CounterMail vs DuckDuckGo Email Protection
In short: CounterMail wins on privacy, DuckDuckGo Email Protection wins on price, and CounterMail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- CounterMail suits you best if you want encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail; your mailbox stored in Sweden; and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
- Choose DuckDuckGo Email Protection if you want email without paying for it and a free plan to start on.
| Feature | CounterMail | DuckDuckGo Email Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 4.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Premium, 12 months $4 a month, paid yearly ($49) | Free Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes, unlimited @duck.com aliases |
| Storage | 4 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | No |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ Built in | No |
| Company based in | Sweden | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Sweden | United States |
| Founded | Unknown | 2021 |
| Free trial | Unknown | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Yes | Unlimited aliases |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | Unknown | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 25 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- On price: CounterMail Premium, 12 months at $4 a month, paid yearly ($49), against DuckDuckGo Email Protection Free at Free.
- CounterMail has no free plan; DuckDuckGo Email Protection has a free plan (unlimited @duck.com aliases).
- Space: CounterMail gives 4 GB of storage, DuckDuckGo Email Protection no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Your mail is stored in Sweden with CounterMail, and in the United States with DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- The companies sit under different laws: CounterMail in Sweden, DuckDuckGo Email Protection in United States.
- On encryption, CounterMail encrypts mail end to end, whereas DuckDuckGo Email Protection doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- You can use your own domain with CounterMail, but not with DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- Mail apps: CounterMail works in any mail app over IMAP; DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
- DuckDuckGo Email Protection (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; CounterMail doesn't.
- Aliases: CounterMail offers yes, DuckDuckGo Email Protection unlimited aliases.
CounterMail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection: your questions
Is CounterMail more private than DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
CounterMail scores 4 out of 5 for privacy and DuckDuckGo Email Protection 0. CounterMail gives you encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail, your mailbox stored in Sweden and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is CounterMail cheaper than DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
DuckDuckGo Email Protection costs nothing to start (Free). CounterMail's cheapest plan, Premium, 12 months, is $4 a month, paid yearly ($49).
Can I use my own domain with CounterMail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
Only CounterMail does (Yes). With DuckDuckGo Email Protection your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with CounterMail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
CounterMail keeps it in Sweden. DuckDuckGo Email Protection keeps it in the United States.
Can I use CounterMail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection in Apple Mail or Outlook?
CounterMail works in any mail app over IMAP. DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
Prices and the latest news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 25 October 2026.
The latest headlines: CounterMail news · DuckDuckGo Email Protection news.
Also worth a look
CounterMail vs mailbox.org · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs mailbox.org · CounterMail vs Posteo · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Posteo · CounterMail vs Proton Mail · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving between any two providers works the same way. Pick your two providers for the steps.