Runbox vs Riseup
Runbox wins on privacy, Riseup wins on price and Runbox wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Runbox suits you best if you want your email to stay in Norway; email at your own domain name; and your diary and address book in one place with your email.
- Riseup is the better pick if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; a free plan before you pay anything; and sign-up without ID.
| Feature | Runbox | Riseup |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 3.0 | 1.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Mini $34.95 a year | Free Free (donations) |
| Free plan | No (30-day trial) | Yes, by invitation |
| Storage | 10 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Norway | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Norway | United States |
| Founded | 2000 | 1999 |
| Free trial | 30 days free, then a 60-day refund | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | 100 aliases | Yes |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | ✓ Yes |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- Cheapest plans: Runbox Mini, $34.95 a year. Riseup Free, Free (donations).
- For free, Runbox gives you no free plan, and Riseup a free plan (by invitation).
- Runbox comes with 10 GB of storage and Riseup with storage not confirmed.
- Data location: Norway for Runbox, United States for Riseup.
- Runbox is based in Norway and Riseup in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Runbox lets you bring your own domain name; Riseup doesn't.
- For extra addresses, Runbox has 100 aliases and Riseup has yes.
Common questions
Which is more private, Runbox or Riseup?
Runbox scores 3 out of 5 for privacy and Riseup 1.5. Runbox gives you your email to stay in Norway.
Which is cheaper, Runbox or Riseup?
Riseup costs nothing to start (Free (donations)). Runbox's cheapest plan, Mini, is $34.95 a year.
Do Runbox and Riseup work with my own domain?
Only Runbox does (Up to 5). With Riseup your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Runbox and Riseup keep my email?
Runbox keeps it in Norway. Riseup keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Runbox news · Riseup news.
Alternatives to Runbox and Riseup
Runbox vs Posteo · Riseup vs Posteo · Runbox vs mailbox.org · Riseup vs mailbox.org · Runbox vs Proton Mail · Riseup vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Runbox · Moving from Runbox. Or see all my switching guides.