From Free to Freedom: How Much It Costs to Take Back Your Online Privacy
The costs to safeguard your privacy may surprise you
Most people know they should be doing more about their privacy. Typical barriers to doing more are cost and time.
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On the cost side, the general population is trained to think everything online should be free. In most cases, that means trading your data for products/services. We discussed this in two earlier posts:
The good news is that there are privacy-focused alternatives that won’t break the bank. Some are even free. We finally sat down and crunched the numbers and even we were surprised at the relatively low cost.
Below are ten categories we’ll breakdown the pricing for. There are other categories, but these are among the most common and important ones.
Email
VPN
Browser
Search
Password Manager
Cloud Storage
Mobile Operating System
2 Factor Authenticator App
Disposable/Temporary email addresses
Data Removal Services
1. Email
Big Tech email services like Gmail and Outlook come with privacy trade-offs since these platforms often scan emails for data that can be used for advertising. They’ll also turn over your data to government authorities with little if any fight. They’ll often even do it without a warrant.
Most privacy friendly email services now include other related services like calendar and contacts.
ProtonMail:
A privacy-first, encrypted email provider based in Switzerland.
Free for up to 1GB of storage and 1 address.
Paid plans start at $4/month for more storage and additional features.
Tuta:
Formerly known as “Tutana”, this is another privacy and security centric email option that focuses on end-to-end encryption.
Free for 1GB of storage.
Paid plans start at $1.15/month for more storage and custom domains.
Our suggestion is to pay for one of Proton or Tutanota and then use the free version of the other as your secondary email.
2. VPN (Virtual Private Network)
VPNs require caution. They’re an important privacy tool, but only if you select the right one. There are dozens of “free” VPNs, which are nothing more than disguised data harvesting tools. Even some paid ones have questionable practices and ownership. Generally speaking, opting for a paid VPN ensures stronger privacy practices. Paid VPNs are also less likely to be blocked or restricted by websites. Here are the top 3.
Mullvad:
A Swedish-based VPN that doesn’t require an email to sign up and has a strong no-logs policy. They even allow payment with crypto and privacy coins.
No free plan
$5.50/month
ProtonVPN:
A VPN from the same team as ProtonMail, with a focus on security and privacy.
Free plan available with access to servers in 3 countries.
Paid plans start at $4.99/month for faster speeds and more servers.
IVPN:
A privacy-first VPN with a clear no-logs policy and advanced privacy features.
$6/month for standard, or $10/month for more features.
Shield Your Data: Discover the Privacy Perks of VPNs
VPNs are one of the most discussed digital privacy and security topics out there. They’re also the most commercialized aspect of the internet privacy and security market. Dozens of companies offer VPN services, often for free. Many of those companies use free VPNs as data harvesting traps, which we’ll touch on later.
3. Browser
Nobody charges for browsers anymore. They’re all free, even the privacy friendly ones. And the privacy friendly browsers are often faster and more feature packed. Which means there is really no reason to use Chrome or Edge unless it’s on a work computer and you’re not allowed to use a privacy friendly alternative.
Brave: A Chromium-based browser that blocks trackers and ads by default.
MulvadVPN: Designed to work seamlessly with MullvadVPN, offering enhanced security and anonymity by blocking trackers and preventing online surveillance.
Tor: A privacy-focused browser that anonymizes your online activity by routing your traffic through multiple encrypted nodes, preventing tracking and surveillance.
DuckDuckGo Browser: Focuses on privacy by blocking trackers and never saving search histories.
Firefox (with Privacy Enhancements): With some tweaking (such as adding privacy-focused extensions), Firefox can be made into a solid privacy-friendly browser.
4. Password Manager
Many people use free password managers from Big Tech companies (e.g., Google Password Manager) or a browser’s native password manager, but privacy-focused managers offer more privacy peace of mind.
Bitwarden:
An open-source password manager with end-to-end encryption. Generally considered the leader in the space.
Free for basic features.
Paid plans start at $10/year (or ~$0.83/month) for extra features like encrypted file storage.
1Password:
One of the more popular secure password managers.
$2.99/month for individuals, billed annually.
ProtonPass:
Developed by the team behind ProtonMail, ProtonPass offers end-to-end encrypted password management.
Free for basic use.
Paid plans start at $4/month, offering additional features such as secure note storage and extra vaults.
