All Ethical Products and Services

Check out ethical and sustainable products and services that help you avoiding Big Tech.

Version Control Service

Alternatives to GitHub, focusing on open-source, self-hostable, and privacy-centric solutions.

sourcehut

An open-source platform for software development without ads or tracking.

sourcehut does not include AI in its services.
No ads are used to support the platform. All money is generated through a fair pricing model.
sourcehut has a minimalist design, works without JavaScript and has no AI features.
sourcehut is based in the Netherlands.
sourcehut is FOSS and listed in the Free Software Directory.
sourcehut has absolutely no tracking.
Website

CoMaps

A community-driven navigation app that prioritises privacy and offline usability.

CoMaps is open-source and developed by a community-driven project, ensuring transparency and user involvement.
CoMaps does not collect user data or track locations, ensuring strong privacy protections.
CoMaps allows users to download maps for offline use, enabling navigation without an internet connection and avoiding location data to be transmitted through the net.
CoMaps contains no ads, providing a clean and uninterrupted user experience.
CoMaps is free to use, with no hidden costs or subscriptions.
CoMaps is optimised for battery efficiency, reducing device energy consumption during navigation.
CoMaps does not require registration, ensuring user anonymity.
Website

KeePassXC

A modern, secure open-source password manager focusing on offline storage.

KeePassXC is ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
KeePassXC is self-hostable, giving users full control over their data.
KeePassXC is fully open-source, allowing for transparency, community scrutiny, and customization.
KeePassXC works entirely offline, ensuring no dependency on cloud services and full user control over data.
KeePassXC does not include any third-party trackers or analytics, ensuring user privacy.
KeePassXC is completely free to use, with no subscription or hidden costs.
Website

Bitwarden

An open-source password manager focusing on security, privacy, and self-hosting.

Bitwarden is ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Bitwarden is fully open-source, allowing for transparency, community scrutiny, and self-hosting.
Bitwarden does not include third-party trackers, ensuring user privacy.
Bitwarden can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, giving full control over data and enhancing privacy.
Bitwarden offers a free plan with all essential features, making it accessible for individuals and small teams.
Bitwarden works offline in read-only mode. Editing entries only works online.
Website
wero logo

Wero

A European online payment service focusing on sustainability and transparency.

Wero is (currently) ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Wero is governed by European banks and operates under EU regulations, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European financial standards.
Wero adheres to strict European data protection laws.
Wero is free for users to use for basic transactions, though merchants may incur standard payment processing fees.
Wero is built on the SEPA infrastructure, reducing environmental impact compared to traditional card networks.
Website

Posteo

A German eco-friendly email provider with optional encryption.

Posteo is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Posteo is completely ad free.
Posteo uses renewable energy to power its servers, reducing its carbon footprint.
Posteo does not track users or display personalised ads. It offers encrypted mailboxes and allows anonymous registration.
Posteo supports open-source standards and transparency, allowing independent audits.
Website

Passbolt

A European secure, open-source password manager for teams.

Passbolt is ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Passbolt is fully open-source, allowing for transparency, community scrutiny, and self-hosting.
Passbolt is based in Luxembourg and offers European cloud hosting, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Passbolt does not include any trackers or third-party analytics, ensuring user privacy.
Passbolt can be self-hosted on your own infrastructure, giving full control over data and enhancing privacy.
Passbolt offers a free Community Edition for individuals and small teams, with paid plans for larger organizations.
Website

GOOD

A non-profit search engine from Germany. All of its revenue is donated to charity.

GOOD claims to be climate positive. It uses carbon-neutral data centres but calculate emissions as if the data-centres wouldn't be. These calculated emissions are then offset by investing in environment friendly projects. Source: Our Contribution to Climate Protection [German]
GOOD is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
GOOD does not track users or display personalised ads, ensuring a private search experience. Source: HOW GOOD WORKS
GOOD provides a completely ad-free search experience, focusing on user needs rather than advertising revenue.Source: HOW GOOD WORKS
GOOD is supported by voluntary donations, encouraging users to contribute to its mission to support projects that meet UN's Sustainable Development Goals.Source: Your Impact
Website

Codeberg

An open-source version control and collaboration platform, with privacy and integrity.

