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The $0 Starter Stack
A working private setup built from free accounts and open-source tools. Start today and improve later. You don't need to buy anything.
Ready for more?
When you want the stronger version of any of these, set up in person, that's what the four house calls are for.
| What you need | Free option | The house-call upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail free tier | The Proton suite, which also includes the VPN for Home Network Security | |
| VPN | Proton VPN free tier, on one device | A paid VPN covering your whole home through your own firewall: Home Network Security |
| Password manager | KeePassXC or Bitwarden free | Set up and filled in during a Private Phone Setup |
| Calendar | Radicale, self-hosted | Your NanoClaw agent can manage it for you |
| Calendar on your phone | DAVx5 + Etar, from F-Droid | Installed during a Private Phone Setup |
| AI agent | NanoClaw, free and open source. Runs on a ChatGPT or Claude plan (~$20/month) | Private AI & Computing |
The only recurring cost here is the AI subscription, if you add an agent. Everything else is free. For the reasoning behind each pick, read Part 1 of the free guide.