Calyx Institute

US nonprofit digital-rights organization offering privacy tools, memberships, hotspots and CalyxOS phones.

calyxinstitute.org

KYC: light
US
Evidence and facts →

US nonprofit digital-rights organization offering privacy tools, memberships, hotspots and CalyxOS phones.

Common usePrivacy ToolsPrivacy ToolsOperator dataHosted

Identity checkslight KYCDocument check: light · identity exposure level 1/4

Evidence and riskVerified evidenceCautionMaterial claims checked against current sources.; those sources show trade-offs worth reading.

Last reviewedReviewed 5 Sep 2026KYC checked 5 Sep 2026 · verified jurisdiction · Source → official siteHow to cite this pageSource coverageVerified evidenceRecorded riskCaution

Evidence and facts

CUNICULA SCORE 4.0

56/100Limited evidencePrivacy 14/25 · Control 7/20 · Transparency 8/20 · Security 17/25 · Accountability 10/10 · Cap 79 · Method

JURISDICTIONUS

CAUTIONMobile internet membership requires contact, shipping and payment data and uses Mobile Citizen and T-Mobile infrastructure. T-Mobile can observe network and location metadata, and Calyx recommends using a VPN. Encrypted membership data is hosted on Vultr. New CalyxOS phone memberships remain temporarily paused, while existing memberships and phones are unaffected.

AUDITED BYNo audit listed

OPERATOR DATAHosted operator recorded

SOURCE COVERAGE

Verified evidenceTHIRD-PARTY REPORTED8/12Reviewed 5 Sep 2026 · Source → official site

LAST CHECKED2026-08-27

LAST UPDATED2026-09-05

Specs

DOCUMENT CHECKlight

IDENTITY EXPOSURELevel 1/4

KYC TRIGGERSNo identity KYC to use Calyx tools, but memberships/hardware require user-provided contact/shipping and payment data; privacy policy says cash or Bitcoin payments retain only provided information plus membership ID.

FEECalyxOS is free; mobile internet memberships start at USD 500/year

CATEGORIESPrivacy Tools

FEATURESCalyxOS, Android fork, microG included, Pixel, Motorola, Fairphone and SHIFT support, Open source, VPN included with mobile internet membership, No Google account required

TORNot listed

REGIONSGlobal availability

Review analysis, source material, related services, and history

Analysis

OVERVIEW

Calyx Institute is a US nonprofit running CalyxOS alongside donations, memberships and mobile hotspots, with CalyxOS shipping on Pixel and Motorola devices with microG included and no Google account required.

LIMITS

The nonprofit operates in US/Five Eyes jurisdiction and received Open Technology Fund (US State Department/USAGM) money for CalyxOS development, and membership, shipping and payment records can be disclosed under lawful orders.

USEFUL FOR

A fit for people wanting a de-googled Android build or choosing to fund digital-rights work through membership, within US jurisdiction.

Sources · reviewed 2026-07-16

Official site ↗

Corporate identity

Registry-sourced, not audited. The facts below come from cited web research rather than a direct registry query. Each claim links its own source.

LEGAL ENTITY: The Calyx Institute (CALYX INSTITUTE)source ↗
REGISTRATION NO.: EIN 27-2800937; NY DOS ID 3951504source ↗
INCORPORATED IN: New York, United Statessource ↗
INCORPORATED ON: 2010-05-19source ↗
REGISTERED ADDRESS: 254 36th St Ste C660, Brooklyn, NY 11232, USAsource ↗
PARENT ENTITY: nonesource ↗
ULTIMATE OWNER: none (501(c)(3) public charity)source ↗

OFFICERS

Nicholas Merrill (President)
Ellen McDermott (Interim Executive Director)
Eric Bortel (Engineering Director)
Benjamin Knauss (Finance Director)
Ashi Krishnan (Director)
Liz O'Sullivan (Director)
Carey Shenkman (Director)
Kobi Snitz (Director)

source ↗

Registry research · reviewed 2026-08-09

Company registry ↗

Frequently Asked Questions

Is identity verification required?

The recorded KYC level is "light". No identity KYC to use Calyx tools, but memberships/hardware require user-provided contact/shipping and payment data; privacy policy says cash or Bitcoin payments retain only provided information plus membership ID.

