit Basic provides 3 GB of free storage.
- Nextcloud is a self-hosted platform that can provide file storage, in addition to many other features.
- Encryption is an optional add-on.
Both Proton and Tuta offer great service and value. You really can't go wrong either way.
Customizable:
Both Control D and NextDNS offer comparable services, though Control D offers the unique ability to "redirect" services via transparent proxies. While Control D receives regular updates, the same cannot be said of NextDNS.
Not Customizable:
Please be aware of how VPNs work and whether they would actually benefit you. Contrary to what is widely believed/marketed, VPNs do not provide anonymity. They provide a private connection to a service provider other than your ISP, which lends a measure of privacy. For anonymity, take a look at the Tor Project.
Please provide feedback and suggestions by creating an issue or posting in Discussions. If you liked this list, please give it a STAR ⭐.
Special thanks to the original author of this content, @[email protected].
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Network Pro Strategies (Network Pro™)
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