Aegis Authenticator★★★★★A well-designed 2FA app for Android that lets you organize accounts into groups, can use a password or fingerprint to add another layer of security to your codes, and can easily import from several apps including Google Authenticator.
Agate (Gemini Server)★★★★★A simple Gemini Protocol server for static files. Fast, stable, easy, and running the Gemini version of this site.
Alpine Linux★★★★★Lightweight Linux distribution with modern capabilities and smooth package management despite its low resource requirements. Good for small cloud servers, old hardware, Raspberry Pi, etc.
Arch Linux★★★★☆Once it’s installed, it’s fine! Faster updates than Fedora or Debian. Smaller software selection, but community packages and Flatpak make up for it. ARM port and the Danctnix drivers for Pine hardware are solid. I don’t miss the old days of setting everything up by hand, though.
Brave (Web Browser)★★☆☆☆A privacy-focused browser, but for every cool privacy feature there’s something else that makes me want to firewall the application away from my system.
Buran★★★★☆Simple, fast, intuitive Gemini Protocol client for Android with a clean interface. Supports bookmarks and client certs, but not subscriptions.
Chromium (Web Browser)★★★☆☆The basis for most web browsers these days, driven mainly by building Google Chrome. Less tracking and branding, but stable updates are only available on Linux.
ClassicPress★★★★☆More than just WordPress Minus Gutenberg! Familiar, super-easy to migrate, and can work with most of the WP plugin/theme ecosystem.
Codeberg★★★★★Non-profit git services for free/libre/open-source software projects. Familiar interface, works well, easy to migrate from GitHub and other forges.
ConnectBot★★★★★A no-nonsense SSH client for Android.
DAVx⁵★★★★★Background app that syncs your non-Google cloud accounts with your Android system calendars and contacts.
Debian Linux★★★★☆My second choice distro for both desktop and servers. More reliable than Ubuntu, more stable than Fedora, easier to install than Arch, though a bit slower to update. Bigger than Alpine, but uses the more typical glibc.
Deedum★★★☆☆A full featured, if awkward, Gemini client for Android and iOS. Handles bookmarks, subscriptions and client identities.
Dillo (Web Browser)★★★★☆Ultra-minimalist and super-fast browser for web documents (not applications). You won’t be logging into Gmail with it, but it’ll load a Wikipedia article incredibly fast.
Elk (Mastodon App)★★★★☆Alternate web front-end for Mastodon and compatible servers. Slightly more user-friendly, if a bit buggy, especially on non-Mastodon servers like GoToSocial.
Enafore★★★★☆Minimalist web front-end for Mastodon and compatible servers. Not as capable as Elk, but more stable.
Falkon (Web Browser)★★★★☆A surprisingly capable Chromium browser for KDE and other Linux desktops that runs well even on low-end hardware and virtual machines.
FeatherPad★★★★☆A lightweight, fast, stable, and capable text editor for Linux.
Fedilab★★★★☆A full-featured app for connecting to Mastodon and other Fediverse servers. Includes specific capabilities for Akkoma, Pixelfed, PeerTube and more, without getting too cluttered.
Fedora Linux★★★★☆Still my favorite Linux for desktop use, but every once in a while you’re reminded that IBM (via Red Hat) still has an out-sized influence on it.
Firefox★★★★☆I still have a soft spot for Firefox. At times it’s been the best web browser on Windows and Linux. It’s still good, has a solid extension ecosystem, and serves as an important bulwark against one company dominating browser tech.
Floccus Bookmarks Sync★★★★★Very flexible, syncs across many different desktop browsers and mobile devices, and for privacy it can run on your own server or encrypted on another cloud service.
Fluent Reader★★★☆☆A simple, no-nonsense, modern-looking RSS/Atom newsfeed reader for Windows, Mac and Linux. Optionally sync with multiple services, but I’ve had issues with Nextcloud.
Fossify Calculator★★★★☆Basic calculator, like the cheap 16-key models. No fancy scientific functions, but also no ads, no data mining, and no subscription. And it’s already in your pocket.
Fossify Calendar★★★★☆Basic calendar app that works with your phone’s local calendars. You can do all the usual things you want to use a calendar for on your phone. Doesn’t clutter up your schedule with ads or vacuum up your personal data.
Fossify Camera★★★☆☆Basic camera app with support for flash, timer and video, optional EXIF. Lacks advanced processing like night sight. Images are slightly noisier than Google’s camera.
Fossify Contacts★★★★☆Basic, privacy-respecting contacts app for Android that works with all contacts accounts on your phone.
Fossify Gallery★★★★☆Basic on-device gallery that lets you manage your photos without sending them to a cloud service just to deal with what’s on your phone.
Fossify Keyboard★★★☆☆I wanted to like this keyboard, but I can’t seem to type reliably with it just by tapping on my phone, and there’s no swipe gesture or autosuggest support. It works better at tablet size.
