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Riseup Email
Lacey, Washington, USA
What it is
Riseup Email provides a free mailbox through webmail or a compatible mail client. Riseup describes it as movement-run communication infrastructure for activists and allies. Creating an account requires an invite code from someone who trusts you, rather than a phone number or personal information. Each mailbox includes 1 GB of storage. Riseup recommends Thunderbird and documents setup for Linux, Mac, Windows, Android and iOS. Mail clients connect through IMAP or POP, with SMTP for sending. Riseup says messages are individually encrypted on its servers and unlocked with the account password, but the service is not end-to-end or client encrypted unless users add Mailvelope or another OpenPGP tool. It says it does not log users’ internet addresses or place the sender’s IP address in outgoing mail. Tor onion services are available, including delivery to certain activist providers. Trash is deleted after 21 days and Spam after seven days. Riseup does not back up all old messages, so users must keep their own copies. The service is funded by small user donations.
For and against
For
- Free account with 1 GB mailbox storage
- Signup does not require a phone number
- Supports IMAP, POP and SMTP clients
- Messages are encrypted individually on servers
- Tor onion services are available
Against
- An invite code is required to create an account
- Not end-to-end encrypted without added OpenPGP software
- Trash and Spam are automatically deleted
- Riseup does not back up all old messages
The verdict
Riseup Email offers free, invite-based mail with client support and stated privacy measures. Users should plan their own backups and add OpenPGP software if they need end-to-end encryption.
Who it suits
It is intended for activists and allies seeking movement-run email infrastructure. It also suits users who can obtain an invite and want webmail or standard mail-client access.
Plans and prices
Riseup Email
1 GB mailbox · invite code required · Trash auto-deleted after 21 days · Spam auto-deleted after 7 days
Read 15 Oct 2026 · riseup.net
On the record
- Access
- Creating an account requires an invite code from someone who trusts you.riseup.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Account privacy
- Riseup says signup does not require a phone number or personal information and uses invite codes instead.riseup.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Aliases and filters
- Account settings support email aliases and filtering rules.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Riseup describes its email as part of movement-run communication infrastructure for activists and allies.riseup.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Backups
- Riseup says it does not have backups of all old messages and makes users responsible for keeping their data safe.riseup.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Backups limitation
- Riseup warns that it does not keep backups of all old messages.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Client support
- Riseup recommends Thunderbird and publishes setup guidance for email clients including Geary and iOS Mail.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Data deletion
- Users can destroy their account data from account management.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Encrypted disk
- Riseup says its physical servers use full-disk encryption and are not cloud-hosted.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Encryption at rest
- Riseup says messages are individually encrypted on its servers and can only be unlocked using the account password.riseup.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- End-to-end encryption
- Riseup says its email is not end-to-end or client encrypted unless users add Mailvelope or another OpenPGP solution.riseup.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- End-to-end encryption limit
- Webmail is not end-to-end encrypted; users must use OpenPGP through a compatible client or Mailvelope.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Funding
- Riseup says its email service is funded entirely by small donations from users.riseup.net · read 8 Oct 2026
- Funding model
- Riseup says the email service is funded entirely by small user donations.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Invite-only signup
- Account creation uses invite codes instead of requiring a phone number or personal information.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- IP privacy
- Riseup says it does not log users’ internet addresses and does not embed sender IP addresses in outgoing mail.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Legal disclosure history
- In a 2017 statement, Riseup disclosed complying with two sealed FBI warrants and said new accounts would receive personally encrypted storage.riseup.net · read 15 Oct 2026
- Limit: invite restriction
- Privacy Guides participants criticize the service for remaining invite-only, which limits normal consumer signup.discuss.privacyguides.net · read 15 Oct 2026
