Fastmail vs DuckDuckGo Email Protection
On privacy it's Fastmail. On price it's DuckDuckGo Email Protection. On features it's Fastmail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Fastmail is the better pick if you want your email to stay in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups; email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts; and to use your own domain, like you@yourname.co.uk.
- Choose DuckDuckGo Email Protection if you want email without paying for it and a free plan before you pay anything.
| Feature | Fastmail | DuckDuckGo Email Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Individual $5 a month, yearly | Free Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes, unlimited @duck.com aliases |
| Storage | 50 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| 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 | 2021 |
| Free trial | 30 days free | 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 | Masked email and aliases | Unlimited aliases |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| 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 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- On price: Fastmail Individual at $5 a month, yearly, against DuckDuckGo Email Protection Free at Free.
- Fastmail has no free plan; DuckDuckGo Email Protection has a free plan (unlimited @duck.com aliases).
- Space: Fastmail gives 50 GB of storage, DuckDuckGo Email Protection no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Data location: EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups for Fastmail, United States for DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- The companies sit under different laws: Fastmail in Australia, DuckDuckGo Email Protection in United States.
- You can use your own domain with Fastmail, but not with DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- Mail apps: Fastmail 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; Fastmail doesn't.
- Aliases: Fastmail offers masked email and aliases, DuckDuckGo Email Protection unlimited aliases.
Common questions
Is Fastmail more private than DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
Fastmail scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and DuckDuckGo Email Protection 0. Fastmail gives you your email to stay in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups and email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts.
Is Fastmail cheaper than DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
DuckDuckGo Email Protection costs nothing to start (Free). Fastmail's cheapest plan, Individual, is $5 a month, yearly.
Can I use my own domain with Fastmail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
Only Fastmail does (Yes). With DuckDuckGo Email Protection your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Fastmail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
Fastmail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups. DuckDuckGo Email Protection keeps it in the United States.
Can I use Fastmail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection in Apple Mail or Outlook?
Fastmail works in any mail app over IMAP. DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Fastmail news · DuckDuckGo Email Protection news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Fastmail vs mailbox.org · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs mailbox.org · Fastmail vs Posteo · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Posteo · Fastmail vs Proton Mail · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Fastmail · Moving from Fastmail. Or see all my switching guides.