An opinionated, honest list. Different tools fix different leaks — a VPN doesn't hide your browser fingerprint, and a privacy browser doesn't hide your IP. We tell you which is which. Heads-up: some links below are affiliate links; the disclosure at the bottom of this page explains exactly how that works.
Privacy-first VPN
Run by the same team behind Proton Mail. Swiss-based, audited no-logs, open-source clients, generous free tier (slower servers, limited countries). Our default pick for the privacy-aware user.
Visit Proton VPN link pendingMainstream VPN
The most recognized VPN brand. Solid speeds, large country list, RAM-only servers, audited no-logs. Pricier than Surfshark, but the standard if you want “the VPN your friends have heard of.”
Visit NordVPN link pendingBudget VPN
Unlimited devices on one subscription, decent speeds, audited. Most affordable of the mainstream options on multi-year plans. Owned by the same parent as NordVPN (Nord Security) since 2022.
Visit Surfshark link pendingAnonymous VPN
Flat €5/month, no email required, accepts cash. WireGuard-native, audited, no affiliate program (they refuse on principle). The privacy community's quiet favorite. We get nothing if you sign up — listed because it's honest.
Visit Mullvad| Provider | Audited no-logs | RAM-only servers | Free tier | Anonymous signup | Roughly costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Yes | Mixed | Yes | Email only | $4–10 / mo |
| NordVPN | Yes | Yes | No | No | $3–13 / mo |
| Surfshark | Yes | Yes | No | No | $2–13 / mo |
| Mullvad | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (cash, no email) | Flat €5 / mo |
Maximum privacy
The gold standard for browser-level privacy. Routes traffic through the Tor network and aggressively normalizes the browser fingerprint so users look identical to each other. Slower; not for everyday browsing of every site.
Get Tor BrowserDaily-driver privacy
Chromium-based, ad and tracker blocking on by default, fingerprint randomization. Closer to Chrome's speed and compatibility than Tor. The pragmatic everyday choice for most people who want fewer trackers without losing the modern web.
Get BraveHardened Firefox
A fork of Firefox preconfigured for privacy: telemetry off, resist-fingerprinting on, uBlock Origin bundled. Looks and acts like Firefox; no manual hardening required. Great for people who want Firefox without spending an evening editing about:config.
Get LibreWolfDNS with profiles
Hosted DNS-over-HTTPS / DNS-over-TLS resolver with per-device profiles, tracker blocking, malware filtering. Free up to 300k queries/month. Excellent middle-ground between rolling your own DNS and just trusting Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1.
Visit NextDNSFree public DNS
Free public resolver from Cloudflare. Supports DNS-over-HTTPS, DNS-over-TLS, and DNSSEC validation. No filtering by default; the 1.1.1.2 variant adds malware blocking. Simplest option if you just want encrypted DNS without thinking.
Visit 1.1.1.1Password manager
Open-source, self-hostable if you want, generous free tier covering unlimited passwords across unlimited devices. Audited. End-to-end encrypted. The honest default for anyone not already using a password manager.
Visit BitwardenAd and tracker blocker
The only ad-blocker we recommend. Open-source, audited, no monetization, no "acceptable ads" program, lightweight. Use it on Firefox (best support) or Chrome/Edge (Manifest V3 caveats). Skip "uBlock" (no Origin) — different project, different motives.
Get uBlock OriginAffiliate disclosure (FTC §16 CFR Part 255 & EU equivalents): Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you click through and purchase, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not affect the order of recommendations, the wording of the reviews, or whether a product gets listed at all. The reverse-test of this: Mullvad VPN and Tor Browser are listed prominently even though they pay us zero — they're on this page because they're the right answer in their category.
How we decide what to list: we list tools that we'd recommend to a friend. We do not accept paid placements, sponsored reviews, or "ranking adjustments" of any kind. If a tool is removed in the future, the commit will say why.
Affiliate program status (May 2026): applications pending with Proton, NordVPN, and Surfshark. Until they're approved, the "Visit X" buttons for those three are placeholders. Mullvad, Tor, Brave, LibreWolf, Bitwarden, uBlock Origin, NextDNS, and 1.1.1.1 all link directly (no commission either way).