Which payment methods are accepted?

Please check the provider site for accepted payment methods.

Where is it available?

Recorded availability: GLOBAL.

Is the operator based in a Five Eyes country?

Yes. The recorded jurisdiction is US, a Five Eyes country (US, UK, CA, AU, NZ). This is jurisdiction context and does not by itself establish that a service is safer or less safe.

How are identity, operator, and evidence fields reported?

Identity exposure is level 1 of 4. A hosted operator is recorded. Jurisdiction is shown as context, not a safety verdict. Source coverage is verified evidence, last reviewed 2026-09-05, and recorded risk is caution.

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Sources and history

Terms and privacy policy

No changes to the documents we watch since we started checking on 9 Aug 2026. Last checked 9 Aug 2026.

Service history

Latest meaningful changes to the facts shown on this provider page.

5 Sep 2026
Review overdue providers against current sources
Features, Fee, KYC last checked, Last reviewed, and 3 more
26 Aug 2026
Apply full-service rereview and score 4.0
Privacy warning, Score assessment
9 Aug 2026
Corporate registry information updated
Corporate

Full service history

5 Sep 2026updated
Review overdue providers against current sources
Features
CalyxOS, Android fork, microG included, Pixel + Motorola, Open source, VPN included, No Google accountCalyxOS, Android fork, microG included, Pixel, Motorola, Fairphone and SHIFT support, Open source, VPN included with mobile internet membership, No Google account required
Fee
Free (membership optional)CalyxOS is free; mobile internet memberships start at USD 500/year
KYC last checked
2026-06-222026-09-05
Last reviewed
2026-06-222026-09-05
Privacy warning
Mobile-internet membership requires contact/account data and uses T-Mobile/Mobile Citizen infrastructure. New CalyxOS phone memberships are temporarily paused; current memberships and phones are unaffected.Mobile internet membership requires contact, shipping and payment data and uses Mobile Citizen and T-Mobile infrastructure. T-Mobile can observe network and location metadata, and Calyx recommends using a VPN. Encrypted membership data is hosted on Vultr. New CalyxOS phone memberships remain temporarily paused, while existing memberships and phones are unaffected.
Source reviewed
official sitehttps://calyxinstitute.org/membership
Updated at
2026-06-222026-09-05
Review source: official site · public history entry
27 Aug 2026updated
Reconcile score 4.0 evidence
Checked at
2026-06-242026-08-27
Score assessment / Operator data exposure
limitedmoderate
Score assessment / Source model
openpartial
Score review
not setOutcome: HOLD; Checked at: 2026-08-27; Inputs: Operator data exposure: moderate; Control model: hosted-account; Source model: partial; Audit: Score eligible: no; Reason: No current organization/service-wide independent audit citation/date/scope established.
Review source: official site · public history entry
26 Aug 2026updated
Apply full-service rereview and score 4.0
Privacy warning
US/Five Eyes nonprofit; membership, shipping and payment records can be disclosed under lawful orders despite privacy-forward policies.Mobile-internet membership requires contact/account data and uses T-Mobile/Mobile Citizen infrastructure. New CalyxOS phone memberships are temporarily paused; current memberships and phones are unaffected.
Score assessment
not setOperator data exposure: limited; Control model: hosted-account; Source model: open
Review source: official site · public history entry
9 Aug 2026updated
Corporate registry information updated
Corporate
not setEntity type: foundation; Governance model: foundation; Repository url: https://gitlab.com/CalyxOS; Legal entity: The Calyx Institute (CALYX INSTITUTE); Registration number: EIN 27-2800937; NY DOS ID 3951504; Registry url: https://apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry/; Incorporation jurisdiction: New York, United States; Incorporation date: 2010-05-19; Registered address: 254 36th St Ste C660, Brooklyn, NY 11232, USA; Parent entity: none; Ultimate owner: none (501(c)(3) public charity); Officers: Nicholas Merrill (President), Ellen McDermott (Interim Executive Director), Eric Bortel (Engineering Director), Benjamin Knauss (Finance Director), Ashi Krishnan (Director), Liz O'Sullivan (Director), Carey Shenkman (Director), Kobi Snitz (Director)
Review source: official site · public history entry
8 Aug 2026updated
Provider summary rewritten
Description
