Mailfence vs Riseup Email
Mailfence
mailfence.comRiseup Email
riseup.netSide by side
| Figure | Mailfence | Riseup Email |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2.50/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 10 | 1 |
| Spec score · Private Email Services | 9.2 (#4) | 8.6 (#10) |
| End-to-end encryption | Yes | Riseup says its email is not end-to-end or client encrypted unless users add Mailvelope or another OpenPGP solution. |
| Founded | 1999 | 1999 |
| Funding | Mailfence says it is self-funded and operates from subscription revenue without venture capital. | Riseup says its email service is funded entirely by small donations from users. |
| Headquarters | Brussels, Belgium | Lacey, Washington, USA |
| Praise: usability and support | G2 and Capterra reviewers commonly describe the interface as easy to use and customer support as responsive. | Trustburn reviewers repeatedly describe the website as easy to use and support as responsive. |
| Support | Free users receive knowledge-base support, while paid tiers add email support and higher plans add priority email and telephone support. | Riseup directs users who need help to submit a help ticket. |
| What it does | Mailfence provides encrypted email together with calendars, documents, contacts, groups, chat and polls. | Riseup provides privacy-focused email for activists and social-movement organizations. |
Plans
Mailfence
- FreeFree
- Base€2.50 a month
- Entry€3.50 a month
- Pro€9.50 a month
- Ultra€29 a month
- FreeFree
- Base$2.50 a month
- Entry$3.85 a month
- Pro$10.45 a month
- Ultra$31.90 a month
In their own words
Mailfence
Mailfence is an email service with end-to-end encryption and access through the web, iOS and Android. Its free plan provides web access and 1 GB total storage, split between 500 MB for email and 500 MB for documents. Paid plans increase storage and, depending on tier, add aliases, custom domains and mail-client protocols. Base costs €2.50/mo (annual) and includes 11 GB total storage, 5 GB for email and 10 aliases, but no custom domain or POP, IMAP, SMTP or EAS access. Entry costs €3.50/mo (annual), with 40 GB total storage, 10 GB for email, 50 aliases, custom domains and POP, IMAP, SMTP and ActiveSync. Pro costs €9.50 per month and includes 78 GB total storage, up to 100 aliases, custom domains, protocol access and priority support. Ultra costs €29.00 per month, billed monthly, with 225 GB total storage, up to 200 aliases, custom domains, protocol access and priority support. Mailfence is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and was founded in 1999.
Riseup Email
Riseup Email is a free email account available through webmail or a mail client. Riseup describes the service as part of movement-run communications infrastructure for activists and allies. New accounts require an invite code from someone who trusts the applicant, and each account has 1 GB of storage. Riseup recommends Thunderbird and lists mail-client options for Linux, Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. Clients connect using IMAP or POP, with SMTP for outgoing mail. Riseup says messages are individually encrypted on its servers and can be unlocked with the account password, but the service is not end-to-end or client encrypted unless users add Mailvelope or another OpenPGP solution. It says it does not log users’ internet addresses or include the sender’s IP address in outgoing email. Riseup services have Tor onion services, and email to certain activist providers is delivered over them. Trash messages are deleted after 21 days and Spam after 7 days. Riseup does not back up all old messages, so users are responsible for keeping their own copies. The service is funded entirely by small user donations.