Disroot Email

Disroot Email is a free email service that combines Roundcube webmail with access through desktop and mobile mail clients. It is most compelling for people who value community-maintained, decentralized services and want standard mail protocols. Its modest mailbox and unencrypted message storage make it a less suitable choice for users who need more space or private-by-default email.

Overview

Disroot offers both browser-based email and the option to use a mail client, giving users flexibility without requiring a particular app. Mail-server connections use SSL, while outgoing messages use TLS when the recipient’s server supports it. These protections apply in transit; unless users encrypt messages themselves, email is stored unencrypted on Disroot’s servers.

Disroot says its data is stored on its own servers in a Netherlands data center. Email server logs can include usernames, IP addresses, and sender and recipient addresses; they are retained for 48 hours and are not backed up. The service is maintained by volunteers and relies on community support, which will appeal to users who favor community-run infrastructure, but does not provide end-to-end encryption.

Key features

• Roundcube webmail: Threaded messages, filters, folders, attachment previews, and MIME and HTML support handle common inbox reading and organization needs in a browser.
• Standard mail protocols: Disroot supports IMAP over SSL on port 993, SMTP with STARTTLS on port 587, SMTPS with TLS on port 465, and POP over SSL on port 995. This gives users several ways to connect a preferred mail client, though secure connections do not encrypt stored mail.
• Client compatibility: Suggested clients include Thunderbird, Evolution, KMail, ClawsMail, Mailpile, K-9 Mail, FairEmail, and iOS Mail. Setup instructions are available for configuring clients, useful for people who prefer an app to webmail.
• Plus addressing: Add a plus sign to create sub-addresses that route to the same mailbox. They can help sort incoming mail or identify where spam originated.
• Optional encryption: Mailvelope can be used for optional PGP encryption. Users need to encrypt messages themselves; Disroot does not provide end-to-end encryption by default.
• Custom domains: A lifetime domain-linking perk lets users send and receive email using their own domain for a donation amount they choose. Disroot does not sell domains, so users need to bring their own.

Pricing

Disroot’s core email plan is free, making it a straightforward option for a basic mailbox. The Free plan provides 1 GB of mailbox storage, webmail, and IMAP, SMTP, SMTPS, and POP support. The Free email plan is priced at $0 and includes a 1 GB mailbox with a 64 MB attachment limit. That cap is workable for ordinary correspondence but restrictive for frequent large attachments.

Extra storage is billed per year, with no set price; EU transactions add 21% VAT. Storage can be allocated among mail, cloud, and CryptPad, so it suits users who need additional space across those services, but the cost depends on the chosen arrangement.

Custom domain linking is a lifetime feature offered for a user-decided donation, with no set price or subscription. It suits people who already own a domain and want to use it for email without a recurring domain-linking charge. Disroot does not sell domains.

Platforms

Disroot Email is available on the web and supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, and extensions. The service’s listed clients span mobile and desktop, but users may need to configure their chosen app using the supported mail protocols.

Who it's for

Disroot is a good fit for people who want a free, flexible mailbox and are comfortable using standard mail clients or encrypting sensitive messages themselves. Its volunteer-maintained, community-supported model will also suit users seeking open, decentralized and federated services. Look elsewhere if you need end-to-end encryption, encrypted storage by default, or a larger included mailbox.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Free core mailbox: A 1 GB mailbox includes webmail and standard mail protocols, without a paid subscription.
• Choice of clients: Support for IMAP, SMTP, SMTPS, and POP enables use with a broad range of suggested desktop and mobile apps.
• Useful extras: Plus addressing helps with filtering, and custom-domain linking is available as a lifetime donation-based feature.

Cons

• Messages are not encrypted at rest by default: Users must encrypt their own email if they do not want it stored unencrypted on Disroot’s servers.
• Limited free storage: The 1 GB mailbox and 64 MB attachment cap can constrain users with larger archives or attachments.
• Logs include identifying mail data: Server logs may contain usernames, IP addresses, and sender and recipient addresses, even though they are retained for only 48 hours and are not backed up.

Alternatives

For other providers, browse Private Email Services, Secure Email Providers, or Email providers.

• Aster Mail is a free, open-source option with 10 GB encrypted storage, five aliases, and one custom domain; choose it if encrypted storage and more space matter more than Disroot’s community-run model.
• Proton Mail has a free plan with 1 GB storage and one email address; consider it if you want another provider’s free mailbox, though its listed free storage matches Disroot’s.
• eclipso Mail Europe offers a free 4 GB account with POP3/SMTP, IMAP, and CalDAV/CardDAV; it may suit users who want more mailbox storage and calendar and contacts protocols.
• PreVeil offers a free plan with 5 GB encrypted storage and end-to-end email and file encryption; choose it if encryption is the priority.
• Riseup Email is a free provider with 1 GB storage and an invite requirement; consider it if you can get an invitation and want a similarly sized free mailbox.
• Thelemail is another free-plan option; its production browser and macOS clients, key transparency log, and local export tool are published under AGPL-3.0.
• Tuta Mail has a forever-free plan with 1 GB storage, one calendar, three labels, and end-to-end encryption; consider it if encryption and built-in calendar features matter more than standard mail-client compatibility.
• Mailo offers a free plan with 1 GB mailbox storage, 500 MB document and photo storage, five aliases, ads, and IMAP4 and EAS access; it may fit users who want those extra storage and alias allowances.

Verdict

Choose Disroot Email for a free, flexible mailbox with Roundcube webmail, standard protocols, and broad suggested client compatibility. Its 1 GB mailbox, plus addressing, and donation-based lifetime custom-domain linking cover useful core needs. Choose another service if you need end-to-end encryption or messages encrypted at rest without doing the encryption yourself.