Description
RiseupVPN is a personal VPN service developed and operated by Riseup, an autonomous tech collective based in Seattle with members worldwide. It routes all internet traffic through an encrypted connection to riseup.net before reaching the public internet.
Key Features
- No IP logging — Unlike most VPN providers, Riseup does not log your IP address or keep any identifying records.
- No account needed — Install the client and run it. No usernames, passwords, or registration required.
- One-click connect — Simple system tray interface with a single click to turn the VPN on or off.
- Kill switch — All traffic is blocked when the VPN is disconnected, preventing data leaks.
- Cross-platform — Available for GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows, and Android.
- Open source — Built on the Bitmask codebase, fully transparent and auditable.
- Donation-funded — Entirely sustained by user donations via Liberapay, PayPal, and Bitcoin.
Use Cases
- Censorship circumvention — Bypass internet restrictions and access the open web.
- Location anonymization — Hide your real IP address and online location.
- Traffic encryption — Secure your communications from ISPs, surveillance, and third parties.
- Activist security — Designed for people and groups working on liberatory social change who need trusted communication infrastructure.
Highlights
Pros
- No account registration required — install the client and use the VPN immediately without providing any personal information, usernames, or passwords.
- Donation-funded with no commercial incentives — the service is entirely sustained by user donations via Liberapay, PayPal, and Bitcoin, with no advertising or data monetization.
- Built-in kill switch — when the VPN is disconnected or connecting, all traffic is automatically blocked to prevent IP and data leaks.
- Fully open source — both the RiseupVPN client and the underlying Bitmask codebase are publicly available on GitLab for independent audit.
- Cross-platform availability — supported on GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows, and Android with a simple one-click interface.
- No IP address logging — Riseup explicitly states it does not log user IP addresses, unlike most other VPN providers.
Cons
- No streaming or geo-unblocking support — the service is not designed to unblock Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming platforms, with no such guarantees offered.
- No independent third-party audit — RiseupVPN has not published a publicly available independent security audit verifying its no-logging claims.
- Limited customer support channels — no live chat or phone support; help is available only through a mailing list, IRC channel, and bug tracker.
- Very limited server network — only 5 locations (Seattle, Miami, New York City, Montreal, Paris/Amsterdam), far fewer than commercial VPN providers.
- Modest connection speeds — users report speeds of 40–120 Mbps, significantly lower than what premium commercial VPNs deliver.
- Operated from US jurisdiction — based in Seattle, placing the service under Five Eyes surveillance alliance laws and potential US legal demands.