Disroot Email

Disroot Email is a community-maintained mailbox that combines Roundcube webmail with standard protocols for desktop and mobile clients. It suits people who value open, decentralized services and want control over their mail software. The main trade-off is clear: you get broad compatibility and a free account, but only 1 GB of storage and no end-to-end encryption by default.

Overview

Disroot provides email through a browser or through compatible desktop and mobile applications. Its servers are in a data center in the Netherlands, and the project has operated from Amsterdam since 2015. Volunteers maintain the service and rely on community support, an approach that appeals to users who prefer community-run infrastructure over a conventional commercial provider.

Connections to the mail server use SSL. Outgoing messages use TLS when the recipient's mail server supports it, protecting traffic in transit rather than the contents stored on the server. Unless you encrypt messages yourself, Disroot stores email unencrypted. Server logs can contain usernames, IP addresses, and sender and recipient addresses; those logs are retained for 48 hours and are not backed up.

Key features

• Roundcube webmail: Threaded messages, filters, folders, attachment previews, and MIME and HTML support cover normal reading, sorting, and message display in a browser.
• Standard protocols: 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 let you choose how mail is synchronized and sent. This is useful if you do not want to be tied to one proprietary app.
• Client choice: Suggested software includes Thunderbird, Evolution, KMail, ClawsMail, Mailpile, K-9 Mail, FairEmail, and iOS Mail. Disroot also provides setup instructions for configuring clients.
• Optional encryption: Mailvelope can add PGP encryption, but encryption is optional and requires you to manage it. Disroot therefore does not provide private-by-default storage.
• Plus addressing: Adding a plus sign to your address creates sub-addresses that still deliver to the original mailbox, helping with filtering and spam tracking.
• Custom domains: Linking your own domain enables sending and receiving with that domain. It is offered as a lifetime perk in return for a donation of your choice; Disroot does not sell domains.

Pricing

Disroot's core email plan is free. The Free plan includes a 1 GB mailbox, webmail, IMAP, SMTP, SMTPS and POP support, plus optional PGP encryption with Mailvelope. The separate Free email listing is also free and sets the same 1 GB mailbox with a 64 MB attachment limit. That small quota suits light personal use, but regular attachment-heavy correspondence or long-term archiving will require additional capacity.

Extra storage has custom pricing and is billed per year. It can be allocated among mail, cloud, and CryptPad; EU transactions add 21% VAT. Custom domain linking has no set price or subscription: it is a lifetime feature tied to a user-decided donation. Because the donation is not a fixed fee, it is best for users who already own a domain and want a one-time contribution rather than another recurring bill.

Platforms

Disroot lists Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web access, and an extension. The protocol support matters more than a dedicated app ecosystem: you can use Roundcube or select a compatible client on the operating system you prefer.

Who it's for

Choose Disroot if you want a free, standards-based mailbox, already use software such as Thunderbird or K-9 Mail, or support open and decentralized services. It is also a practical option for someone who wants to attach an existing domain through a lifetime donation.

Look elsewhere if you need end-to-end encryption without configuring it yourself, substantially more than 1 GB, or a larger attachment allowance. Users who are unwilling to manage PGP should treat server-side storage as unencrypted.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad protocol support: IMAP, SMTP, SMTPS, and POP work with many established clients instead of forcing one interface.
• Useful browser tools: Roundcube's threads, filters, folders, previews, and MIME/HTML handling cover everyday inbox management.
• Community-oriented operation: Volunteer maintenance and Dutch-hosted infrastructure fit users seeking decentralized services.
• Flexible domain option: A user-chosen lifetime donation can unlock mail on your own domain.

Cons

• Unencrypted server storage by default: You must encrypt messages yourself for stronger privacy.
• Small free allowance: The 1 GB mailbox and 64 MB attachment cap are restrictive for heavy mail use.
• Short-lived server logs still contain metadata: Usernames, IP addresses, and message routing addresses are retained for 48 hours.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Secure Email Providers, Private Email Services, and Email providers.

• Aster Mail is a better fit if you want open-source software, 10 GB of encrypted storage, aliases, and one custom domain on its free plan.
• Proton Mail suits readers who prefer a freemium service with encrypted storage and a 1 GB free tier across major platforms.
• eclipso Mail Europe is worth choosing when 4 GB of free storage and a 0.00 EUR plan are more useful than Disroot's 1 GB quota.
• PrivMail is for users willing to pay $12.95 a month for a 5 GB mailbox and a @priv-mail.com address.
• Neir offers a free 10 MB mailbox with webmail encrypted to your key and random aliases for users who prioritize key-based privacy over capacity.
• NevTan Mail is an alternative free email service.
• Tuta Mail is the stronger choice for a free plan with end-to-end encryption, 1 GB storage, and a calendar.
• QeyeT provides a free preview with mail, chat, calendar, meetings, and web and Android access.

Verdict

Disroot Email is a sensible choice for privacy-minded users who want a free, flexible mailbox and are comfortable encrypting sensitive messages themselves. Its protocol breadth, client compatibility, and optional custom-domain donation are genuine strengths. The 1 GB quota, 64 MB attachment limit, and unencrypted server storage make it the wrong choice for users who need generous capacity or built-in end-to-end privacy.