Riseup Email vs Tau Mail

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.

Tau Mail is an email service with webmail and native Android and iOS apps. It says messages are encrypted on the device before leaving, with only the sender and recipient holding keys, and advertises zero tracking rather than inbox scanning for advertising profiles. On-device spam detection and priority sorting are described as working without uploading message content. Users can bring their own domain with full DNS control. Webmail uses the same login as the mobile apps and needs no installation. Mobile apps include inbox synchronization, calendar, and contacts. The service offers a free plan with 1 GB encrypted storage and one custom alias. Pro costs $8 a month and includes 50 GB encrypted storage, five custom domains, priority routing, and advanced filters. Business costs $16 a month with unlimited storage, a team admin console, audit trail exports, and dedicated support. Tau Mail is identified as a Tau Technology Group service.