These alternatives are recommended for users who want to avoid data hoarding by big tech giants, invasive ad tracking, and government surveillance. They offer similar, if not better, features compared to their commercial or ad-supported counterparts. Most of these services can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data, and many are free or low-cost.
Key takeaways:
- The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over personal data and recommends several services that prioritize user privacy and data security.
- Wallabag is recommended as a read-later web-archiving service that rivals commercial options like Pocket, offering similar features without tracking user data for content recommendations.
- Signal is highlighted as a secure messaging app that doesn't store user data, making it a preferred choice for those concerned about privacy.
- Other recommended services include Nextcloud for file storage, Bitwarden for password management, Joplin and Notesnook for note-taking, Ente for photo storage, Open Scanner for document scanning, FreshRSS for news aggregation, Owncast for livestreaming, and Stirling PDF for PDF editing.