Alternative Tech Platforms & Productivity Tools
A list of tech platforms for productivity purposes, as alternatives to larger platforms.
| Tool Name | Hyperlink | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Suites | ||
| Proton | go.getproton.me | An integrated suite providing encrypted email, cloud storage, VPN, password manager, calendar, and productivity tools. |
| Zoho | zoho.com | A comprehensive suite of business applications including email, documents, and collaboration tools. |
| Mailbox | mailbox.org | A privacy-focused email and productivity service alternative to US providers. |
| Infomaniak | infomaniak.com | A Swiss hosting and cloud service offering email, storage, and collaboration tools. |
| Framasoft | degooglisons-internet.org | An open-source federation of decentralized tools and alternatives to mainstream services. |
| NextCloud | nextcloud.com | An open-source platform for self-hosted file sync, collaboration, and cloud services. |
| The Good Cloud | thegood.cloud | A reseller network that helps individuals and organizations set up NextCloud hosting. |
| Disroot | disroot.org | A collection of open-source, privacy-respecting online services. |
| Essentials – Email | ||
| Proton Mail | go.getproton.me | An encrypted email service with custom domain support and privacy protections. |
| Posteo | posteo.de | A sustainable, privacy-oriented email provider based in Germany. |
| Tuta | tuta.com | An encrypted email service with a focus on privacy. |
| Fastmail | fastmail.com | A paid email service with robust features, though US-hosted. |
| Essentials – Search | ||
| Ecosia | ecosia.org | A search engine that plants trees with its ad revenue. |
| Qwant | qwant.com | A privacy-focused search engine based in Europe. |
| Startpage | startpage.com | A privacy-respecting search engine that proxies results. |
| Mojeek | mojeek.com | An independent search engine with its own index focused on privacy. |
| Essentials – Browser | ||
| Vivaldi | vivaldi.com | A highly customizable browser with built-in privacy tools. |
| Opera | opera.com | A browser with integrated features like VPN and workflow tools. |
| Mullvad | mullvad.net | A privacy-focused browser from the Mullvad team. |
| Essentials – Office | ||
| OnlyOffice | onlyoffice.com | An office suite for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. |
| Collabora Office | collaboraonline.com | An open-source office suite tailored for enterprise use. |
| LibreOffice | libreoffice.org | An open-source office suite for desktop productivity. |
| Ulysses | ulysses.app | A distraction-free writing app for authors and writers. |
| iA Writer | ia.net | A minimalist writing application. |
| Scrivener | literatureandlatte.com | A writing tool designed for long-form projects and books. |
| Essentials – News/RSS | ||
| Inoreader | inoreader.com | An RSS reader for organizing and reading web feeds. |
| The Syllabus | the-syllabus.com | A curated newsletter collecting academic and cultural links. |
| FreshRSS | freshrss.org | Self-hosted RSS and Atom feed aggregator, lightweight, easy to work with, powerful, and customizable. |
| Essentials – Passwords/2FA | ||
| Proton Pass | go.getproton.me | A password manager integrated with the Proton ecosystem. |
| Proton Authenticator | go.getproton.me | A two-factor authentication app from Proton. |
| 1Password | 1password.com | A cross-platform password manager with secure vaults. |
| Aegis | getaegis.app | An open-source 2FA app for Android. |
| KeePass | keepass.info | An open-source password management solution. |
| 2FAS | 2fas.com | Free, open-source 2 facto.r authentication app |
| Essentials – Calendar | ||
| Proton Calendar | go.getproton.me | An encrypted calendar synced with Proton accounts. |
| Essentials – Notes & Tasks | ||
| Bear | bear.app | A flexible note-taking app for writers. |
| Obsidian | obsidian.md | A knowledge base that stores notes locally with graph linking. |
| Joplin | joplinapp.org | An open-source note-taking and to-do app. |
| Evernote | evernote.com | A note-taking and organization platform (now Italy-based). |
| Things | culturedcode.com | A task manager for Apple devices. |
| Structured | structured.app | A visual planner combining events and tasks. |
| Do! | simplerion.com | A simple to-do list app. |
| MinimaList | apps.apple.com | A minimalist task management app for iOS. |
| Superlist | superlist.com | A team-oriented task and project management app. |
| Habitify | habitify.me | A habit tracking app to build routines. |
| OnRise | onrise.me | An app for tracking personal growth and habits. |
| Habit Tracker | apps.apple.com | Another habit tracking application. |
| HabitNow | play.google.com | A habit tracking app on Android. |
| Essentials – Weather | ||
| WeatherCAN | canada.ca | The official Canadian weather app with forecasts and alerts. |
| Met Office | weather.metoffice.gov.uk | The UK’s national weather service. |
| BBC Weather | bbc.com | Weather forecasts and news from the BBC. |
| Met Éireann | met.ie | Ireland’s national meteorological service. |
| BOM Weather | bom.gov.au | Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology forecasts. |
| MetService | about.metservice.com | New Zealand’s national weather service. |
| METEO France | meteofrance.com | France’s national meteorological service. |
