P PrivacyPhones
Guide

Start here: choosing a privacy phone

A simple decision tree that gets you to a solid choice quickly.

The short version

  • If you want the best balance of security + privacy + app compatibility: choose GrapheneOS on a Pixel (start with What is GrapheneOS? and our setup guide).
  • If you prioritize a de-Googled-ish experience and want a friendlier mainstream UX: consider /e/OS (Murena devices).
  • If you want an alternative mobile OS and accept ecosystem tradeoffs: Sailfish OS can be interesting.

Threat model check

If you want a structured way to answer these questions, use our threat model framework.

Ask yourself:

  1. Are you mainly reducing ad-tech tracking and data collection? (Most people)
  2. Are you worried about targeted attacks? (Higher-risk)
  3. Do you need specific apps for work (banking, MFA, enterprise tooling)?

The more you need mainstream apps, the more you should bias toward options with strong compatibility.

What we mean by “privacy phone”

A privacy phone is not magic. It’s a device + OS + habits combination. If you want the full landscape first, read our Best Privacy Phones in 2026 buyer’s guide or the Privacy Phone Hierarchy.

  • The OS matters (sandboxing, permissions, update pipeline)
  • The app choices matter (tracking SDKs, permissions)
  • Your behavior matters (accounts, backups, browser choices)