Apps worth considering in 2027
Not a big list — just a handful of privacy and security tools I trust. Some I run on my own machines every day, others are strong alternatives I'd happily point you to. Some are free, some are paid, and for each one I've said why it made the cut.
No sponsorships, no paid placements. Most of these are free or fairly priced, and nobody pays to be on this page. A few links may be affiliate links, clearly marked — you don't have to use them, but if you do, it helps keep this site up and running at no extra cost to you. Where I use something myself, I've said so.
VPN
IVPN ↗
What I use myself. Small, transparent and privacy-first, with honest pricing and regular independent audits. Higher plans add Mailx email aliases, modDNS filtering and Portmaster Pro.
Mullvad ↗
A strong alternative to IVPN. No email or personal details needed to sign up, just an account number. One flat monthly price, no fake "80% off" deals and no renewal price hikes.
Browsers
Helium ↗
Chromium-based, so sites just work, but with the Google bloat and tracking stripped out and uBlock Origin built in.
Firefox with the telemetry removed and sensible privacy settings switched on from the start.
Zen ↗
Firefox-based with a clean, modern layout — vertical tabs and split view make it great for juggling lots of pages.
Email
Tuta ↗
My main inbox. Encrypted, works with your own domain, and doesn't read your mail to sell you things.
The best-known encrypted email, with a polished app and a decent free tier to get started.
Passwords & Security
The password manager I'd put on anyone's devices. Open source, works everywhere, and the free tier is genuinely enough for most people.
YubiKey ↗
A physical key for logging in. Even if someone gets your password, they can't get in without it. Buy two and keep one as a spare.
What I run myself. Consistently tops the independent tests, and it's light enough that you don't notice it's there.
ESET ↗
A strong alternative to Bitdefender. Very light on older or lower-powered PCs, with years of solid independent test results behind it.
What I run myself. A firewall that shows every connection each app on your PC makes, and lets you block any of them with a click. The free version covers most people; Pro adds connection history and comes with IVPN's top plan. Windows and Linux.
Utilities
WizFile ↗
Finds any file on your drive the moment you start typing. Far faster than Windows search.
For the tinkerers
A bit more hands-on — DNS filtering, email aliases and self-hosting. Not needed for most people, but worth it if you enjoy this stuff.
Show ↓Hide ↑
For the tinkerers
A bit more hands-on — DNS filtering, email aliases and self-hosting. Not needed for most people, but worth it if you enjoy this stuff.
Email Aliases
Mailx ↗
What I use myself. Give every site its own email address that forwards to your real inbox. If one starts getting spam, just switch it off. From the IVPN team: open source, independently audited, and forwarded emails are deleted once delivered.
A strong alternative to Mailx, and a good choice if you don't use IVPN. Same idea, with a useful free tier. Now part of Proton.
DNS Filtering
modDNS ↗
What I use myself. Blocks ads, trackers and dodgy sites for every device on your network, before they even load. From the IVPN team: open source, audited, with your own blocklists and rules, and logging off by default.
NextDNS ↗
A strong alternative to modDNS if you don't use IVPN. Easy to set up, with clear logs showing what's being blocked.
Same idea as NextDNS with more fine-grained control — separate profiles for different devices or family members, and detailed filtering options.
Tests which DNS servers are actually fastest from your connection, rather than guessing. From Steve Gibson, a long-trusted name in security.
Self-Hosted
A lightweight Bitwarden-compatible server you run yourself, so your passwords live on your own hardware. Works with the normal Bitwarden apps.
Your own private cloud — files, photos, calendar and contacts in one place, on a server you control instead of Google or Microsoft's. Pairs nicely with Tuta, which now has its own Nextcloud app.
Silo ↗
A new self-hosted media server and a promising free alternative to Emby and Jellyfin. I've been trialling it, and its speed and responsiveness are amazingly good for such a young project. Works with existing Jellyfin apps too.
Not sure which of these suits you, or want one set up for you?
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