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Mailfence vs StartMail

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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Mailfence
MailfencePrivate, encrypted email hosted in Belgium since 1999, with integrated calendar, documents, and contacts.
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StartMail
StartMailPrivate, encrypted email from the makers of Startpage, with unlimited aliases and no ads or tracking.
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Overview
Description

Mailfence is a secure and private email service based in Belgium, operating under strict European privacy law where only local judges with a court order can request user information. It provides end-to-end OpenPGP-compatible encryption and digital signatures, with encryption happening in the browser so that even Mailfence cannot read user emails.

StartMail is a privacy-focused encrypted email service built by the team behind the Startpage search engine. It offers PGP encryption, password-protected messages for non-encrypted recipients, and unlimited disposable email aliases to help users avoid spam and tracking, all hosted on GDPR-compliant servers in the Netherlands.

Pricing
Freemium
Paid (Subscription)
Category
Email Services
Email Services
Best for
Privacy-conscious individuals, families, and small-to-medium businesses
Privacy-conscious individuals and businesses seeking encrypted, ad-free email
Specifications
deployment
Cloud/SaaS
Cloud/SaaS
open source
No
No
api available
No
No
support options
Knowledge base and email support, with priority support on Pro and Ultra plans
Human customer support (no chatbots)
key integrations
IMAP, SMTP, POP3S, Exchange ActiveSync (EAS), custom domains with DKIM/SPF/DMARC
IMAP/SMTP compatible with Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Belgium-based with strong legal privacy protections requiring a local court order for data requests
  • Full productivity suite (email, calendar, documents, contacts) included even on paid tiers, not sold as separate add-ons
  • Supports standard protocols (IMAP/SMTP/POP/EAS) so it works with third-party mail clients, unlike some encrypted email rivals
  • Long track record, with the service originally launched in 1999
  • Unlimited email aliases, including auto-expiring burner aliases, help reduce spam without exposing a real address
  • PGP encryption with password-protected fallback lets encrypted mail reach recipients who do not use PGP
  • GDPR-compliant, Netherlands-based servers with no ads, tracking, or data profiling
  • Supports Bitcoin payment for annual plans, useful for privacy-conscious sign-ups
Cons
  • Free plan storage is very limited at 1 GB total
  • Paid plans are billed annually in most cases rather than offering flexible monthly billing
  • Encryption only works fully between Mailfence users or via manual OpenPGP key exchange, not automatically with all outside recipients
  • No native iOS or Android app; mobile access is limited to the web browser or manually configured third-party mail clients
  • Storage caps are modest (20GB personal, 30GB business) compared to mainstream free providers
  • Personal plan includes only one custom domain, requiring the Business plan for multiple domains
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
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Alternatives to StartMail

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Posteo
Posteo

Green, ad-free, privacy-focused email hosting from Germany

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Mailfence
Mailfence

Private, encrypted email hosted in Belgium since 1999, with integrated calendar, documents, and contacts.

Compare
Tuta Mail
Tuta Mail

End-to-end encrypted, ad-free email with quantum-safe cryptography.

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HEY
HEY

Privacy-focused email service from 37signals that screens new senders before they reach your inbox.

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Mailfence is the safer default for users who want an all‑in‑one encrypted suite and a free tier; StartMail is better for those who need unlimited disposable aliases and Bitcoin payment.

Key differences

  • •Mailfence includes integrated calendar, documents, and contacts; StartMail focuses on email only.
  • •StartMail offers unlimited disposable aliases and a password‑fallback PGP option; Mailfence does not.
  • •Mailfence provides a free plan (1 GB); StartMail requires a paid subscription.
  • •Mailfence supports Exchange ActiveSync and full DKIM/SPF/DMARC custom‑domain setup; StartMail supports only standard IMAP/SMTP.
  • •StartMail accepts Bitcoin payments; Mailfence does not.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

Mailfence offers a freemium tier with 1 GB storage; StartMail has no free option.

Mailfence

Ease of use / learning curve

Both lack native mobile apps and rely on web UI plus standard mail clients.

Tie

Features & depth

Mailfence bundles email, calendar, docs, contacts; StartMail provides only email with alias features.

Mailfence

Integrations & ecosystem

Mailfence adds Exchange ActiveSync and full DKIM/SPF/DMARC support; StartMail limited to IMAP/SMTP.

Mailfence

Collaboration

Mailfence’s integrated suite enables shared docs and calendar; StartMail lacks collaboration tools.

Mailfence

Support

StartMail offers human customer support; Mailfence provides only knowledge base and email support.

StartMail

Security & privacy

Both use OpenPGP encryption, two‑factor auth, and operate under strong EU privacy jurisdictions.

Tie

Choose Mailfence if…

Privacy‑focused individuals or SMBs needing a full productivity suite and a free option.

Choose StartMail if…

Users who prioritize unlimited disposable aliases and want to pay with Bitcoin.

Common questions

Can I use a custom domain with the basic plan?

Mailfence allows custom domains on paid plans; StartMail includes one domain on the Personal plan, more require Business.

Is there a mobile app for either service?

No native iOS or Android apps for either; both are accessed via web browser or configured in third‑party mail apps.

How does encrypted mail work with non‑PGP recipients?

StartMail provides password‑protected fallback encryption; Mailfence requires manual OpenPGP key exchange for non‑Mailfence users.