| DWD WarnWetter | dwd.de | Germany’s weather warnings and forecast service. |
| Meteoblue | meteoblue.com | A global weather forecasting service. |
| Windy | windy.com | An interactive detailed weather map and forecast platform. |
| OpenWeather | openweathermap.org | Weather data API and forecast services. |
| Communication – Social media | ||
| Mastodon | mastodon.social | A decentralized social networking platform. |
| Bluesky | bsky.app | Microblogging social media service for users to share short posts containing text, images, and videos. |
| PeerTube | joinpeertube.org | A decentralized video hosting network. |
| Frendica | friendi.ca | A federated social platform alternative. |
| Pixelfed | pixelfed.org | A decentralized photo-sharing platform. |
| Communication – Messaging | ||
| Signal | signal.org | State-of-the-art end-to-end encryption (powered by the open source Signal Protocol) keeps conversations secure. |
| Wire | wire.com | A secure messaging application. |
| Threema | threema.com | A privacy-focused messaging app. |
| Element | element.io | A Matrix-based secure chat client. |
| Communication – Video calling | ||
| Whereby | whereby.com | A browser-based video conferencing service. |
| Jitsi | jitsi.org | An open-source video conferencing platform. |
| Nav/Maps | ||
| framacarte | framacarte.org/abc/en | Draw, mark, colour and annotate… the OpenStreetMap base maps. |
| Here WeGo | wego.here.com | A navigation and mapping app with directions. |
| TomTom Go | tomtom.com | A GPS navigation app focused on driving. |
| Transit | transitapp.com | An app for public transport directions. |
| OpenStreetMap | openstreetmap.org | An open-source world map project. |
| OsmAnd | osmand.net | An offline map and navigation app based on OpenStreetMap. |
| Organic Maps | organicmaps.app | An open-source offline map application. |
| Mapy | mapy.com | A map and navigation service (varies by region). |
| Citymapper | citymapper.com | A detailed urban transit app. |
| Magic Earth | magicearth.com | A navigation app built on open data. |
| Naver Map | map.naver.com | A South Korean mapping and directions service. |
| Kakao Map | map.kakao.com | A Korean navigation and mapping app. |
| Translation | ||
| DeepL | deepl.com | An AI-powered language translation service. |
| Reverso | reverso.net | A translation and language learning tool. |
| Naver Papago | papago.naver.com | A multilingual translation app popular in Asia. |
| Entertainment – Streaming | ||
| Crave | crave.ca | A Canadian streaming service with TV and film content. |
| CBC Gem | gem.cbc.ca | A Canadian public broadcaster’s streaming platform. |
| ICI TOU.TV | ici.tou.tv | A French-language Canadian streaming service. |
| National Film Board | nfb.ca | Provides films and documentaries from Canada’s public film board. |
| Britbox | britbox.com | A UK-focused streaming service featuring British TV. |
| Mubi | mubi.com | A curated global film streaming platform. |
| ABC iView | iview.abc.net.au | An Australian public broadcaster’s streaming service. |
| Stan | stan.com.au | An Australian subscription video service. |
| Binge | binge.com.au | An Australian streaming platform with TV and film content. |
| Neon | neontv.co.nz | A New Zealand streaming service. |
| NZ On Screen | nzonscreen.com | An archive of New Zealand film and TV online. |
| Entertainment – Streaming Music | ||
| Deezer | deezer.com | A global music streaming service. |
| Spotube | github.com/KRTirtho/spotube | Open source music streaming app, available for both desktop & mobile. |
| Qobuz | qobuz.com | A high-quality music streaming platform. |
| Entertainment – Video Games | ||
| GOG.com | gog.com | A DRM-free game distribution platform. |
| Utility – Web hosting & domains | ||
| FullHost | manage.fullhost.com | A Canadian web hosting and domain registrar. |
| Ghost | ghost.org | A platform for professional blogs and newsletters. |
| Captivate | captivate.fm | A podcast hosting and analytics service. |
| Transistor | transistor.fm | A podcast hosting platform. |
| Dailymotion | dailymotion.com | A French video hosting and sharing platform. |
| Utility – Cloud & File Transfer | ||
| Proton Drive | go.getproton.me | Encrypted cloud storage from Proton. |
| Sync.com | sync.com | Encrypted cloud storage service. |
| Tresorit | tresorit.com | A secure cloud storage provider with end-to-end encryption. |
| pCloud | pcloud.com | A cloud storage service with optional lifetime plans. |
| SwissTransfer | swisstransfer.com | A Swiss file transfer service for large files. |
| SendGB | sendgb.com | A free large file transfer service. |
| Utility – Web Forms | ||
| Tally | tally.so | A form-builder for surveys and data collection. |
| Forms.app | forms.app | An online form and survey builder. |
| Utility – Graphic Design | ||
| Paint.NET | getpaint.net | Image and photo editing software for Windows. |
| Affinity | affinity.serif.com | A suite of professional graphic design apps. |
| Canva | canva.com | An online design tool for graphics and social content. |
| GIMP | gimp.org | An open-source image editor. |
| Utility – Money Transfers | ||
| Wise | wise.com | An international money transfer and currency service. |
Source: derived from https://disconnect.blog/getting-off-us-tech-a-guide/.