Is Unroll.me Safe?

If you use or plan to use Unroll.me, you need to know: Is Unroll.me safe? 

Below, we explain whether Unroll.me is: 

• Safe to use. 
• Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this online service. 

What Is Unroll.me?

Unroll.me is an online service designed to help users manage their email subscriptions and declutter their inboxes.

The service scans your email account for subscriptions and presents them in a list, allowing you to easily see all the newsletters and promotional emails you are subscribed to – and then unsubscribe from them as desired.

Unroll.me has other features, including Rollup, which consolidates selected email subscriptions into a single daily digest. Instead of receiving multiple emails throughout the day, you get one summary email, making it easier to stay on top of your inbox.

Is Unroll.me Safe?

Depends on your definition of “safe.”

Unroll.me requires access to your email account to function, which means granting permission for it to read, manage, and delete emails. While this level of access is necessary for the service to work, it also means placing a lot of trust in their security measures. 

Unroll.me uses encryption techniques to protect data transmission between their service and your email account, which is a standard practice for maintaining data security. 

The service also regularly monitors, scans, and tests for vulnerabilities in their systems. 

It notes that it cannot guarantee your data security and to use its service at your own risk.

As of this writing, Unroll.me has not been involved in any high-profile data breaches. 

Is Unroll.me Private?

No, Unroll.me is not considered good for privacy. 

Unroll.me has faced criticism in the past for selling user data to third parties without user permission or awareness. 

Specifically, in 2017, Unroll.me was caught selling user data to Uber in the form of e-receipts so that it could target customers using its competitor, Lyft. This prompted an outcry from users and an FTC investigation due to Unroll.me’s claims that it would not sell user data. 

Since then, Unroll.me’s website has been updated to say that it sells “measurement products and datasets to companies that want to learn more about their business, their markets, or their competitors,” indicating that user data may be sold. 

In its privacy policy, Unroll.me clarifies that data may be shared with its parent company and affiliates or sold to third parties. 

Unroll.me collects directly provided information (such as name, email, and additional account information) and authorized information (including subscription and registration information from your email). It also uses cookies and web beacons to track its users.

On its website, Unroll.me says it is not interested in personal emails but rather commercial and transactional ones. 

Unroll.me’s privacy policy has not yet received a grade from websites that review internet services’ privacy policies, such as Terms of Service; Didn’t Read.

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy on Unroll.me

For a safer and more private experience on Unroll.me, follow these steps:

• Review permissions carefully. Before granting Unroll.me access to your emails, review the permissions it requires. Ensure you understand what access you’re providing and what data will be collected.
• Use a secondary email account. Consider using Unroll.me with a secondary email account that you use primarily for subscriptions and newsletters. This way, your primary email remains private and less exposed to potential data sharing.
• Limit data sharing. Opt out of any data sharing options if available (California residents have more options here). Regularly check the Unroll.me privacy policy for any updates or changes (search for “opt out” or “stop” to bring up relevant sections).  
• Regularly delete processed emails. After Unroll.me processes and organizes your emails, manually delete the emails you no longer need from your inbox. This reduces the amount of data stored in your account that Unroll.me can access.
• Avoid sensitive emails. Do not use Unroll.me for email accounts that handle sensitive or confidential information, such as work emails or financial accounts. Restrict its use to personal accounts with less sensitive data.
• Monitor account activity. Regularly monitor your email account for any unusual activity. Check the security settings of your email provider for options to see recent login activity and ensure there are no unauthorized accesses.
• Turn on two-factor authentication. Enable two-factor authentication on your email account. While this won’t directly affect Unroll.me’s access, it adds an extra layer of security to your email account overall.
• Evaluate alternatives. Explore alternative services that are known to prioritize privacy.