Drilldown: tool

BTCPay Server (1) · Element (1) · Signal Foundation (1)

end-to-end encrypted messaging from a nonprofit (1) · self-hostable, federated encrypted messaging (Matrix) (1) · self-hosted, non-custodial Bitcoin/Lightning payment processor (1)

https (3)

btcpayserver.org (1) · element.io (1) · signal.org (1)

free · recurring/mo · varies · Other · None

None (1) · Client and Matrix server software (Synapse/Dendrite/Conduit) are free and open source; self-host at only your hosting cost, use the free matrix.org homeserver, or buy Element's hosted plans. (1) · Free, no ads, no paid tiers. Run by the Signal Foundation, a US 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by grants and donations; by charter it cannot be acquired. (1)

open (3)

cloud (1) · self (2)

None (1) · End-to-end encrypted 1:1 and group messaging, plus voice/video calls, built on the audited Signal Protocol (Double Ratchet + X3DH). ~40M monthly users. Registration requires a phone number; usernames (added 2024) let you start chats without sharing it. (1) · End-to-end encrypted chat on the Matrix open standard. Anyone can run a homeserver and servers federate like email; Element is the reference client. 115M+ addressable accounts, with bridges to Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp and others. (1)

None (3)

None · Commercial Israeli-owned VPNs (Kape's ExpressVPN / CyberGhost / PIA / ZenMate, Hola, Hotspot Shield) reintroduce exactly the operator you're trying to remove -- see [[:Category:VPN]]. · Custodial crypto processors like Coinbase Commerce and BitPay: they take crypto but hold funds and impose KYC, reintroducing exactly the operator-freeze risk that self-custody removes. If the goal is deplatform resistance, a custodial crypto gateway gives up the main advantage. · ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, PIA, and ZenMate are all owned by the British-Israeli Kape Technologies (now a delisted black box); Hola VPN is Israeli and resold user bandwidth. See [[:Category:VPN]] for the full ownership picture. · For deplatform resistance, see [[BTCPay Server]] (the only self-hostable option). The broader case against card gateways is covered on the Finance&Accounting category page. · Israeli-owned options (Kape's ExpressVPN / CyberGhost / PIA / ZenMate, Hola VPN, Hotspot Shield via Pango) are rejected on ownership grounds -- see [[:Category:VPN]]. · Kape's ExpressVPN / CyberGhost / PIA / ZenMate, Hola VPN, and Hotspot Shield / Betternet are rejected on ownership grounds -- see [[:Category:VPN]]. · Relying on the public matrix.org homeserver reintroduces an operator/jurisdiction -- self-host to get the benefit. Discord and Slack are centralized and not end-to-end encrypted. · WhatsApp (uses the Signal protocol but is Meta-owned and harvests metadata) and Telegram (chats are not end-to-end encrypted by default, weaker crypto). · Zoom and Google Meet are closed-source and not end-to-end encrypted by default, with the provider able to access call data. For a fully self-hosted option, Jitsi Meet on your own server keeps infrastructure in your hands (see [[:Category:Self Hosting]]). · Other

Finance&Accounting (1) · Secure Messaging (2)