Privacy Guides
The most trustworthy independent, non-profit resource for privacy tools and digital self-defense
Website: https://www.privacyguides.org/ · Source: GitHub · Type: Donation-funded non-profit (successor to PrivacyTools.io), 4k+ stars on GitHub
Why it exists
"Best VPN 2026" search results are an affiliate-marketing minefield: the top ten lists are ranked by commission, not by merit. Privacy Guides is the antidote — a non-profit, ad-free resource whose recommendations are argued in public, updated when products slip, and versioned in a git repository anyone can audit. When a recommended provider is acquired or changes ownership, the site documents the exit. It has become the reference starting point for de-Googling, secure messaging and threat-model-based privacy thinking.
Main features
- Curated recommendations — browsers, VPNs, messengers, email providers, password managers, operating systems, file sharing and more, each with criteria spelled out.
- Threat-model framing — guides start from "what are you protecting, from whom?" instead of a paranoia checklist.
- Knowledge base — explainers on DNS, metadata, email security, multi-factor authentication, mobile and desktop hardening.
- Fully open — content CC-BY-SA, site code open source, mirrored on Tor (.onion) and I2P eepsite.
- Community — an active forum and Matrix presence where recommendations are debated.
- Tools spotlight — coverage of projects like Blacklight and other audit utilities (some featured in this library).
Who it's for
- Anyone starting to take privacy seriously and needing a trustworthy first map of the territory.
- Privacy nerds verifying that a tool they recommend still meets current standards.
- Journalists and researchers citing an independent, auditable source.
How it compares
- PrivacySpy (in this library) — rates company privacy policies; Privacy Guides recommends tools and practices.
- Restore Privacy / affiliate blogs — often monetized; Privacy Guides is donation-funded with published conflict-of-interest rules.
- r/privacy wiki — community energy, but no formal editorial process or funding transparency.
Notes
- Content is CC-BY-SA — reproduce freely with attribution.
- Recommendations are opinionated by design; the value is in the published criteria, so disagree with the reasoning in the open.
- Read the threat-modeling pages first — the tool lists make far more sense afterwards.