If you’ve spent time in online privacy forums or security-focused communities, you’ve probably likely heard of Protonmail. You may have even tried the service out yourself. It is undoubtedly the most well-known secure webmail service, with over 100 million accounts, and has long been considered one of the greatest substitutes for Gmail for users who prefer greater control over the handling of their data.
Many fantastic services are available for free from email companies like Gmail and Yahoo. All of those freebies, though, have a price because these well-known email providers monitor your behavior and show you advertisements. Protonmail, on the other hand, employs end-to-end encryption, doesn’t gather any information that could be used to identify a user, and its basic edition is free. To benefit from all of the security features it provides, you should upgrade if you like it.
With so many advantages, it’s simple to understand why security-conscious internet users now choose it. Even yet, most people like options, and although there have historically been few options in the secure email market, this is beginning to change as a number of secure email providers have emerged in the last ten or so years. Although Protonmail remains the most popular secure email service, there are other options available.
Tuta Mail
If you’re looking for an alternative to Protonmail, Tuta (previously Tutanota), one of the top secure email companies, is worth a deeper look. They have servers located in Germany. Tuta operates on contributions and premium subscriptions, so you won’t have to worry about them collecting your data to sell to ads. Users can select from three distinct accounts when they first sign up for Tuta.
One GB of storage and one calendar are included with the free account; 20 GB of storage, unlimited calendars, 15 additional email addresses, and three custom domains are included with the Revolutionary account for €3/month or €36/year before taxes; and 500 GB of storage, unlimited calendars, 30 additional email addresses, and 10 custom domains are included with the Legend account for €9/month or €108/year.
Because Tuta has two-factor authentication, zero-knowledge architecture, and automatic end-to-end encryption with post-quantum safe cryptography, your data is never kept on its servers in plain text. This security is provided for Tuta Calendar and Mail. They don’t scan your emails and don’t have tracking or customized adverts, as you would expect from a secure email provider. By automatically banning photographs, the organization goes above and above to protect your privacy. Additional security against tracking pixels and hidden scripts is provided by limiting the loading of external material to when you open an email. You can download the Tuta Mail app on your iPhone or Android device.
Mailfence
“Privacy is a right, not a feature” is the first thing that greets you when you visit the Mailfence website. This is a sentiment that most individuals who are searching for a secure email service share. Despite its flaws, the Belgium-based email company generally meets this standard. You are using an email client that promises to protect your email from government surveillance, has no backdoor, and won’t track you when you log on to Mailfence. Although the service uses end-to-end encryption and stores your privacy key on its servers, no one at the firm can access it because it is encrypted with your passphrase.
One GB of storage (500 MB for emails and 500 MB for documents) is included in Mailfence’s free plan. The base plan costs $2.50/month and includes 11 GB of storage (5 GB for emails and 6 GB for documents) plus ten aliases. The Entry Plan costs $3.50/month and includes 40 GB of storage (10 GB for emails and 30 GB for documents) plus 50 aliases. Billing for the Base and Entry plans is done annually. Mailfence is compatible with iOS and Android.
Mailbox.org
If you’re seeking for a secure email solution that resembles Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, Mailbox.org might be the answer. Mailbox.org provides a full range of services, such as cloud storage, online office, and video conferencing, in addition to secure email. PGP encryption is used by Mailbox.org to protect your address book, calendar, and emails. Ads, tracking, two-factor authentication, anonymous payments, and needless data collecting are all absent. There isn’t a specific mobile app for the service.
The Germany-based Mailbox.org does not have a free plan, in contrast to Tuta and MailFence. Instead, its cheapest package, which includes two gigabytes of mail storage, three aliases (for team accounts), calendar and contacts only, and minimal support, would cost you at least €1 per month. For €3/month, you may upgrade to the Standard plan, which includes secure video conferencing, online office, 25 aliases @mailbox.org, 50 aliases @customdomains, 10 GB of mail storage, and regular support. 25 GB of mail storage, 50 GB of cloud storage, 25 aliases @mailbox.org, secure video conferences, priority help, and phone support are all included in the €9/month Premium account.
Hushmail
The oldest secure email service on this list and one of the oldest in the sector is Hushmail, a Canadian company that has been in operation since 1999. You receive an ad-free inbox and OpenPGP encryption to protect the privacy of your correspondence when you join up for the service. Hushmail functions similarly to other email services, with the exception that you can encrypt emails before sending them to safeguard private data. An email is immediately encrypted when sent to another Hushmail subscriber.
When you email someone who isn’t using Hushmail, they get a link that, once they establish a passphrase, takes them to a secure website where they can view your message. It is not possible to test it out before purchasing because there is no free Hushmaili option or trial for the personal account. Nonetheless, a sixty-day money-back guarantee is offered. The Hushmail Premium package, which includes 15GB of storage, costs $59.99 annually or $139 every three years. Hushmail has an iPhone app, but no Android app. The reviews for the iPhone app are quite mixed.
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StartMail
In terms of features, SmartMail offers nearly everything a user who is concerned about security could want, such as limitless aliases, no tracking, and no advertisements. Because the business and its servers are located in the Netherlands, they are shielded by some of the world’s most stringent privacy rules, including the GDPR of the EU and Dutch privacy legislation.
PGP encryption protects emails sent with SmartMail, and recipients can respond to your messages with a password you specify. In contrast to other free email services, SmartMail won’t sell your personal information to advertisers, build a profile on you, or analyze your emails to deliver relevant advertisements. To reduce spam and make it simpler to identify the source of any data leaks, you can choose to create a disposable email account for each service you sign up for.
The personal plan includes 20GB of storage, a 25% discount off additional accounts, and an email address with the StartMail domain or one custom domain. It costs $4.99/month or $3/month if paid annually. For $6.99 per month, or $4.20 per month if paid annually, you can open a business account if you require more services. An email address associated with your custom domain, 30GB of storage, the option to add an infinite number of domains, shared aliases with your custom domain in a group subscription, and a 25% discount on extra accounts are all included in the business account. A seven-day free trial is offered for both personal and commercial accounts, and Bitcoin can be used to pay for yearly subscriptions. There isn’t a mobile app for Startmail.