5. Search Engine
Google Search is the default for many, but it tracks and profiles users extensively. There are great alternatives that don’t stalk you when you browse the web.
Mojeek: An independent search engine with its own index that emphasizes user privacy.
Brave: Developed by the team behind the Brave browser, it offers a fully independent index and prioritizes user privacy.
Swisscows: A privacy-focused search engine based in Switzerland that doesn't track users or store data, with a focus on family-friendly content.
DuckDuckGo: A private search engine that doesn’t track searches.
6. Cloud Storage
Services like Google Drive and Dropbox are convenient and secure, but not private. There are privacy friendly alternatives with sound security for those who don’t want their files stored by Big Tech providers.
Tresorit:
Provides encrypted cloud storage with a focus on security and privacy
Paid plans start at $12.50/month for 1TB of storage.
ProtonDrive:
From the makers of ProtonMail, offering end-to-end encrypted cloud storage.
Free plan for up to 1GB.
Paid plans start at $4.99/month for 200GB of storage.
Note this is not a like-for-like substitute for Google Drive. The functionality is much more limited.
7. Mobile Operating System (OS)
We just did an entire post on privacy friendly mobile OSes, linked below. One key takeaway is that all of them are free, though there are tradeoffs if you’re used to iOS or Googled Android.
Instantly Boost Your Privacy by Ditching Google Android and Apple iOS
Mobile devices and operating systems are the ultimate test for trying to find a balance between privacy and convenience.
CalyxOS:
An Android-based privacy-focused OS that doesn’t rely on Google services.
Free, but available only for specific phones.
/e/OS:
A de-Googled Android OS that provides a more private mobile experience.
Free
GrapheneOS:
A privacy and security-focused mobile OS built on Android, designed to maximize security without relying on Google services.
Free, available for select Google Pixel devices.
Tails:
A live OS that focuses on privacy and anonymity, especially for temporary use.
Free.
Hot off the presses, they also just “joined forces and merged operations” with Tor, the privacy friendly web browser noted earlier.
8. 2FA Apps
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just passwords and low-security SMS authentication. While many Big Tech 2FA apps like Google Authenticator are free, privacy-focused and open-sourced alternatives offer better peace of mind and less dependence on a Big Tech provider.
Ente Authenticator:
A privacy-first 2FA app that syncs encrypted codes across devices without storing data on Big Tech servers.
Free.
Aegis Authenticator:
An open-source app for generating 2FA codes, with a focus on security and encryption.
Free.
Android only at this time.
TOTP Authenticator:
Another secure, open-source 2FA app that works offline and supports encrypted backups.
Free, with optional in-app purchases for extra features.
9. Disposable/Temporary Email Addresses
We’re huge fans of email aliases and believe they’re probably the greatest and most cost effective privacy booster available right now. If you’re not familiar with them already, you can read our two part series here:
There are a few key players in the space, with more entering all the time. The main takeaway is the cost is extremely low and they offer a huge privacy ROI.
SimpleLogin:
A privacy-focused email alias service that lets you create multiple aliases to forward messages to your real inbox, shielding your identity. They’re part of the Proton family now, so you can either sign up separately or bundle it with a larger subscription to Proton.
Free for up to 15 aliases.
Paid plans start at $30/year for unlimited aliases and custom domains.
AnonAddy:
An open-source email alias service offering disposable email addresses to keep your identity private.
Free for 20 aliases.
Paid plans start at $1/month for unlimited aliases and extra features.
DuckDuckGo Email Protection:
DuckDuckGo's email alias service blocks trackers in emails and forwards clean versions to your inbox, keeping your real address hidden.
Free, with the ability to create unlimited aliases on the fly.
Firefox Relay:
Mozilla’s email alias service lets you create aliases to protect your main email address from tracking and spam.
Free for up to 5 aliases.
Paid plan available for $0.99/month, offering unlimited aliases.
10. Data Removal Services
Data removal services help you regain control over your personal information by removing it from data brokers, people search sites, and other online databases that collect and sell your data.
Data removal services are one of the more expensive privacy enhancing purchases you’ll make. The ROI is high though since the time and effort to manually remove your data from data broker sites is high. Though see this report from Consumer Reports on the effectiveness of data removal services. For the record, our experience with Deleteme has been great.
DeleteMe:
A popular service that removes your personal data from data broker websites and keeps it off with regular scans and updates.
Paid plans start at $129/year for one person.
