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Privacy-focused operating systems alternatives

Browse privacy-focused operating systems alternatives curated from awesome-privacy, with editorial guidance for choosing tools that respect your data.

Privacy Risk

Why people switch

[!NOTE] Don't use Google's Android TV, LG WebOS or any other privacy-invasive common TV OS that comes preinstalled with your TV.

Subtopics Covered

What this category includes

Android
Android-Based
Based on Linux
Smart TV
PC / MacOS
GNU/Linux

Popular Apps To Replace

Default choices that deserve a second look

MS Windows: Owned by Microsoft it is known for collecting many user data and tricking users to own a Microsoft account. If you still want and happen to use Windows 10, you can use this tool, or this other tool to see and disable the tons of privacy-invasive settings of MS Windows.
MacOS.

Editorial Shortlist

Privacy-focused options worth evaluating

These are not every option in the source list. They are the clearest starting points for people who want better privacy, portability, and control.

Android-Based

GrapheneOS

GrapheneOS is an open source privacy and security focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility. Only Google Pixel phones are supported.

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Android-Based

CalyxOS

Privacy by Design ROM. Offers better security than LineageOS or Replicant.

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Android-Based

LineageOS

A free and open-source operating system for various devices, based on the Android mobile platform.

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Android-Based

Replicant

Replicant is a fully free Android distribution running on several devices.

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Based on Linux

UBPorts

Ubuntu Touch is the touch-friendly mobile version of Ubuntu.

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Based on Linux

postmarketOS

Touch optimised and pre-configured version of Alpine Linux.

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Based on Linux

PureOS

Operating system developed by purism for the Librem 5.

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Based on Linux

Plasma Mobile

Plasma, in your pocket. Privacy-respecting, open source and secure phone ecosystem.

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Evaluation Criteria

What to look for

Prefer products with clear data ownership, export options, and transparent retention policies.
Look for local-first, end-to-end encrypted, or self-hosted options when the workflow handles sensitive material.
Check whether the product depends on trackers, mandatory accounts, or hidden cloud processing before rolling it out broadly.

More Basil AI context

Where Basil Fits

Keep the meeting layer private too

This category is broader than Basil AI, but the same principle applies: the less sensitive work you ship to third-party clouds, the lower your privacy exposure. For meetings, interviews, and voice notes, Basil keeps that processing on-device.

Explore Basil's private transcription approach →

Keep Your Meetings Private with Basil AI

100% on-device processing. No cloud. No data mining. No privacy risks.

Free to try • 3-day trial for Pro features