StartMail
Dutch encrypted email with PGP and custom domains
- #4 of 10 in best secure email providers
- Subscription
- Web
Ranked 4 of 10 in best secure email providers
Hosted in the Netherlands, with PGP encryption in the web app, unlimited aliases and no ads. It has no free plan beyond a 7-day trial that asks for payment details, so it costs money from the start.
Best for Paid private email with PGP and custom domains
About StartMail
StartMail is an email provider that says it is based in the Netherlands, so mail falls under Dutch privacy legislation and the GDPR, according to its site. It offers PGP encryption with one click, and recipients who do not use PGP can receive and reply to encrypted mail with a password you set for them.
Plans include an address on the StartMail domain or on a custom domain, unlimited aliases, and no ads or tracking. The individual plan is listed at $4.99 a month or $59.88 a year, and the site offers a 7-day free trial that asks for payment details at sign-up.
Key features
- PGP encryption
- Unlimited aliases
- Custom domain plans
- No ads or tracking
- Dutch hosting
Strengths
- Hosted in the Netherlands under Dutch and EU privacy law
- PGP encryption and password-protected replies
Limits
- No free plan beyond the 7-day trial
- The free trial asks for payment details
Where StartMail ranks
How StartMail compares
| Product | Score | Price | Platforms | Encryption | Hosting base | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#2 Tuta | 90.0 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WebiOSAndroidWindowsmacOSLinux | End-to-end, post-quantum | Germany (servers) | Yes |
#3 Mailfence | 86.5 | Free plan, paid upgrades | WebiOSAndroid | OpenPGP end-to-end in browser | Belgian privacy law | Yes |
| #4StartMail | 85.5 | Subscription | Web | PGP and password-protected replies | Netherlands | No |
#5 Posteo | 84.5 | Subscription | Web | Optional encryption of stored data | Berlin lab | No |
#6 Runbox | 83.0 | Subscription | Web | PGP-compatible, full disk at rest | Norway (Oslo) | No |
The full comparison table for best secure email providers has all 10 products.
Alternatives to StartMail
All 9 alternatives
Proton MailHas a free option; is open source; also runs on iOS, Android, macOS.- TutaHas a free option; is open source; also runs on iOS, Android, Windows.
- MailfenceHas a free option; also runs on iOS, Android.
- PosteoAd-free email from a Berlin lab with anonymous registration
- RunboxNorway-hosted email with browser PGP support and renewable power
mailbox.orgGerman email, drive and calendar hosted in German data centers
Questions about StartMail
- Is StartMail free?
- StartMail is a paid product (subscription). Paid from $4.99 a month after a 7-day free trial.
- Is StartMail open source?
- No. StartMail is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does StartMail support?
- StartMail is available on: Web.
- What is StartMail best for?
- Paid private email with PGP and custom domains. In our ranking of secure email providers it is number 4 of 10 with a score of 85.5.
- What are the best alternatives to StartMail?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are Proton Mail, Tuta, Mailfence, Posteo.
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<a href="https://listme.name/software/startmail"><img src="https://listme.name/badge/startmail.svg" height="28" alt="Ranked #4 of 10 secure email providers on listme.name"></a>Articles that mention StartMail
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