Thanksgiving is around the corner, and the market is flooded with Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on everything from gadgets to software subscriptions.
For Linux users and open source enthusiasts, finding deals that respect privacy can be tricky. We have handpicked offers on secure cloud storage, VPNs, learning platforms, and Linux-friendly hardware.
My advice for picking the right deals
For someone who often takes advantage of deals, here are a few things you should note for making an informed decision.
- Money back policy: If it's a service/SaaS, like a cloud storage service, check for their money back policy and time period. If you don't like the service, you can get a refund if you initiate the refund request within the time specified in their policy.
- Renewal pricing: It is nice to use a service at a reduced rate but this may not last forever. For example, StartMail is offering reduced pricing for new accounts for the first year at $29 but it renews next year at $58.
- Avoid vendor lock-ins: Imagine you bought a service that doesn't allow you to export your data in a universally accepted format. Then you'll be stuck with that service for ever or lose your data. Do check if you store some data in a service, how can you get it back. For example, if you choose Proton Pass, you can easily export your data back if you decided to switch to some other password manager.
- Lifetime plans: I am a huge fan of lifetime offers. It helps me cut down on recurring subscription pricing as I pay a single fee, just once. I use lifetime plans of pCloud, Internxt for dumping data. And I am going to get Filen's too. It is good to check if a service offers lifetime plan.
- Plan ahead for Christmas gifts: Take advantage of Black Friday sales to purchase Christmas gifts, too. For example, you can get Raspberry Pi kits and other DIY gadgets at a lower pricing now and gift them to your children, nephews/nieces, etc. later. Just an idea to save money.
- Want vs Need vs Budget: It is easier to fall down the rabbit hole of deal shopping. Evaluate what you need and what you want. Those are two separate things. You might not need all the things you want. Doesn't mean you should only get what you need. Check your budget and decide how much it allows you to splurge.
But you should take into account that these are limited-time offers, so decide fast and smart.
Proton — A Range of Privacy-Focused Services
Proton started as an encrypted email service. Today it is a complete privacy ecosystem trusted by over 100 million people worldwide. Its services take advantage of Swiss privacy laws and open source code.
Proton Mail offers end-to-end encrypted email with an ad-free inbox. Proton VPN encrypts your internet traffic and masks your location. Proton Pass manages passwords and creates hide-my-email aliases to protect your inbox.
Proton Drive provides encrypted cloud storage for files and photos. Lumo AI is their new privacy-respecting AI assistant that uses zero-access encryption and keeps no chat logs, unlike Big Tech alternatives.
pCloud — Secure, Reliable Cloud Storage
pCloud has protected 22 million users across 134 countries for over a decade. They have never had a security breach, and their specialty is lifetime plans where you pay once and own forever.
This year's flagship deal is the 3-in-1 bundle. You get 5 TB of cloud storage, lifetime access to pCloud Pass password manager, and lifetime access to Cloud Crypto. All three products will cover your storage and security needs permanently.
For people tired of subscriptions, the one-time payment means no recurring fees.
Filen - Encrypted cloud storage
Germany-based Filen offers zero knowledge, client side, end to end encrypted cloud storage. They use AES 256-bit file encryption which is considered to be quantum resistant. All of their data center are located in Germany and owned by Filen itself, not rented from someone else.
They are quite affordable, actually. Their 200 GB storage plan costs just 19.99€ per year, and just 13.99€ per year in the Black Friday sale.
As I said earlier, I like lifetime deals. Filen is offering lifetime plans for the last time. I would suggest going for the lifetime plan that starts at 49.99€. There is a 14-day refund period.
Internxt — An Inexpensive Cloud Storage
Internxt offers post-quantum encrypted cloud storage with additional privacy tools. Plans include Drive for storage and backups, Antivirus for securing your devices, VPN for encrypted connections, Cleaner to keep your system tidy, and Meet for video calls.
All services use zero-knowledge encryption and only you can access your files.
Note that some people have complained about lack of support from Internxt. Use it as an alternative cloud storage in that case. They also have a 30-day money back policy, so worth checking out if it meets your requirements or not.
DataCamp — Land Your Dream Job
DataCamp teaches data science, AI, and machine learning through interactive courses. The platform offers 570+ courses, career tracks, and certifications. Learn Python, SQL, Power BI, ChatGPT, and other in-demand skills.
The hands-on approach lets you practice real skills and build projects you can add to your portfolio. Premium plans give unlimited access to the entire catalog.
NordVPN — For Keeping Nosy Trackers at Bay
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services globally. It combines strong security, fast speeds, and competitive pricing. Servers in 60+ countries provide reliable connections and help bypass geo-restrictions.
Apps work seamlessly on Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Features include automatic kill switch, split tunneling, and multiple device connections.
System76 — Hardware Tailored for Linux
System76 builds computers specifically for Linux users. Based in the US, they also develop the community favorite, Pop!_OS, a distribution for both general users and developers alike. Every machine can be configured to ship with Linux pre-installed and fully supported.
The Thelio line offers powerful desktops for demanding workloads. Lemur Pro laptops deliver portability without compromising performance. All hardware is customizable to match your exact needs and budget.
Pironman 5-Max — The Best Raspberry Pi case
Of all the mini PC cases of Raspberry Pi, I like Pironman 5 Max the most. It looks beautiful, it has more NVMe ports and real HDMI ports. I have shared my experience in a detailed review of Pironman 5 Max.
