---
icon: material/signal-cellular-outline
tags:
- Evergreen
---
# Services
I despise advertising as the primary form of commercialization for services. And I don't want to keep too many subscriptions and actively avoid them when I can. But I'll much rather pay for the services that I need rather than be subjected to advertisements.
## NextDNS
- :simple-audible:{ .audible } [Audible](https://www.audible.com/)
/// warning
Audible is a subsidiary of Amazon.[^1]
///
Audible is only used for exclusives.
eBooks and audiobooks are sold by Amazon with DRM. Buy directly from publisher and your local bookstore when possible!
/// tip
Archive your Audible library in a DRM-free format. See :octicons-git-branch-16:{ .foreground } [rmcrackan/Libation](https://github.com/rmcrackan/Libation).
///
- ![Libby](https://assets.tylernguyen.wiki/logos/Libby.png){ .twemoji } [Libby](https://libbyapp.com)
/// warning
Libby is a product of OverDrive, which is owned by :simple-rakuten:{ .rakuten } Rakuten.
///
- :simple-pocketcasts:{ .pocketcasts } [Pocket Casts](https://pocketcasts.com/)
- :material-eye-lock-outline: **Properitary**
- :material-sync: **Subscription**-ware
Having purchased the iOS and web app early on, I'm grandfathered into its lifetime plan[^4]. I do not think that :simple-pocketcasts:{ .pocketcasts } Pocket Casts is worth it at its current subscription price. Instead, I recommend :simple-applepodcasts:{ .applepodcast } Apple Podcast, :simple-overcast:{ .overcast } Overcast, or ![Audiobookshelf](https://assets.tylernguyen.wiki/logos/audiobookshelf.svg){ .twemoji } Audiobookshelf.
- :simple-protonmail:{ .protonmail } [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com/)
/// warning
Email is an insecure form of communication by design. [^2]
///
- :simple-protonvpn:{ .protonvpn } [Proton VPN](https://protonvpn.com/)
I use ProtonVPN purely for P2P traffic as it's one of the few VPN services that supports [port forwarding](https://protonvpn.com/blog/port-forwarding/).
/// danger
VPNs do not provide anonymity.[^3]
///
I mainly need transactional email for self-hosted apps, which send a very low volume. Postmark's free plan has been perfect for this.
[:octicons-link-external-16: Homepage](https://postmarkapp.com/){ .md-button }
[:fontawesome-solid-money-bill:](https://postmarkapp.com/pricing){ .card-link title="Pricing" }
[:fontawesome-regular-eye:](https://postmarkapp.com/privacy-policy){ .card-link title="Privacy Policy" }
[:octicons-markdown-16:](https://postmarkapp.com/manual){ .card-link title=Documentation }
## Steam
[:octicons-link-external-16: Homepage](https://store.steampowered.com/){ .md-button }
[:fontawesome-regular-eye:](https://store.steampowered.com/privacy_agreement/){ .card-link title="Privacy Policy" }
[^1]: [Richard Stallman: Reasons not to buy from Amazon](https://stallman.org/amazon.html)
[^2]: [Privacy Guides: Email is an insecure form of communication by default](https://www.privacyguides.org/basics/email-security/)
[^3]: [Privacy Guides: VPN Overview](https://www.privacyguides.org/vpn/#vpn-overview)
[^4]: [Lifetime Access To Pocket Casts Plus](https://support.pocketcasts.com/knowledge-base/lifetime-access-to-pocket-casts-plus/)