Fossify Launcher★★★☆☆Works fine for launching apps. Widget support needs more work. Does not auto-rotate.
Fossify Messages★★★☆☆Minimalist SMS/MMS app with custom alerts, archives and actions on the pull-down notifications. No RCS support or swipe actions, but does the job without sending a copy of all your messages to Google.
Fossify Phone★★★☆☆Minimalist dialer app for the actual phone part of your smartphone, with basic call blocking. Doesn’t provide all the transcription and screening that Google’s app does, but it’s also not sending your call activity to the cloud.
Fossify Voice Recorder★★★★☆A simple mono recording app where the audio stays on your phone. No ads, no subscriptions, no remotely-generated transcripts, just basic recording.
FreeOTP (Authenticator)★★★☆☆Extremely bare-bones 2FA app for iOS and Android, sponsored by Red Hat. It’s secure, works offline, and doesn’t depend on Google. A decent choice if you start with it, but a lack of import features means switching from another app is tedious.
Geary★★★★☆Really lightweight but still modern, so it’s a good choice on lower-end hardware. Basic IMAP features, good for most day-to-day email use. Needs GNOME for setup.
Geopard★★★☆☆Simple desktop Gemini Protocol client with bookmarks. Polished, fits well with any Linux desktop but especially GNOME. Fast, no frills.
Git★★★★☆An extremely capable and flexible version control system, Git is also extremely cryptic, and you’ll want to keep the docs handy for commands you don’t use regularly.
GNOME Web (aka Epiphany)★★★☆☆A rare WebKit browser for Linux. Handles the basics, but it’s specifically designed for GNOME, and it’s limited in what it can do around websites. Well-suited for PWAs, though!
GNU IceCat★★★☆☆Firefox minus all branding and connections to Mozilla services, plus add-ons to block non-FSF-approved JavaScript.
GoToSocial★★★★☆A lightweight Fediverse server, with a clean web interface for viewing public posts. Compatible with Mastodon apps and interacts with other ActivityPub platforms.
Husky (Social Media App)★★★☆☆A fork based on an older version of Tusky, with added support for Pleroma and Akkoma extensions.
Image Toolbox★★★★☆An extremely powerful image editor for Android. And not just the usual features like crop, adjust contrast or brightness, maybe apply a filter, but you can do batch edits, format conversion, scaling the actual pixel image, editing metadata…all the things that mobile apps tend to hide behind the curtain. And it can preserve EXIF data when you want it to.
IronFox★★★★☆A privacy-hardened Firefox variation for Android, comparable to LibreWolf on desktops. Removes Mozilla tracking and services like Pocket. Locks down features that can leak data, but those changes can break some sites.
Jellyfin★★★★★Great for playing music across my local network, doesn’t phone home to a cloud or try to upsell subscriptions.
K-9 Email★★★★☆Classic email app for Android: No frills, no ads, no tracking. Supports multiple accounts, phone-to-tablet layouts, and dark mode.
KeePass Password Managers★★★★★KeePassXC, its browser extension, and KeePass2Android are a nice, clean set of apps to manage your passwords on your OWN desktop and mobile devices, auto-fill websites and apps, and sync over your own server or cloud provider.
KeePass2Android★★★★★Nice, clean interface to a KeePass2 database with auto-fill support for both websites and apps and seamless syncing over your own server or the cloud of your choice.
Kristall★★★★☆Cross-platform desktop browser for the small internet, including Gemini, Gopher and Finger. A little faster than Lagrange, but fewer features and hasn’t been updated in a while.
Lagrange★★★★★Lagrange quickly became my favorite Gemini client on the desktop with its clean and convenient UI, stability and speed across platforms. And the mobile version works well too.
LibreWolf★★★★☆Customized Firefox, with an eye toward security and privacy. Follows the stable release channel. Works well most of the time, but privacy features can break some sites.
Liferea★★★★☆A nice, lightweight feed reader for Linux that does the basics.
Manyverse★★★★☆Takes the pain out of setting up and running SSB. Unfortunately it doesn’t overcome SSB’s inherent challenges of discovery, data size or multiple devices. (So far?)
Mastodon (Mobile App)★★★☆☆Good for someone new to Mastodon, but lacks advanced features found in other apps like Tusky.
Mastodon – Simplified Federation★★★★★A Firefox add-on that automatically opens remote Mastodon users or posts in your home server when you interact with them.
Mobile Apps and Preserving Photo MetadataYou’d think that ‘don’t change the stuff that the user isn’t changing’ would be a low bar, but most image editors I’ve used on Android tend to mess up the EXIF metadata one way or another.
Moshidon (Mastodon app)★★★★☆A modified version of the Mastodon app for Android that adds a bit more functionality. Helpful if you use lists or bookmarks a lot, or your instance supports formatted posting.
NetNewsWire★★★★★Clean, stable, fast, free, no-clutter and no-nonsense RSS/Atom newsfeed reader for macOS and iOS.