While the official website has not listed any reduced pricing, I see that at least Amazon US is offering 20% off on most SunFounder products. This means, you get this awesome case for $76 instead of $96.
You can also get 20% off on Pironman Mini and Pironman 5 variants.
Tuta — Become a Legend
Tuta offers private email and calendar services to over 10 million users. Formerly known as Tutanota, they are committed to making privacy a fundamental right.
Quantum-resistant cryptography protects against future threats; zero-access infrastructure means even Tuta can't read your data; and many of its apps are open source and independently audited for security vulnerabilities.
The Legend Plan includes 500 GB of storage, priority support, 30 extra email addresses, and unlimited custom domain addresses.
Codeacademy — Upskill in The Age of AI
Codecademy has taught millions of people to code through interactive, hands-on courses. Learn Python, web development, data science, cybersecurity, or machine learning. All courses let you write actual code in the browser.
The learn-by-doing approach makes coding accessible to beginners. Advanced learners can dive deep into specialized topics. The Pro plans unlock the full catalog and career services.
Juno Computers — Linux Laptops from the UK
Juno Computers is a UK-based manufacturer offering laptops, tablets, and mini PCs with Ubuntu pre-installed. Operating from London and Sunny Isles Beach, they specialize in Linux-ready hardware. Their lineup includes various models for different needs and budgets.
All systems ship with Ubuntu, LibreOffice, and full Linux support, with some exceptionally good compatibility across different kernel versions.
TerraMaster — NAS and DAS Storage Solutions
TerraMaster specializes in network-attached storage and direct-attached storage devices for home users and small businesses. Their Black Friday sale covers NAS and DAS products with discounts up to 30%. The promotion runs from November 20 to December 1.
Popular models include the F2-424 dual-bay NAS with an Intel N95 processor and dual 2.5GbE ports. It supports TOS 6 and Plex 4K transcoding. The F4-425 Plus features an Intel N150 CPU with dual 5Gbe interfaces for 8K streaming.
For high-capacity needs, the F6-424 Max six-bay NAS includes an Intel i5 processor and TRAID support. DAS options like the D4-320 connect directly to PCs via USB 3.2 Gen 2 for local backup. The D1 SSD Plus supports USB 4 with speeds up to 40Gbps for video editing.
Khadas — Your Destination for Mini PCs
Khadas manufactures single board computers and mini PCs for makers and developers. Their product line up includes the VIM series of SBCs and the modular Mind series of portable workstations.
The Mind workstation features Intel Core processors in an ultra-slim design with magnetic modular connections. Past deals have included significant discounts on these products during the sale period too.
Zima — Experts in Homelab Products
Zima makes homelab and personal server hardware for self-hosters and DIY enthusiasts. Their products are perfect for building your own private cloud. Every device includes ZimaOS Plus benefits out of the box.
Discounted products include ZimaBoard 2 for Plex and Docker with PCIe support, ZimaBlade for NAS and VPN projects, and ZimaCube with multiple drive bays for media transcoding.
StartMail — Private Email Service
StartMail offers private email with unlimited alias addresses to protect your primary inbox. Based in the Netherlands, the service includes 20 GB of storage and custom domain support. A 7-day free trial lets you test before committing.
It doesn't serve ads or employ tracking. The service focuses on privacy and user anonymity. Bitcoin payments are also accepted on annual plans for additional privacy.
Netdata — Infrastructure and Application Monitoring
Netdata provides real-time monitoring for servers, applications, and infrastructure. The platform collects per-second metrics with over 800 integrations at your disposal. It monitors everything from bare-metal servers to multi-cloud environments.
The service includes AI-powered insights that explain problems and suggest fixes. Metrics stay on-premises for data sovereignty. Netdata offers centralized dashboards with log management and network traffic analysis.
Annual plans include things like role-based access control, centralized configuration management, enterprise single sign-on (SSO), centralized alerts dispatch, auditing, and more.
TinyCircuits — Miniature Open Source Gadgets
TinyCircuits designs and manufactures tiny open source electronics made in the USA. Based in Ohio, the company creates miniature working electronics for makers and STEM learning. All products embrace open source hardware and software principles.
Thumby is their keychain-sized game console that is programmable with MicroPython or Arduino and comes with preloaded games. The community shares games through the Thumby Arcade.
TinyTVs are their fully-functioning miniature televisions with remotes. The Tiny Arcade DIY Kit lets users build their own mini arcade without any soldering work. All products are designed for makers, educators, and hobbyists interested in electronics and coding.
Alongside the site-wide discount, you can also use code: THANKS2025 for an additional 10% off everything on their platform.
Prepper Disk Premium - Offline internet knowledge
If you are a survivalist, you'll love this. Even if you are not, this is a good device to have if you don't have consistent internet or you often be in situations where you cannot access internet.
We take internet based access to knowledge for granted. Be in a remote area for a day and you'll start struggling to get anything done because you don't have reference guides or YouTube videos to help you out.
Prepper Disk is basically Raspberry Pi preconfigured and loaded with 512 GB of content that includes entire Wikipedia (in English), 90,000 WikiHow guides, 60,000 iFixit tutorials, offline maps, and a lot more survival content that contains necessary knowledge for humans to survive.
More offers will be added...
I'll keep on adding more interesting deals and offers as I come across them. Keep watching this page.
And if you know some other offers, that should interest us Linux users, please share them in the comment section and I may add them in the list here.
