The Privacy-First Software Stack for 2026

A complete privacy-focused software stack you can set up today. Every recommendation is free or has a free tier.

Browser

Firefox with uBlock Origin and Enhanced Tracking Protection. Set DNS-over-HTTPS in settings.

Search

DuckDuckGo or Brave Search. Both respect privacy and deliver good results.

Email

ProtonMail (free tier) or Tutanota. End-to-end encrypted, based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions.

VPN

Mullvad VPN ($5/month, accepts Bitcoin and cash). No email required. WireGuard protocol.

Passwords

Bitwarden (free) or KeePassXC (offline). Both open source.

DNS

1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 9.9.9.9 (Quad9). Enable DNS-over-HTTPS. Self-host Pi-hole for network-wide blocking.

Cloud Storage

Nextcloud (self-hosted) or Cryptomator (encrypts files before uploading to any cloud).

Messaging

Signal for phone. Session for maximum anonymity (no phone number required). Matrix for group chats.

Check Your Setup

Use these free tools to audit your privacy:

• DNS Leak Test — Check if your VPN leaks DNS queries
• Browser Fingerprint Check — See how unique your browser is
• HTTP Headers Inspector — Every header your browser sends
• IP Address Lookup — Your IP, ISP, and location
• Password Strength Check — Test your passwords