NetSurf★★★☆☆Lightweight browser for RISC-OS and Linux/Unix (and a few smaller OSes). Slightly more capable than Dillo, if not quite as small or fast.
NewsFlash★★★★★Clean, stable, fast, free, no-clutter and no-nonsense RSS/Atom newsfeed reader for Linux that optionally syncs with multiple services.
Nextcloud Bookmarks★★★★☆Online web app for managing bookmarks using your own Nextcloud server. I usually use it indirectly as the storage for syncing via Floccus.
Nextcloud Calendar★★★★★Self-hosted, web-based calendar that syncs easily with other apps and has completely replaced Google Calendar for me.
Nextcloud Notes★★★★★Simpler than Google Keep, more private, with human-readable data that syncs quickly and cleanly with your devices.
Notepad++★★★★★A perfect balance of powerful and lightweight, Notepad++ is far more capable than Notepad, but doesn’t complicate things like a full IDE.
OpenTasks★★★★☆Simple to-do list that works great with a Nextcloud server or local storage on your phone.
Pachli (Mastodon App)★★★★☆A Mastodon app forked from (and still similar to) Tusky. Capable without being cluttered. Faster, smaller updates, some minor differences, and some cool anti-harassment features I’d like to see adopted more widely.
Phanpy (Mastodon App)★★★★★An app for Mastodon (and other Fediverse sites) that cuts through the clutter. Runs anywhere in a web browser, or can be installed to your device’s home page as a PWA.
PixelDroid★★★★★Optimized for photo sharing and viewing, works smoothly and integrates well with the system. FOSS, won’t vacuum up your personal data.
Postmarks★★★★☆A self-hosted public bookmarks/linkblogging server (think Delicious or Pinboard) that can interact with Mastodon and the rest of the Fediverse.
Regarding Mozilla and BraveOn Brendan Eich’s brief promotion to CEO at Mozilla, the fallout for Mozilla and the creation of Brave.
RSS Guard★★★★☆A solid cross-platform feed reader that runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Extremely capable and customizable. Syncs with multiple services.
Scrambled EXIF★★★★☆One of those ‘does one thing really well’ apps: It’s a filter that removes all the date, time, location, camera, and other metadata from a photo as you share it from your phone.
SeaMonkey (Internet Suite)★★★☆☆The old Mozilla Suite lives on! Featuring web, email, news, an HTML editor, IRC client and more. Recent work has mostly been to keep it working and backport security fixes, so web app compatibility lags way behind even the ESR Firefox.
Sequel Ace★★★★★An unapologetically macOS application and a powerful database manager for MySQL/MariaDB. This and its predecessor Sequel Pro are the only database GUIs I’ve actually liked.
Sly (Image Editor)★★★☆☆Simple, friendly, privacy-respecting image editor for Android and Linux. Convenient for most basic photo adjustments, but metadata handling is currently broken, so I can’t use it to just crop photos for iNaturalist. Once that’s fixed, though…
Snac★★★★☆Extremely bare-bones social networking server that runs on low-resource machines, works on the web without cookies or JavaScript, and still interacts through ActivityPub with Mastodon, GoToSocial and other Fediverse software.
StreetComplete★★★★★StreetComplete is an easy way to contribute to OpenStreetMap on the go, as a beginner, or both from your Android phone.
Subway Tooter★★★☆☆Extremely customizable, capable, cluttered and complex. Also extremely frustrating to use, especially on a phone. Better on a tablet where there’s room for more columns at a time.
Thunderbird (Email and Calendar)★★★★★Stable, capable desktop email application, works well with multiple accounts including Gmail, Nextcloud, easy to set up and use but with advanced settings when you need them. FLOSS.
Tor Browser★★★★☆When you really want (or need) to stay private while using the web, Tor is the way to go. Just keep the drawbacks in mind when you do.
Tusky for Mastodon★★★★★I’ve checked out some alternatives after several years using Tusky, and it’s still my preferred Mastodon/Fediverse app. It really runs smoothly, even with multiple accounts.
Ungoogled Chromium★★★☆☆This takes Chromium and removes everything that connects to Google services…including things like safe browsing and the extension store.
Vespucci (App)★★★★★Vespucci is a powerful editor for OpenStreetMap on Android that can handle just about anything, though the learning curve is steep.
Waterfox★★★★☆A Firefox fork aimed at improved performance and privacy, without sacrificing usability. Also available on Android.
Whalebird (Mastodon client)A simple desktop app for Mastodon and (most) compatible Fediverse servers. Fast, runs on multiple platforms.
WordPress Block Editor★☆☆☆☆This is not distraction-free writing. Every time I try to use it I get frustrated and switch back to the classic editor…because I can USE it.
Zen Browser★★★★☆Similar to Arc, Zen has a non-cluttered design that stays out of your way. Unlike Arc, it’s built on Firefox, runs on more platforms, and doesn’t require you to log in just to use it!