The author shares experiences with six privacy applications that did not meet expectations.
1. Private Internet Access (PIA): A robust VPN service with a cluttered interface and concerns about its U.S. base; transitioned to NordVPN for a better user experience.
2. Brave Browser: Known for ad and tracker blocking, but had issues with Brave Search reliability, syncing, and battery drain; switched to Firefox with uBlock Origin.
3. LastPass: A former leading password manager that lost trust due to security breaches; moved to Bitwarden for its solid and secure platform.
4. KeePassDX: Impressive for local storage and clean UI, but lacked cloud syncing and required manual password management; eventually chose Bitwarden for convenience.
5. OpenBoard: A privacy-focused keyboard app that is no longer available on Google Play; basic features and installation hassles led to regret over its use; better alternatives exist.
6. OsmAnd: An open-source offline navigation app with extensive customization but a steep learning curve and rigid address searches; now prefers Organic Maps for ease of use.