Codeberg is fully open-source and its software, Forgejo, is free to use and self-hostable.
Codeberg is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European privacy laws.
Codeberg does not track its users nor does it share data with third parties.
Codeberg is free of charge for all users and projects running solely on donations.
Codeberg does not run ads, financing its operations solely on donations.
Codeberg does not include AI in its platform.
Website

LibreWolf

A fork of Firefox, with enhanced security and privacy settings.

LibreWolf is mostly ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.Source: LibreWolf Features
LibreWolf blocks trackers, ads, and fingerprinting by default, with enhanced protections like uBlock Origin pre-installed and stricter privacy settings.Source: LibreWolf Features
LibreWolf is fully open-source, allowing for community audits, contributions, and transparency in its development.Source: Codeberg Repos
LibreWolf does not allow third-party cookies or share user data with external parties.Source: LibreWolf Features
LibreWolfs’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption. The decision to avoid AI bloat in its browser saves even more resources.
Website

Element (Matrix)

An open-source, federated messaging app based on the Matrix protocol.

Element is fully open-source, including both client and server code, allowing for independent audits and community contributions.
Element uses end-to-end encryption by default for all communications, ensuring user privacy.
Element is ad-free and does not engage in data mining or targeted advertising.
Element does not use third-party trackers, it also has its own push notification infrastructure and does not depend on Google's service on Android.
Element operates on a decentralized network (Matrix), reducing reliance on single points of control and enhancing user privacy.
Element can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and communication infrastructure.
Element offers a free tier, though there are optional paid features for organisations.
Website

Tuta

A German email provider with encryption by default powered by green energy.

All Tuta clients are open-source, allowing for transparency and community contributions.
Tuta uses green energy to power its servers, reducing its environmental impact.
Tuta does not track users or display personalised ads, it offers end-to-end, quantum-safe encryption, ensuring a private email experience.
Tuta is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong privacy laws and ISO/IEC 27001-certified data centers.
Tuta offers one email address with 1GB of storage free of charge and promises that this will not change.
Tuta is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free email experience.
Tuta allows management of custom domain emails for paying users. The domain must be registered elsewhere though.
Website

OpenCommit

A Dutch non-profit git hosting platform for open-source projects.

OpenCommit is fully open-source and the software it's built on, Forgejo, is free to use and self-hostable.
Codeberg is based in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with GDPR and European privacy laws.
OpenCommit does not track its users nor does it share data with third parties.
OpenCommit is free of charge for all users and projects running solely on donations.
OpenCommit does not run ads, financing its operations solely on donations.
OpenCommit does not include AI in its platform.
Website

Mullvad Browser

A privacy-focused browser with Tor Project Collaboration.

Mullvad Browser blocks trackers, ads, and fingerprinting by default, with pre-installed uBlock Origin.
Mullvad Browser removes most ads and sponsored content, ensuring a clean and distraction-free browsing experience.
Mullvad Browser does not allow third-party trackers or share user data with external parties.
Mullvad’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption, making it more efficient for users on limited data plans or battery-powered devices.
Mullvad is a based in Sweden.
Website
opentalk logo

OpenTalk

A German GDPR compliant video conferencing service.

OpenTalk is open source under the EUPL (European Public License).
OpenTalk comes with end-to-end encryption and does not engage in data mining for advertising.
OpenTalk does not show ads to its users.
OpenTalk by Heinlein is based in Berlin, Germany.
OpenTalk allows users to join meetings without creating an account or registering.
OpenTalk can be self-hosted, giving full control over data and privacy.
OpenTalk offers a free tier with meetings of up to 30 minutes length and 5 participants.
Website
firefox logo

Firefox

A popular open-source web browser developed by Mozilla.