Incogni:
A data removal service by Surfshark that automatically sends removal requests to data brokers on your behalf, protecting your personal information from being sold.
Paid plans start at $6.49/month, billed annually.
Kanary:
A data removal service that helps you identify and remove your personal data from data brokers, people search sites, and other online sources.
Paid plans start at $89/year for comprehensive data removal.
Sample Privacy Stacks
Here are three sample personal privacy stacks, each designed to help you enhance your privacy based on different budget levels: free, medium-cost, and higher-cost plans. These plans combine key privacy tools, including browsers, email services, and more, for a comprehensive privacy stack.
All Free
This plan uses entirely free tools to significantly boost your privacy without spending any money. While “free” usually means your data is being used/sold, it doesn’t with these services. However, note there are other tradeoffs, such as limited functionality and features. Some services may also be slower.
Browser: Brave or Tor Browser (Free)
VPN: ProtonVPN (Free plan)
Search Engine: Mojeek or Brave Search (Free)
Password Manager: Bitwarden (Free plan)
2FA App: Ente Authenticator (Free)
Email Alias: DuckDuckGo Email Protection (Free)
Operating System: CalyxOS (Free)
Data Removal: DIY using free opt-out requests from data brokers
Mid Tier Sample Plan
This medium cost plan balances cost and functionality, offering more robust privacy features at a mid tier price.
Browser: Brave or Tor Browser (Free)
VPN: MullvadVPN ($5/month)
Search Engine: Brave Search (Free)
Password Manager: Bitwarden Premium ($10/year)
2FA App: Ente Authenticator (Free)
Email Alias: AnonAddy ($1/month)
Operating System: CalyxOS (Free)
Data Removal: Incogni ($6.49/month, billed annually)
Approximate out of pocket cost: USD $160 ($13.33/month or $0.44/day)
Top Tier Sample Plan
This plan includes premium tools for comprehensive privacy protection, with ongoing services that actively remove data and provide secure alternatives for everyday use.
Browser: Tor Browser (Free)
VPN: MullvadVPN ($5/month)
Search Engine: Brave Search (Free)
Password Manager: 1Password ($2.99/month)
2FA App: Ente Authenticator (Free)
Email Alias: AnonAddy ($1/month)
Operating System: CalyxOS (Free)
Data Removal: DeleteMe ($129/year)
Approximate out of pocket cost: USD$ $238/year ($19.84/month or $0.65/day)
Proton Bundle
As you probably noticed, Proton offers the widest range of privacy friendly products and services. They’re the closest thing to a like-for-like replacement of Google in the privacy space.
As regular readers know, we are a long time Proton user and are also an affiliate partner (i.e. we receive a small commission on any Proton signups through our links). You can get VPN, email, secondary email addresses, Drive, photo backup, and a password manager for around USD$10/month ($120/year or $0.33/day). Get started here.
Proton’s privacy bona fides are sound. They have their critics, of course, but the criticisms are not material in our honest opinion. Switching to Proton from Gmail or Hotmail will greatly enhance your privacy and improve control over your data.
The most valid complaint about Proton is their large suite of products and services trigger the “all your eggs in one basket” problem. Once you’re using Proton for all of their services, you’re at greater risk if Proton changes something on their end. Skiff Private Email is the most likely scenario. This is where Skiff sold the company to a non-privacy focused company, which promptly shut down the service. Something to consider if you go all in with Proton for convenience and cost savings.
Wrap Up
Surprisingly, enhancing your privacy doesn’t have to be expensive.
Many of the tools and services mentioned above offer free tiers with strong privacy records. However, even the paid services are generally affordable, especially when you consider what’s at stake: your data, your identity, and your peace of mind. Switching from Big Tech’s free services to privacy-friendly alternatives often costs little to nothing, yet the benefits in terms of control over your data are immense.
Thank you for your continued support and trust in us. 🙏
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Disclaimer: None of the above is to be deemed legal advice of any kind. These are *opinions* written by a privacy attorney with 15+ years of working for, with and against Big Tech and Big Data. And this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended for use in furtherance of any unlawful activity.
Check out our Personal Privacy Stack here.
Discover the very real privacy risks of AI chat bots here.
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This is an incredible amount of knowledge, much of which most people would only gain after watching 10-20 videos from Nbtv or Techlore, and you've condensed it into just 6 minutes. Thanks.
Pretty good. Some strange choices and missing options.