In an era where data privacy is a growing concern, it's refreshing to know that there are alternative apps that can help you take back control over your digital life. From read-later services to password managers, note-taking apps, and more, these options offer a more private and secure way to manage your online presence.

One such alternative is Wallabag, a read-later web-archiving service that allows you to save articles and stories for later without tracking your usage or recommending sponsored content. Unlike its commercial rival Pocket, Wallabag can be self-hosted on a network-attached storage (NAS) server or hosted in the cloud for a low-cost subscription, giving you full control over your data.

For secure messaging, Signal is a highly-regarded option that knows nothing about you by design. This nonprofit app has been called the "gold standard" of messaging apps by cryptography experts, and it's free to download and use. Signal not only encrypts your private messages and calls but also scrambles who you contact and communicate with, and when, making it a highly secure choice.

Nextcloud is a self-hosted Dropbox alternative that offers end-to-end encrypted access to your files from any device. You can host a server yourself for free or have a Nextcloud server run by a specialized hosting provider, giving you full control over your data. This is a significant advantage over cloud storage services that may scan your files or be beholden to law enforcement.

Password managers are another essential tool for personal security, and Bitwarden is a popular open-source option that helps you log in quickly to your favorite sites and auto-fills your credit card details. As an open-source system, Bitwarden's source code is readily auditable, making it a more secure choice than proprietary password managers.

For note-taking, Joplin and Notesnook are two encrypted options that keep your notes, thoughts, and scribbles private. Joplin is a popular document and productivity app that keeps your files organized and encrypted, while Notesnook lets you export your notes to use with other apps and is end-to-end encrypted. These alternatives are a welcome change from big companies like Google and Microsoft, which are increasingly unifying their services and exposing your notes, emails, and files to their AI systems.

Ente is an encrypted vault for your photos, designed to securely back up all of your photos and videos to the cloud. Unlike Apple Photos, Flickr, Google Photos, and YouTube, Ente scrambles your data with a password only you know, protecting your memories from anyone else. This is a significant advantage in an era where AI systems are increasingly used to analyze images.

Open Scanner is a simple document-scanning app that lets you snap receipts, notes, textbooks, or anything else you can point your phone at. This app is a refreshing change from bloated apps that come with AI-powered features you may not need. By using your phone's camera, you can skip the need for any printer-brand hardware gear and use something simple and free.

FreshRSS is an RSS reader that lets you aggregate your news headlines from your favorite sites, blogs, news sources, and more. You can self-host an instance or deploy a private server to a specializing cloud host, giving you full control over your news feed. This is a significant advantage over hosted services that may come with sponsored posts and tracking.

Finally, Owncast is a self-hosted streaming system for setting up and hosting livestreams. This free and easy-to-use app works with your existing livestreaming gear, giving you full control over your content and audience. By using Owncast, you can hedge your bets against giant corporations like Amazon, which owns Twitch.

Stirling PDF is a one-stop PDF editing shop that lets you convert, edit, merge, split, sign, and more without having to hand over your personal or sensitive files to a cloud giant. This app is a welcome alternative to Adobe's software, which can be expensive and proprietary.

In conclusion, taking back control over your digital life is easier than you think. By using these alternative apps, you can regain control over your data and protect your privacy in an era where it's increasingly under threat. From read-later services to password managers, note-taking apps, and more, these options offer a more private and secure way to manage your online presence.