Fastmail for Business vs Forward Email
In short: they tie on privacy, Forward Email wins on price, and Fastmail for Business wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Fastmail for Business or Forward Email?
- Go for Fastmail for Business if you'd like your mailbox stored in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups; 50 GB of storage; and a company with a longer track record (since 1999).
- Forward Email is the better pick if you want a cheaper plan, at $3 a month; a free plan before you pay anything; and open-source apps.
| Feature | Fastmail for Business | Forward Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Standard $5 per user a month ($4.17 yearly) | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | No | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 50 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 100 | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | Australia | United States |
| Your data is kept in | EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups | United States |
| Founded | 1999 | 2017 |
| Free trial | 30 days free | Free plan |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | Offer 10% off your first year, plus a free trial of up to 30 days | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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How Fastmail for Business and Forward Email differ
- Fastmail for Business's cheapest plan is Standard ($5 per user a month ($4.17 yearly)); Forward Email's is Enhanced Protection ($3 a month).
- Fastmail for Business has no free plan; Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only).
- Space: Fastmail for Business gives 50 GB of storage, Forward Email 10 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups with Fastmail for Business, and in the United States with Forward Email.
- The companies sit under different laws: Fastmail for Business in Australia, Forward Email in United States.
- On encryption, Fastmail for Business doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
Questions people ask
Is Fastmail for Business more private than Forward Email?
They score the same for privacy: 2 out of 5 each. The differences are in the details, such as where your mail is kept (the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups for Fastmail for Business, the United States for Forward Email).
Is Fastmail for Business cheaper than Forward Email?
Forward Email is cheaper. Its Enhanced Protection plan is $3 a month, against $5 per user a month ($4.17 yearly) for Fastmail for Business's Standard. Forward Email also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Fastmail for Business or Forward Email?
Yes, both do. Fastmail for Business: Up to 100. Forward Email: Unlimited.
Where is my email stored with Fastmail for Business and Forward Email?
Fastmail for Business keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups. Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Fastmail for Business news · Forward Email news.
Also worth a look
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Moving your email
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