Firefox’s Enhanced Tracking Protection blocks third-party trackers and fingerprinting scripts by default, especially in Private Browsing Mode and Strict mode.Source: Firefox blocks fingerprinting
Firefox is fully open-source, allowing for community audits, contributions, and transparency in its development.Source: Github Repo
Firefox does not allow third-party trackers in its default browsing experience.Source: Third-party cookies and Firefox tracking protection
Firefox’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption, making it more efficient for users on limited data plans or battery-powered devices, especially when combined with the uBlock Origin Plugin.
Website

Mailbox

A German email provider with optional encryption running on renewable energy.

Mailbox uses renewable energy to power its servers, reducing its carbon footprint.
Mailbox offers self-hosting options for enterprises, giving full control over data.
Mailbox does not track users or display personalised ads. It offers optional PGP Email encryption.
Mailbox is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong privacy laws.
Mailbox is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free email experience.
Mailbox allows using custom domain emails through its service for all users except those on a lite plan without family. Domains must be registered through a registrar.
Website

OsmAnd

An open-source navigation app with offline maps and no tracking.

OsmAnd does not require registration, ensuring user anonymity.
OSMAnd works entirely offline, allowing users to download maps and navigate without an internet connection.
OSMAnd is free and open-source software, developed with community involvement.
OSMAnd does not collect user data, ensuring strong privacy protections.
OSMAnd contains no ads, providing a clean and uninterrupted user experience.
OSMAnd is optimised for battery efficiency, extending device life during navigation.
OSMAnd offers a free version with core features, and a paid version with additional options.
OSMAnd is developed by OsmAnd B.V., a company based in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with European privacy and data protection regulations.
Website

Qwant

A French privacy-first search engine that does not track users.

Qwant is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Qwant does not track users or resell personal data. For now, it forwards personal information to Bing though.
Qwant’s browser extension and some privacy tools are open-source, allowing for public review and transparency.
Qwant doesn't cost anything. Although one could argue that users pay with their personal data since IP address and search queries are shared with Big Tech.
Website

Organic Maps

A privacy-focused navigation app with no tracking and minimal battery usage.

Organic Maps doesn't require you to create an account.
Organic Maps works entirely offline, allowing users to download maps and navigate without an internet connection.
Organic Maps does not collect personal data or track user locations, ensuring strong privacy protections.
Organic Maps contains no ads, providing a clean and uninterrupted user experience.
Organic Maps is free to use, with no hidden costs or subscriptions.
Organic Maps is optimised for minimal battery usage during navigation, extending device life.
Organic Maps is developed by a community-driven project based in Estonia, ensuring compliance with European privacy laws and GDPR.
Website

Soverin

An ISO-certified Dutch email provider with optional encryption.

Soverin is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free email experience.
Soverin is ISO 14001 certified. No evidence could be found that its servers are powered by renewable energy though.
Soverin does not track users or display personalised ads and allows encryption via PGP.
Soverin supports open-source standards and transparency, allowing independent audits.
Soverin is based in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Soverin allows to register custom domains or manage an existing domain's emails through its service.
Website
vivaldi logo

Vivaldi

A highly customisable ad and AI free web browser based on Chromium.

Vivaldi is mostly ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Vivaldi blocks ads and trackers by default, with a privacy dashboard for visibility into blocked content.Source: Fighting for a better web
Vivaldi’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data usage and saves energy. Additional energy is saved by avoiding AI bloat in its browser.
By default Vivaldi does not allow third-party cookies.
Vivaldi Technologies is based in Norway.
Website
molly logo

Molly

An independent Signal fork for Android with improved features.

Molly is fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and community contributions to its codebase. Unlike Signal it doesn't use any proprietary blobs by Google.
Molly uses end-to-end encryption by default for all communications. On device preferences will be encrypted by passphrases. Push Notifications can be done Google-free with Unfied Push.
Molly is ad-free and does not engage in data mining or targeted advertising.
Molly does not use third-party trackers, it also has its own push notification infrastructure and does not depend on Google's service on Android.
Signal is free to use for all users, with no premium features locked behind paywalls.
Website
here-wego logo

HERE WeGo

A Dutch navigation app and popular competitor to Google Maps.

