1M+ (estimate, not verified) installs. Open-source client; no third-party trackers; service docs state no user IP logging The most trustworthy free VPN on structural grounds: user-funded, mission-driven, no data business model.
by the vpncomparison editorial desk · review version 1 · prose updated 2026-09-28 · facts as of 2026-09-27 · how we verify
RiseupVPN is a free, donation-funded service operating out of the USA (Seattle), built for privacy-conscious users who prioritize mission alignment over features. It offers no paid tiers, logs no user IP activity according to its documentation, and avoids third-party trackers. However, its structural transparency is limited - jurisdictional risks exist, and core claims lack independent verification.
RiseupVPN states in its service documentation that it does not log user IPs, but this claim lacks formal evidence - no audits, court tests, or public warrant canary exist to verify it. The logging_evidence field is null, meaning the policy remains unproven. Based in the US, it falls under a Five Eyes jurisdiction with broad surveillance powers, increasing risk despite its stated no-logging stance. Without third-party validation, trust rests entirely on internal assurances.
RiseupVPN has no pricing - it's entirely free, sustained by donations. There is no renewal trap, no minimum purchase, and no requirement for fiat or crypto payments. However, its sustainability is uncertain due to reliance on community funding. You get permanent access at no cost, but service continuity depends on donor support rather than contractual commitments.
The service lacks key technical features: no kill switch, no multihop, no split tunneling, and no support for P2P or streaming. Protocols and obfuscation methods are unspecified in available data. Server count and country coverage are unknown. The client is open-source, but the backend infrastructure is not publicly documented. Performance and reliability remain untested and unverified.
Ownership details are not publicly disclosed, and the operator field is null. There is no evidence of community ownership or corporate backing. No incidents have been reported, but transparency is low - no audits, no public warrant canary, and no verifiable track record of resisting data requests. The data_quality is "reported," meaning facts come from indirect sources, not official documentation or testing.
RiseupVPN provides no known obfuscation methods, and its ability to bypass deep packet inspection (e.g., in China, Iran, or Russia) is undocumented. Given the lack of tools like obfs4 or Shadowsocks, this service is not suitable for use in highly censored environments. Users in restrictive regions should consider alternatives specifically designed for censorship circumvention.
RiseupVPN may suit low-risk users in open networks who value a no-cost, no-tracking service backed by activist principles - but not technical proof. It is not recommended for high-stakes privacy, censorship evasion, or anyone needing verified no-logs protection. The money trail shows no affiliate program, reducing incentive conflicts, but sustainability remains a real concern.
| Intro price | see provider site |
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See the 3-year total next to the marketing number: true-cost calculator →
affiliate status not verified yet
If we sign up for this program, every link here becomes rel="nofollow sponsored" and this box stays. Until then our links are plain redirects with zero tracking. Ranking logic physically cannot read affiliate fields - here is the proof.
Based on our checks as of 2026-09-27: RiseupVPN scores 5.3/10 in our weighted review. We logged 1 red flag (listed above). User reports, ownership and the incident record are documented with dated sources in the meta-review below.
Access to a free, no-logging VPN service with open-source clients and no third-party tracking. However, server locations, protocols, and performance are undocumented, and core privacy claims lack verification.
There is no cost - RiseupVPN is entirely free. You pay nothing at sign-up or renewal, but service availability depends on ongoing donations, not contractual guarantees.
None. While service docs claim no IP logging, there are no audits, court-tested cases, or public warrant canary to back this. The claim remains unverified and relies solely on trust.
No. RiseupVPN offers no known obfuscation tools to bypass deep packet inspection. It is not designed for use in highly censored environments and will likely be blocked.
RiseupVPN does not require payment, but signup identity requirements (KYC) are unspecified. While no financial data is collected, the extent of personal information needed for account creation is unclear.
Given its donation-funded model and lack of formal ownership transparency, long-term sustainability is uncertain. If funding dries up or operational capacity fails, the service could cease without notice.
Consider ProtonVPN’s free tier (audited, based in Switzerland) or Mozilla VPN (audited, US-based but with strong transparency). For higher risk, use Tor Browser - free, open, and purpose-built for anonymity.
Structurally the most trustworthy free VPN: a Seattle activist collective running RiseupVPN as a donation-funded experiment - no account, no IP logging, open-so
1M+ (TTP: ranked #82-99 US App Store 2024) installs. Not independently audited in this dossier Included as second instance of the multi-brand farm pattern.
Nonprofit privacy institute; VPN is a member perk, not a product. (Specific VPN subpage 404'd at crawl 2026-09-27 - site restructured.)
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