Riseup VPN is a product of Riseup, a long-standing nonprofit tech collective committed to digital privacy and activist support. It is designed to offer simple, secure VPN access without requiring user registration, logins, or payment. The VPN is open-source, lightweight, and available across major platforms. It emphasizes ease of use, privacy, and accessibility over commercial features.
Pricing & Donation Guidance
Riseup VPN is completely free to use. However, it operates on a donation-based model to stay sustainable. Users are encouraged—but not required—to contribute:
- Typical cost per user: around $5 per month
- Light users (occasional use): $1–2 per month
- Heavy users (daily or large data usage): $10 per month
- Estimated annual contribution: $60 USD per year
Donations are voluntary and anonymous, and the VPN remains fully functional regardless of whether you contribute.
Features & Strengths
- No user accounts: No registration or login required to use the VPN.
- No logs: Riseup VPN only records the day a user connects—no IP addresses, DNS requests, or metadata is stored.
- Unique public IP per session: Most users get a personal IP that changes with each connection.
- Tracker blocking: Some ad networks and third-party trackers are automatically blocked.
- Open-source & audited: Built on transparent codebases and subjected to third-party security audits.
- Supported by activists: Designed with privacy, civil liberties, and secure communication in mind.
Stats & Usage Insights
- Riseup VPN is widely used among privacy-conscious communities, including activists, journalists, and everyday users seeking a non-commercial VPN option.
- Available on Android and desktop platforms, it enjoys solid ratings for its ethics and simplicity.
- Its mobile app has gained traction for being lightweight and easy to configure—especially appealing to less tech-savvy users.
Limitations & Community Feedback
Common Restrictions:
- Performance: With limited infrastructure and fewer global servers, speeds can lag during peak usage.
- Streaming & torrenting: Not recommended for video streaming or torrenting due to limited bandwidth.
- Connection issues: Some users experience disruptions, especially on certain Linux systems.
Trust Considerations:
- While highly trusted in activist circles, its U.S.-based infrastructure may not appeal to users concerned about jurisdictional privacy risks.
- Operates on goodwill and donations, which can impact service continuity if underfunded.
Final Take
Riseup VPN offers a rare blend of ethical integrity, user privacy, and zero-cost access. It’s an excellent choice for users who prioritize transparency and civil liberties over performance bells and whistles. Though not ideal for bandwidth-heavy tasks like streaming or gaming, it shines as a secure and straightforward VPN for everyday private browsing. If you value community-supported tech and are willing to support it financially, Riseup VPN is a powerful alternative to commercial VPNs.