Tools

These are what we recommend if you want to leave less data behind. None of the links are affiliate links, and nobody paid to be listed.

87 recommendations

How is the score calculated?

We score five criteria that can be checked from public facts, and add the points up. The same rule applies to every tool; our opinion is not part of it.

Source code (code, up to 3 points): 0: closed; 2: the apps are open, the server is not; 3: every part is open
Who can get at your data (data, up to 3 points): 0: the provider can read and store it; 1: the provider sees it, but commits to not logging it; 2: stored encrypted, the provider cannot read it; 3: there is no provider, everything stays with you
What you have to hand over (identity, up to 2 points): 0: a phone number or personal data; 1: an email address or an account; 2: nothing
Independence (independent, up to 1 point): 0: depends on a single company's servers; 1: works self-hosted, directly between devices, or without the internet
Default behaviour (quiet, up to 1 point): 0: sends usage data or shows ads by default; 1: does neither by default

The score does not measure how well a program is written or audited, nor how convenient it is. Open tools that run locally get 10 points easily, a service rarely does; so it is best used to compare within one category.