Looking for an EteSync Alternative? Here's What We Built

If you're looking for an EteSync alternative because the project has gone quiet, this post is for you. SilentSuite is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted replacement for EteSync, built on the same Etebase protocol underneath. Same encrypted sync for calendars, contacts, and tasks. Same zero-knowledge architecture. New maintained product around it. We're available now from €3/mo or as a self-hosted server under AGPL-3.0.

That's the short answer. The longer answer is below: what happened to EteSync, what still works, what doesn't, what we changed, and the honest alternatives if SilentSuite isn't a fit for you.

What happened to EteSync?

EteSync was the original end-to-end encrypted sync service for calendars, contacts, and tasks. It was built around the Etebase protocol, which is genuinely well-designed: zero-knowledge encryption, proper key management, conflict resolution, offline support. The cryptography is sound. For a long stretch, EteSync was the only service that did encrypted PIM (personal information management) sync properly outside of the walled gardens of Proton and Tuta.

The problem isn't the protocol. The protocol still works. The problem is that the apps and the hosted server stopped seeing meaningful updates. The EteSync Android app, web client, and DAV bridge fell behind. Issues piled up on GitHub without responses. For a service that handles your daily schedule, “it still kind of works on my phone” isn't enough. People started looking for somewhere else to go.

Is EteSync dead?

Not technically. The hosted service at etesync.com is still running. Existing accounts still sync. The Android app is still on F-Droid. If you have a working setup, it isn't going to vanish overnight.

But it isn't being maintained either. There's no roadmap, no release cadence, no responses to the active issues. The web client UI looks like it did in 2020. New devices and new OS versions break things that nobody is fixing. Practically speaking, EteSync is in a permanent twilight: alive enough to keep your data, not alive enough to grow with you.

How SilentSuite continues EteSync

SilentSuite is what happens when the protocol gets a maintained product around it. We forked Etebase, kept the same encryption and the same data model, and rebuilt the parts that had bit-rotted. New Android client, new web client, new CalDAV bridge, active server development, EU-hosted infrastructure, sustainable pricing.

Concretely, here's what stays the same and what's new:

We are not pretending we have everything EteSync had on day one. We don't yet have a native iOS client of our own. We're early. But we're here, and we're shipping.

How do I migrate from EteSync to SilentSuite?

Because we share the Etebase protocol, migration is straightforward rather than a full export-import dance.

1. Create a silentsuite.io account at app.silentsuite.io/signup. The free trial gives you time to migrate without committing.
2. Export your EteSync collections from the EteSync web client or Android app. Each calendar, address book, and task list exports as a standard .ics, .vcf, or task file.
3. Import into SilentSuite through the web client. The data model is identical, so events, contacts, and tasks come in intact, including recurrence rules and reminders.
4. Re-point your devices. On Android, install the SilentSuite app and sign in. On iOS, you can keep using the original EteSync app pointed at the SilentSuite server (same protocol). For Apple Calendar or Thunderbird, install our standalone CalDAV bridge and connect it.
5. Verify, then deactivate EteSync. Confirm a few recent events and contacts arrived correctly before pulling the plug on the old account.

We have step-by-step migration docs on our help site, and if you hit a snag we'll help you through it. Migrating off a stalled service is exactly the kind of thing that should be friction-free.

Honest alternatives if SilentSuite isn't a fit

We're not the only encrypted-PIM option, and we don't pretend to be the answer for everyone. If you're evaluating, the other realistic choices in 2026 are:

• Proton Calendar: End-to-end encrypted, bundled with Proton Mail, polished UI. No CalDAV, no third-party app integration, no proper task sync. Good choice if you live entirely inside the Proton ecosystem.
• Tuta Calendar: Similar trade-offs to Proton. Real encryption, locked into Tuta's own apps, no CalDAV. Tasks aren't a first-class feature.
• Nextcloud: Self-hosted, supports CalDAV and CardDAV, huge ecosystem. But calendar and contacts data is stored in plaintext in the Nextcloud database. Fine if you control the server, weaker if you use a hosted Nextcloud provider.
• Stay on EteSync: Genuinely an option if your current setup works and you accept the lack of updates. Your data isn't going anywhere as long as the hosted server keeps running. We just don't recommend it for new users in 2026.

For a deeper feature-by-feature breakdown of these services, see our full encrypted calendar comparison.

What we're not

We're not a venture-funded privacy startup. We're not chasing a billion-dollar exit. We're building a sustainable product around a protocol we believe in, hosted in the EU, with the option to self-host the server if you don't want to trust us.

The same incentive structure that took down Skiff (acquired by Notion in 2024 and shut down) is something we've explicitly designed away from. Open-source server, exportable data, AGPL-3.0 licensing, EU hosting, paid by users instead of investors. If we ever go away, you can take the server with you.

FAQ

Is SilentSuite the same protocol as EteSync?
Yes. We use Etebase under the hood, the same protocol EteSync built. Existing iOS users of the EteSync app can point it at a SilentSuite server today and it works.

Is SilentSuite end-to-end encrypted?
Yes. Calendars, contacts, and tasks are encrypted on your device before they reach our server. We hold ciphertext only. We can't read your events, contacts, or tasks even if we wanted to.

Can I self-host SilentSuite?
Yes. The server is open source under AGPL-3.0. You can run it on your own VPS or homelab and point our clients at it.

How much does SilentSuite cost?
From €3/mo for the hosted plan. Self-hosting is free, you only pay for the infrastructure you run.

Does SilentSuite work with Apple Calendar or Thunderbird?
Yes, through our standalone CalDAV bridge. Install the bridge, sign in with your silentsuite.io account, and your encrypted data appears in Apple Calendar, Thunderbird, or any CalDAV/CardDAV-compatible client.

What happens to my data if SilentSuite shuts down?
You can export your collections at any time as standard .ics / .vcf files. The server is open source, so you (or anyone) can run it independently. Data lock-in is not part of our model.

EteSync proved encrypted PIM sync was possible. We're making sure it stays available. If you've been waiting for someone to pick the project up, this is us doing that.

Get started with SilentSuite, or read our full comparison of encrypted calendar options if you want to see all your choices side by side.