Riseup VS OpenMailBox

Riseup

Riseup provides online communication tools for people and groups working on liberatory social change. We are a project to create democratic alternatives and practice self-determination by controlling our own secure means of communications.

OpenMailBox

Openmailbox

Landing page //
2018-09-30

Landing page //
2018-11-08

Riseup

Website: riseup.net
Platforms: Mac OSX Web GMail

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OpenMailBox

Website: openmailbox.org
Platforms: -

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Riseup features and specs

Privacy
Riseup is committed to protecting user privacy. It does not log IP addresses or other identifying information, making it a good choice for those concerned about surveillance.
Security
Riseup offers strong encryption for email and other services. This ensures that user data is protected from unauthorized access.
No Ads
Unlike many free email providers, Riseup does not serve ads to its users, providing a cleaner and less intrusive user experience.
Collective Ownership
Riseup is an autonomous collective dedicated to providing communication and computer resources to activists working on liberatory social change.
Non-Profit
As a non-profit organization, Riseup's primary goal is to support social movements, not to generate profit.

Possible disadvantages of Riseup

Invitation Required
New accounts require an invitation, which can make it difficult for new users to join without knowing someone who already has an account.
Limited Features
Compared to some other email and online service providers, Riseup may offer fewer features and integrations.
Limited Storage
The free accounts come with limited storage space, which might not be sufficient for users with high storage needs.
Funding
Being a non-profit organization, Riseup relies on donations for funding, which can potentially affect the sustainability and expansion of services.
Performance
Some users report that Riseup's services, such as email, can be slower compared to those offered by large, commercial providers.

OpenMailBox features and specs

Privacy-Focused
OpenMailBox is known for being privacy-oriented, offering services that prioritize user privacy and data protection.
Open Source
OpenMailBox uses open-source software, which allows for transparency in their processes and the ability for community-driven improvements and audits.
Ad-Free Experience
Users can enjoy an ad-free email experience, as OpenMailBox does not rely on advertising revenue, making the service less intrusive.

Possible disadvantages of OpenMailBox

Limited Features
Compared to other mainstream email services, OpenMailBox may lack some advanced features and integrations offered by competitors.
Uncertain Service Stability
There have been periods of instability in terms of service availability and performance, which can affect the reliability of the email service.
Limited Support
Customer support may not be as robust or responsive as larger email providers, which can be a downside for users needing assistance.

Analysis of Riseup

Overall verdict

Yes, Riseup is generally considered good for privacy-conscious users.

Why this product is good

Riseup is known for its strong commitment to privacy and security, providing encrypted email and VPN services. It is run by activists who prioritize user freedom and data protection. Their no-logging policy and use of strong encryption make it a preferred choice for users seeking enhanced privacy.

Recommended for

Activists
Journalists
Privacy advocates
Users in need of secure communication tools
Those seeking free alternatives to mainstream email and VPN services

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Riseup and OpenMailBox)

Riseup

OpenMailBox

60 60%

40% 40

Email Clients

52 52%

Email Clients

48% 48

Software Marketplace

100 100%

Software Marketplace

0% 0

Enterprise Communication

0 0%

Enterprise Communication

100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Riseup and OpenMailBox. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Riseup seems to be a lot more popular than OpenMailBox. While we know about 35 links to Riseup, we've tracked only 1 mention of OpenMailBox. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Riseup mentions (35)

Ask HN: Best Security Practices for Activists?
Some suggestions Privacy Guides home: https://www.privacyguides.org/en/ The Protesters' Guide to Smartphone Security https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/01/23/activists-guide-securing-your-smartphone/ Infosec 101 for Activists https://infosecforactivists.org/ Using Tails When Your World Doesn't Feel Safe Anymore https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/01/29/installing-and-using-tails/ How I’m Building... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
Tell HN: Account can be deleted anytime, for any reason
This lets you have a stable email address (e.g., johndoe@mydomain.com) no matter which email service you use. Consider https://njal.la/ or something similar. I also use Portmaster when I am on Windows. Forget defending against the government, they have state authority (violence, jail time), you don't. See: https://riseup.net/ One-time pad (OTP) or "true randomness" (uniform probability distribution) is your only... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
⟳ 1 apps added, 54 updated at f-droid.org
Riseup VPN (version 1.2.0): Secure VPN powered by Bitmask. Source: over 1 year ago
This subreddit is available for OFFICIAL coherence therapy people (currently moderated by layperson who is an enthusiastic geek about memory reconsolidation topics)
This subreddit is available for official coherence therapy people, just email me at lightningconductor(at)riseup.net (replace (at) with the @ mark), if you think you are the right person to take care of this forum. (If you want help, I can stay, or if you want space, I can go). Simply email me, and let me know. Source: over 1 year ago
What are ways you’ve noticed society has gotten worse?
Riseup.net may have tips for organizing online. It's run by awful Antifa types, but the software and infrastructure they develop is of interest to anyone wanting to collaborate with friends away from the prying eyes of greedy Capital. Source: over 2 years ago

OpenMailBox mentions (1)

Have you ever been permanently locked out of Gmail/Yahoo or a Windows/MSN/Microsoft email account? - What happened?
Which email service provider do you use now if you don't mind me asking? I remember openmailbox.org I think it was founded by a guy in France originally wasn't it? Source: almost 3 years ago