Our Principles
PrivacyFest exists because privacy recommendations should be independent. We don't accept payment for listings. We don't run ads. We don't track our visitors. Every tool on this site is recommended because our editors believe it genuinely helps protect privacy — not because someone paid to be featured.
How We Evaluate Tools
Every tool submitted to PrivacyFest is reviewed against our privacy criteria:
Open source preferred — We strongly favor tools with open source code that can be independently audited. Closed-source tools are marked clearly.
Jurisdiction matters — We document where each company is legally based. We note Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes membership. Tools outside these alliances are preferred.
Security audits — Tools that have undergone independent security audits earn our "Audited" badge. We link to public audit reports when available.
Encryption standard — We document the encryption type (E2EE, AES-256, zero-knowledge, WireGuard, etc.) for every tool.
No-logging policy — For VPNs, email, and messaging tools, we verify and document logging policies.
Active development — Privacy tools must be actively maintained. Abandoned projects are removed.
Usability — A tool is only useful if people can actually use it. We favor tools with good UX that don't require deep technical knowledge.
This Website Practices What It Preaches
PrivacyFest itself is built with privacy in mind. This site uses no cookies, no analytics trackers, no third-party scripts beyond fonts, and no user fingerprinting. We don't know who you are, and we want to keep it that way.
The Fest Family
PrivacyFest is part of a network of open directories:
PrivacyFest.org — Privacy tools directory
TheAIFest.org — AI tools directory
OpenSourceFest.org — Open source software directory
Contact
Questions, corrections, or tool suggestions? Reach us at hello@privacyfest.org or submit a tool directly.