US nonprofit digital-rights organization offering privacy tools, donations, memberships, mobile hotspots and CalyxOS phone memberships; not just the CalyxOS ROM.US nonprofit digital-rights organization offering privacy tools, memberships, hotspots and CalyxOS phones.
Review source: official site · public history entry
7 Aug 2026updated
Provider summary rewritten
Card summary
not setUS nonprofit privacy tools and hotspots.
Review source: official site · public history entry
6 Aug 2026updated
Provider presentation updated
Best for
General usagenot set
Evidence status
not setverified
Recorded risk
not setcaution
Tagline
A privacy-preserving tool offering genuine utility.not set
Trust level
cautionnot set
Review source: official site · public history entry
24 Jun 2026updated
Provider facts reviewed and updated
Checked at
2026-06-222026-06-24
Geo
GLOBALUS, CA, PR
Review source: official site · public history entry
23 Jun 2026updated
Provider facts reviewed and updated
Checked at
2026-03-012026-06-22
Description
CalyxOS — privacy-focused Android fork with microG for app compatibility. Supports Pixel and some Motorola devices. Includes Riseup VPN. (Zero KYC)US nonprofit digital-rights organization offering privacy tools, donations, memberships, mobile hotspots and CalyxOS phone memberships; not just the CalyxOS ROM.
Jurisdiction confidence
inferredverified
KYC requirement
nonelight
KYC last checked
2026-03-012026-06-22
KYC level
01
Kyc note
Advertises No-KYC, but strictly adhere to OPSEC rules. Access via Tor, pay with XMR.No identity KYC to use Calyx tools, but memberships/hardware require user-provided contact/shipping and payment data; privacy policy says cash or Bitcoin payments retain only provided information plus membership ID.
Last reviewed
2026-03-012026-06-22
Privacy warning
Five Eyes JurisdictionUS/Five Eyes nonprofit; membership, shipping and payment records can be disclosed under lawful orders despite privacy-forward policies.
Source reviewed
older source, not independently verifiedofficial site
Updated at
2026-03-132026-06-22
Review source: official site · public history entry
22 Jun 2026updated
Ship trust audit remediation pass
Jurisdiction confidence
not setinferred
KYC last checked
not set2026-03-01
Last reviewed
not set2026-03-01
Source reviewed
not setolder source, not independently verified
Review source: older source, not independently verified · public history entry
7 Apr 2026updated
Drop warrantCanary trust signal
Warrant canary
nonot set
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
29 Mar 2026updated
KYC risk level system + advanced directory filters
KYC level
zero0
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
14 Mar 2026updated
Offline status bug, vetted grid, news/projects img tags
Status
liveok
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
14 Mar 2026updated
Provider presentation updated
Updated at
not set2026-03-13
Votes
0not set
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
10 Mar 2026updated
Provider facts reviewed and updated
Best for
not setGeneral usage
Kyc note
not setAdvertises No-KYC, but strictly adhere to OPSEC rules. Access via Tor, pay with XMR.
Privacy warning
not setFive Eyes Jurisdiction
Tagline
not setA privacy-preserving tool offering genuine utility.
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
8 Mar 2026updated
Social links re-verified
Telegram
https://t.me/calyxinstitutenot set
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
8 Mar 2026updated
Social links re-verified
Telegram
not sethttps://t.me/calyxinstitute
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
8 Mar 2026updated
Social links re-verified
Telegram
https://t.me/calyx-institutenot set
Twitter
https://x.com/calyx-institutehttps://x.com/calyxinstitute
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
8 Mar 2026updated
Social links re-verified
Telegram
not sethttps://t.me/calyx-institute
Twitter
not sethttps://x.com/calyx-institute
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
8 Mar 2026updated
Trust fields for all 77 services + provider page trust display
Audited by
not setnot set
Jurisdiction
not setUS
Trust level
not setcaution
Warrant canary
not setno
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry
8 Mar 2026created
Provider presentation updated
Provider profile
not setcreated
Review source: source not recorded · public history entry

Only fields shown on the provider page are tracked. Private identifiers are never published.

Evidence basis: Claims on this page are linked to published sources for comparison, not certification, audit, endorsement, or recommendation; read the methodology and coverage map before relying on an entry.