Sustainable Substitutes for Private Relay

An Apple iCloud feature that acts similar to a VPN, disguising users' IPs with proprietary mechanisms.

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Reasons to avoid Private Relay

Relying on Apple's Private Relay to protect your privacy increases vendor lock-in and it's proprietary nature lacks transparency. Go with an alternative that isn't built on tax avoidance schemes and that doesn't try to bribe the US president.

Sustainable Alternatives

Here are some sustainable alternatives to Private Relay

IVPN

IVPN is a privacy-focused VPN service with a strict no-log policy and open-source transparency.

IVPN offers subscriptions for one week, making event based subscriptions more affordable.
No registration is required to use IVPN, anonymous payment options are also available.
IVPN does not collect or log user activity or metadata, ensuring complete privacy and security.
IVPN is based in Gibraltar, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
IVPN’s client applications are open-source, ensuring transparency and community-driven development.
IVPN is ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Website

Mullvad VPN

Mullvad VPN is a privacy-focused VPN service with a strict no-log policy and open-source transparency.

Mullvad VPN is open-source software, ensuring transparency and community-driven development.
Mullvad is based in Sweden, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Mullvad does not collect or log user data, ensuring complete privacy and security.
Mullvad VPN is ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Website
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ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a privacy-focused VPN service developed by Proton Technologies, with a strict no-log policy.

ProtonVPN's free tier can be used in Guest Mode where no registration is required.
ProtonVPN offers a free tier with strong privacy protections for all users.
ProtonVPN does not collect or log user activity or metadata, ensuring complete privacy and security.
ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
ProtonVPN clients are open-source software, ensuring transparency and community-driven development.
ProtonVPN is ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Website

NordVPN

NordVPN is a VPN service with strict no-log policies and servers in 40+ locations.

NordVPN has a strict no-logs policy, ensuring no one traffic data can be sold, breached or analysed.
NordVPN is ad-free, ensuring a cleaner and more private user experience.
Website

The 5 main issues with Private Relay

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

iCloud and its Private Relay is developed by Apple, one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation and pricey products. NPR: How 5 Tech Giants Have Become More Like Governments Than Companies (2017)

Misinformation / Manipulation - Spread of false or misleading information, often through algorithmic amplification, which can harm public discourse and trust.

Apple seems to put the most resistance out of all Big Tech companies against Trumps demands to ban scientific findings, especially on topics like gender, elections, vaccines or diversity. Reports say its training guidelines for AI models have been updated to comply though. Sources: The Mac Observer: Apple Accused of Changing AI Guidelines After Trump’s Election (2025)

Tax Avoidance - Aggressive strategies are being deployed to avoid paying taxes.

Apple is trying to avoid paying any taxes in the EU. In 2024 it has been fined 13 Billion Euros for illegal tax arrangements with Ireland Source: Wikipedia: Apple's EU tax dispute (2024)

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Apple is financing Donald Trumps plans to create a new ballroom in the white house, hoping to benefit from upcoming laws. Apple CEO Tim Cook donated $1 Million to Trumps inauguration fund.Sources: OpenSecrets: Trump ballroom donors poised to benefit from AI plan they helped shape (2026)Gizmodo: Tim Cook Is Latest Tech Exec to Kiss the Ring, Gives Trump’s Inauguration $1 Million (2025)

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Private Relay uses a proprietary approach rather than open, industry-wide standards. Standardised solutions would be more effective and transparent for the entire ecosystem.Source:IAB Tech Lab: Private Relay by Apple, Data Protection Middleware, and Proprietary Approaches vs. Standards (2021)