Related Tools
Updated9 October 2024
Table of Contents
...Loading Table of Contents...Use the following tools to protect your privacy and security while sending and receiving email, chatting via text, voice or video, joining and organizing video conferences; sharing large files; or collaborating on sensitive documents. You can also learn more about how to protect the privacy of your online communication, secure your email communications, recover from possible account compromise and protect yourself and your data when using social media.
More secure email providers
Proton Mail
(Android, iOS apps and web based for Linux, macOS, Windows)
An email service that supports end-to-end encryption both between its users and with external mail accounts. Apps are free and open-source.
1GB email storage for free - more for a fee.
Download | See their guide
Riseup Mail
(Web based or using a third-party email client such as Thunderbird)
An invite-only email service that supports encryption and has a long history of protecting activists.
1 GB of storage space for e-mail.
See their guide
Autistici/Inventati
(web based or using a third-party email client like Thunderbird)
An email service with a long history of protecting activists.
See their guide
Disroot
(web based or using a third-party email client like Thunderbird)
An email service run by a platform built on the principles of privacy, openness, transparency and freedom.
1GB email storage for free - more for a fee.
See their guide
Mailfence
(Android and iOS apps; web based or using a third-party email client like Thunderbird for Linux, macOS, Windows)
An email service that supports end-to-end encryption both between its users and with external mail accounts.
500 MB email storage for free - more for a fee.
Posteo
(Web based or using a third-party email client such as Thunderbird)
An email service with a focus on security, privacy and sustainability.
Paid service starting at 1 euro per month.
Disposable mailboxes
Guerrilla Mail
A free disposable email address service that randomly generates disposable email addresses with several domain names you can choose from. Mailboxes can only be used to receive email, not to send messages.
anonbox
A free disposable email address service managed by the German Chaos Computer Club that randomly generates one-time email addresses. Mailboxes can only be used to receive email, not to send messages.
Email applications that support end-to-end encryption
Thunderbird
(Linux, macOS, Windows, Android in testing stage)
A free and open-source email application that supports end-to-end encryption and can download messages to your computer.
Download for computers | Download the testing version for Android | See their support pages
K-9 Mail
(Android)
A free and open-source email app that supports end-to-end encryption and can download messages to your Android device.
Download from Google Play or F-Droid | See their user forum
OpenKeychain
(Android)
A free and open-source encryption key management app that works with K-9 Mail.
Download from Google Play or F-Droid | See their FAQ
Mailvelope
(Chrome/Chromium, Firefox, Edge)
A free and open-source add-on/extension that you can use in Chrome/Chromium, Firefox and Edge to encrypt emails with PGP using the web interface of several webmail providers.
Download | See their guide
More secure text, voice and video chat applications
Signal
(Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows)
A free and open-source application that provides secure text, voice and video chat services but that requires a working phone number to register
Download | See their guide
Jitsi
(Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows)
A free and open-source app — with both free and paid versions — that provides secure voice and video chat services. Browser-based access is available for Linux, macOS and Windows users. (See our Guide to Secure Group Chat & Conferencing Tools and use only on trusted servers.) Individuals and organizations with the appropriate technical expertise can host Jitsi services themselves.
Download from Apple's iOS App Store, Google Play or F-Droid | See our guide and their FAQ
Element
(Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows)
A free and open-source application that provides end-to-end encrypted text chat and file sharing for individuals and groups. Element also provides secure voice and video messaging. Individuals and organizations with the appropriate technical expertise can host Element services themselves. Element is based on Matrix communication standard.
Download | See their guide
Delta Chat
(Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows)
A free and open-source application that provides secure text-chat services by relying on email providers to transfer data. Does not require a phone number to register (unlike WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram)
Download | See their guide
Mattermost
(Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows)
A text, voice and video chat application for small-group collaboration. Individuals and organizations with the appropriate technical expertise can host Mattermost services themselves.
Download | See their guide
More private social media platforms
Mastodon
(Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows)
A public, decentralized social-media service that is not owned by corporations
Download | See their guide
Share large files more securely
share.riseup.net
(Web based)
Protect the files you send with encryption. Files must be 50 MB or smaller, and the recipient must download them within 12 hours.
upload.disroot.org
(Web based)
Protect the files you send with encryption. Files can be up to 2 GB, and the recipient must download them within 30 days.
send.tresorit.com
(Web based)
Protect the files you send with encryption. Files can be up to 5 GB, and the recipient must download them within 7 days.
OnionShare
(Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows)
Protect the files you send with end-to-end encryption, and send those files anonymously using the Tor network. OnionShare requires both you and the recipient to install software, but it also allows you to chat anonymously (text only) with the recipient or host a temporary, anonymous website. OnionShare is free and open-source software.
Download | See their guide
Collaborate on documents more securely
cryptpad.fr
(Web based)
Securely edit and share encrypted documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and surveys with this free and open-source software. Cryptpad.fr can also be self hosted.
See their guide