HERE WeGo does not require registration, ensuring user anonymity.
HERE WeGo allows users to download maps for offline use, enabling navigation without an internet connection.
HERE WeGo is developed by HERE Technologies, a company based in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with European privacy regulations.
HERE WeGo provides users with control over data sharing and does not require an account for basic navigation features, though some technical and location data is collected for service improvement.
HERE WeGo does not display ads during navigation or map use, offering a clean user interface.
HERE WeGo is free to use for core navigation and map features, with no subscription required.
Website

Mojeek

A UK-based independent search engine with strict privacy policies.

Mojeek is based in the UK, ensuring compliance with European privacy regulations.
Mojeek does not track users or store personal data, ensuring a private search experience through its independent non-third-party search index.
Mojeek provides open-source tools and APIs for developers.
Mojeek does not load or store any third-party resources. It does integrate external LLMs for its summaries though.
Website

Signal

A privacy-focused messaging app with end-to-end encryption and open-source transparency.

Signal is mostly open-source, allowing for independent audits and community contributions to its codebase. Only some of the code is from Google and proprietary.
Signal uses end-to-end encryption by default for all communications, ensuring user privacy. It uses Google's notification system fro Push Notification on Android of course, which can be problematic.
Signal is ad-free and does not engage in data mining or targeted advertising.
Signal is free to use for all users, with no premium features locked behind paywalls (yet).
Website

Olvid

A French secure messaging app with no phone number required.

Olvid client apps are fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and reproducible builds.
Olvid uses end-to-end encryption by default for all communications, ensuring user privacy.
Olvid is ad-free and does not engage in data mining or targeted advertising.
Olvid is based in France, ensuring compliance with EU privacy laws.
Olvid does not require a phone number or email address for registration, allowing anonymous use.
Olvid offers free use of its basic features. For individuals it costs 4.99€ per month if they want secure audio/video calls and multi-device support.
Website

Jitsi

An open-source video conferencing platform with end-to-end encryption, widely used for secure meetings.

Jitsi is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free experience.
Jitsi can be fully hosted on your own servers, giving complete control over data and privacy.
Jitsi does not engage in data mining for ads and comes with end-to-end encryption for calls with two participants.
Jitsi is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance the code.
Jitsi is free to use for everyone, with no participant limits or mandatory fees for basic features.
Jitsi allows anyone to join meetings without registration. Unfortunately, creating a meeting on the public instance (meet.jit.si) now requires a Google, GitHub, or Facebook account. Self-hosted instances can be configured to allow anonymous meeting creation.
Website

Qobuz

A French high-resolution, human-first music streaming service.

Qobuz offers an ad-free experience, providing a clean listening experience.
Qobuz is the first streaming service to publicly disclose and verify its average payout per stream, ensuring artists receive fair compensation.
Qobuz is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Qobuz actively labels and removes AI-generated and fraudulent tracks, protecting artists and the integrity of the platform.
Website

Wire

A Swiss secure messaging and video conferencing platform with end-to-end encryption.

Wire is free and open-source software, allowing anyone to inspect, modify, and enhance the code.
Wire is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Wire offers end-to-end encryption for all communications and does not perform data mining for advertisement, ensuring user privacy and security.
Wire can be self-hosted, giving organizations full control over their data and privacy.
Wire offers a free tier, mainly for messaging. For video conferencing one has to opt for one of the paid tiers.
Wire's service is ad-free for all its free and paid tiers, it's funded through enterprise plans.
Website

Ecosia

A German search engine with a focus on sustainability, donating all of its surplus revenue.

