Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

privacytools.io VS Portmaster

Compare privacytools.io VS Portmaster and see what are their differences

privacytools.io logo privacytools.io

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Portmaster logo Portmaster

Is a Privacy Modular Privacy App which includes a "DNS over TLS" feature as well as an "Application Firewall".
  • privacytools.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28
  • Portmaster Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-21

privacytools.io features and specs

  • Comprehensive Resource
    PrivacyTools.io offers a wide range of information and resources on various privacy-enhancing tools, covering categories like email, messaging, VPNs, and more.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The website features a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to find necessary privacy tools and information quickly.
  • Community-Driven
    The platform is driven by a community of privacy enthusiasts and experts who continuously update and review its content to ensure current recommendations.
  • Open Source Emphasis
    PrivacyTools.io often recommends open-source software, ensuring transparency and reducing the likelihood of backdoors or hidden data collection.
  • Educational Content
    The site includes blogs, how-tos, and explanatory articles that help users understand the importance of privacy and how to secure their digital lives.

Possible disadvantages of privacytools.io

  • Overwhelming for Beginners
    The extensive amount of information available can be overwhelming for users who are new to digital privacy and may not know where to start.
  • Potential Bias
    Since the recommendations are community-driven, there might be some inherent bias towards particular tools or solutions favored by the community.
  • Periodic Updates
    Though regularly updated, the site might occasionally have outdated information if updates lag behind recent developments in privacy tools and technologies.
  • Limited Support
    While the community is active, official support options are limited. Users might need to rely on forums and external help if they encounter issues.
  • Not Fully Comprehensive
    Although the site covers many tools and topics, it might not cover every possible privacy tool or concern, potentially overlooking niche or emerging areas.

Portmaster features and specs

  • Enhanced Privacy
    Portmaster offers comprehensive network monitoring and filtering, giving users control over data leaving their devices, therefore enhancing privacy by minimizing data leaks.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible even for users who are not technically inclined.
  • Open Source
    Portmaster is open-source, which means its code is publicly available for scrutiny, helping to build trust through transparency and community contributions.
  • Customizable
    Users have the ability to customize settings and filters according to their needs, allowing for a personalized security and privacy configuration.
  • Real-Time Protection
    Provides real-time monitoring and protection, ensuring that users are alerted to and can block unwanted connections as they occur.

Possible disadvantages of Portmaster

  • Potential System Impact
    Depending on system specifications and usage, the software may cause noticeable performance impacts due to its real-time monitoring capabilities.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly interface, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding and effectively utilizing all features, particularly for non-tech-savvy users.
  • Limited Support Resources
    While it has community support, users may find professional support options limited compared to established commercial solutions.
  • Compatibility
    There may be compatibility issues with certain operating systems or network configurations, requiring additional troubleshooting.
  • False Positives
    As with many security solutions, there is a risk of false positives where legitimate connections are mistakenly blocked, potentially disrupting certain services.

Analysis of Portmaster

Overall verdict

  • Portmaster is a good choice for individuals looking for a robust, privacy-focused network monitoring tool. Its open-source nature and user-centric design make it a reliable option for enhancing digital privacy and security.

Why this product is good

  • Portmaster is an open-source network monitoring and firewall tool developed by Safing. It provides users with the ability to monitor and control their network traffic, enhancing privacy and security. The application is user-friendly and offers features such as automatic profile-based configuration, DNS encryption, and the ability to block specific domains or services. As it is open-source, users can review its source code, ensuring greater transparency and trust.

Recommended for

    Portmaster is recommended for privacy-conscious users, tech enthusiasts interested in open-source software, people looking to enhance their network security, and anyone wanting greater control over their network traffic. It's suitable for both individuals and small organizations seeking to improve their digital privacy without requiring extensive technical expertise.

privacytools.io videos

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Portmaster videos

The Portmaster is Out in Pre-Alpha! - Progress Update #3

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to privacytools.io and Portmaster)
Software Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0
Monitoring Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Software Recommendations
100 100%
0% 0
Security & Privacy
79 79%
21% 21

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, privacytools.io should be more popular than Portmaster. It has been mentiond 314 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

privacytools.io mentions (314)

  • Useful Sites for Privacy and Security
    PrivacyTools.io - Comprehensive privacy tools and software recommendations. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Which communication App is most secure / anonymous?
    You can also look on https://privacytools.io For more info. Source: over 1 year ago
  • [READ BODY TEXT BEFORE VOTING] Thoughts regarding online tracking?
    I can't give you a complete guide here, but I recommend you go to privacy subreddits or watch relevant Youtube videos for more info. I also recommend sites like privacytools.io and privacyguides.org They contain lists of alternatives and tools. Also check out tosdr.org which contains summaries of the TOS of a ton of sites. Also try email aliases like simplelogin or anonaddy. Use burner emails for throwaways if... Source: over 1 year ago
  • What's going on between privacytools.io & privacyguide.org
    I just saw this post on the privacytools.io page informing about the conflict between privacytools & privacyguides. I used both privacytools.io & privacyguides.org to research about privacy and tools. At the moment, I don't know whom I can trust with their information. Is there any page I can use without any concerns? Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Haha nice try Google. I ain't that stupid
    Can someone tell me what the hell happened with PrivacyTools.io? They have NordPass as their recommended password manager along with chromium based browsers? Source: almost 2 years ago
View more

Portmaster mentions (58)

  • Manjaro is a free and open source Linux operating system that emphasizes privacy
    Manjaro actually includes Portmaster [0] as a package [1], which is now being moved to "extra". [0] https://safing.io/portmaster [1] https://software.manjaro.org/package/portmaster-stub. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Google contacts sync foss alternative
    I get it, but running an outdated OS with no patching is height risk for security, consider the tradeoff. If I'm not mistaken W7 is not supported anymore, meaning you are exposed to vulnerabilities. Consider checking online guides on how to harden W10 or consider migrating to a modern Linux distribution, that can even run some Windows programs. It is true that has reliability issues. VMs are another option and... Source: over 2 years ago
  • What do you guys think of Chromium-based Browsers or whatever engine it is made out of?
    Wouldn't a software like PiHole or Safing Portmaster help in this regard than to rely on ublock origin? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Do I need a firewall?
    You could look at something like Portmaster https://safing.io/portmaster/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Is there a free and trustworthy Firewall
    You can also check Portmaster that is still on Alpha, but looks promising. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing privacytools.io and Portmaster, you can also consider the following products

Privacy Guides - The goal of this guide is to make it easy for people to learn how to protect their privacy and educate them about what is happening on the web and how to protect themselves.

TinyWall - Lightweight and non-intrusive firewall

AlternativeTo - AlternativeTo lets you find apps and software for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android, Android Tablets, Web Apps, Online, Windows Tablets and more by recommending alternatives to apps you already know.

simplewall - Simple tool to configure Windows Filtering Platform (WFP) which can configure network activity on...

Cover Your Tracks - Cover Your Tracks is a website that comes with an agile approach for the users to test the privacy of add-ons with best-in-class tools and techniques with complete online support.

GlassWire - Visualize network activity in detail, get notified when new apps access the network, look out for...