Riseup Email
Riseup Email: A free, privacy-oriented mailbox with strong client support and no default end-to-end encryption. Ranked #6 of 41 in Encrypted Email Services by our editors (8.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free privacy-oriented mailbox access.
At a glance
- Editor score8.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree privacy-oriented mailbox access
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Zero-access storageYes
- Founded1999 · Lacey, Washington, USA
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free service with donation-funded operation
- Personally encrypted mailbox storage and no IP-address logging
- IMAP, POP, Tor services, aliases, forwarding, and filters
Where it doesn't
- Invitation-based access can limit immediate signup
- 1 GB email storage quota
- No end-to-end email encryption by default
Our verdict on Riseup Email
Riseup Email is a free, invitation-based email service operated by Riseup, an autonomous technology collective. It is aimed at people and communities seeking privacy-oriented mailbox access, particularly activist and justice-oriented groups. The service provides webmail, a 1 GB email storage quota, personally encrypted mailbox storage for newer accounts, aliases, forwarding, filters, Tor onion services, separate service-specific passwords, and no IP-address logging.
Its ecosystem fit is a notable strength. Riseup supports standard IMAP and POP access, allowing use with Thunderbird, Evolution, Apple Mail, iOS Mail, K-9 Mail, Outlook, Sylpheed, Claws, Mutt, and Delta Chat. Access is available through the web, Windows, Linux, and iOS. This makes the service suitable for people who want privacy-oriented email without being limited to a single web interface. The invitation-based model is the main onboarding constraint, while the published mailbox quota keeps the service focused on basic email rather than large-scale storage.
Riseup’s privacy posture is clear but has an important boundary. Mailbox storage is personally encrypted for newer accounts, and Tor onion services plus no IP-address logging support privacy-conscious access. However, the mail system does not provide end-to-end encryption by default. Users who need that protection must use Mailvelope or their own OpenPGP solution. Riseup is funded by user donations rather than conventional advertising or subscription pricing, so it suits people seeking a free service aligned with privacy and community use. Choose an alternative if immediate open signup, larger storage, or built-in end-to-end email encryption is a priority.
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Riseup Email pricing
Riseup Email fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| End-to-end encryption | No |
| Zero-access storage | Yes |
| Custom domains | Yes |
| Email alias limit | Not verified |
| Mailbox storage | 1 GB |
| Mobile apps | Not verified |
| Private calendar | Not verified |
| Deployment | Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, Linux, iOS |
| Support | Email, Tickets, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 10 integrations: Thunderbird, Evolution, Apple Mail, iOS Mail, K-9 Mail, Outlook … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | riseup.net |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Riseup Email integrations
Riseup Email lists 10 integrations on its own site.
- Thunderbird
- Evolution
- Apple Mail
- iOS Mail
- K-9 Mail
- Outlook
- Sylpheed
- Claws
- Mutt
- Delta Chat
Alternatives to Riseup Email
- Tuta MailA privacy-focused email suite with encrypted calendar tools and a permanent free plan.9.3
- Proton MailA mature encrypted email service with broad platform support and a capable free plan.9.2
- MailfenceA mature OpenPGP email suite with groupware, mobile access, and broad protocol support.8.9
See all Riseup Email alternatives →
Riseup Email vs the competition
- Riseup Email vs Tuta Mail
- Riseup Email vs Proton Mail
- Riseup Email vs Mailfence
- Riseup Email vs mailbox
- Riseup Email vs Posteo
- Riseup Email vs Hushmail
Compare Riseup Email with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Riseup Email is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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