Ecosia is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Ecosia produces and uses renewable energy to power its servers, reducing its carbon footprint.
Ecosia works anonymously. But users can create an account in order to track their implicit contributions to climate projects.
Ecosia donates all of its surplus revenue to conservation projects, supporting reforestation and climate action.
Ecosia doesn't cost anything. Although one could argue that users pay with their personal data since IP address and search queries are shared with Big Tech.
Website

Ampwall

A platform for independent music by a public benefit company.

Ampwall does not welcome AI generated images and music on its platform. It will remove such content as soon as it's detected.
Artists only have to pay a yearly fee of $10, while 5% of all sales go to the payment processor (which is PayPal unfortunately).
Users don't have to pay to listen to music on Ampwall.
No registration is needed to listen to music on Ampwall.
Website

Whereby

A Norwegian privacy-focused video conferencing tool with no account required.

Whereby is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free video conferencing experience.
Whereby offers end-to-end encryption for small meetings (peer-to-peer), ensuring user privacy and security.
Whereby is based in Norway, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Whereby allows users to join meetings without registration.
Whereby offers a free plan with no participant limits.
Website

Threema

A Swiss end-to-end encrypted messaging app with a focus on privacy and metadata minimization.

Threema client apps are fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and reproducible builds.
Threema uses end-to-end encryption by default for all communications, ensuring user privacy.
Threema is ad-free and does not engage in data mining or targeted advertising.
Threema does not use third-party trackers, it also has its own push notification infrastructure and does not depend on Google's service on Android.
Threema is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with strict Swiss privacy laws.
Threema does not require a phone number or email address for registration, allowing anonymous use.
Website

Deezer

A popular French music streaming service with a stance against AI generated music.

Deezer offers an ad-free experience for premium users, providing a clean listening experience.
Deezer actively labels and removes AI-generated and fraudulent tracks, protecting artists and the integrity of the platform.
Deezer is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Deezer offers a free, ad-supported tier, making music streaming accessible to all users.
Website

Session

A decentralised, anonymous messaging app with a focus on privacy.

Session is fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and community contributions.
Session uses end-to-end encryption by default for all communications, ensuring user privacy.
Session is ad-free and does not engage in data mining or targeted advertising.
Session does not use third-party trackers, it also has its own push notification infrastructure and does not depend on Google's service on Android.
Session operates on a decentralized network, reducing reliance on single points of control and enhancing user privacy.
Session does not require a phone number or email address for registration, allowing anonymous use.
Session is available for free, with optional premium features (Session Pro) that require payment.
Website

Klarna

A global payments provider from Sweden, best known for its BNPL services.

Klarna aims to decarbonise its entire value chain by 2040. Though, it has to be said that they try to achieve it with a internal carbon fee and support for innovative climate solutions. Its recent investments in AI solutions also make these goals questionable.
Klarna allocates a portion of its funding to climate initiatives.
Klarna is headquartered in Sweden, which should ensure compliance with GDPR and European privacy and labor regulations.
Website
protonmail logo

Proton Mail

An encrypted email service based in Switzerland.

Proton Mail clients are open-source, allowing for community audits and transparency.
Proton Mail offers self-hosting options for enterprises, giving full control over data.
Proton Mail does not track users or display personalised ads, ensuring a private email experience.
Proton Mail is based in Switzerland, it's relocating its infrastructure to other more privacy-friendly European countries.
Proton Mail does not show ads to their users apart from upgrade suggestions for their own services.
Proton Mail offers one email address with 1GB of storage free of charge.
Users can use a custom domain with one of Proton Mail's paid plans. The domain must be registered elsewhere though.
Website
brave logo

Brave

A privacy-focused web browser based on Chromium.

Brave is ad-free by default, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Brave blocks ads, trackers, and third-party cookies by default, reducing exposure to online tracking and fingerprinting.
Brave does not use third-party trackers or allow external parties to collect user data.
Brave’s built-in ad and tracker blocking reduces unnecessary data and energy consumption, making it more efficient for users on limited data plans or battery-powered devices.
Website