Fastmail vs Kolab Now
In short: Kolab Now wins on privacy, Fastmail wins on price, and Fastmail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Fastmail or Kolab Now?
- Choose Fastmail if you want a cheaper plan, at $5 a month, yearly; 50 GB of storage; and more years of history: it started in 1999.
- Go for Kolab Now if you'd like open-source apps.
| Feature | Fastmail | Kolab Now |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Individual $5 a month, yearly | Mailbox CHF 5 a month |
| Free plan | No | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | 5 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Australia | Switzerland |
| Your data is kept in | EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups | Switzerland |
| Founded | 1999 | 2013 |
| Free trial | 30 days free | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Masked email and aliases | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| 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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Where they differ
- On price: Fastmail Individual at $5 a month, yearly, against Kolab Now Mailbox at CHF 5 a month.
- Fastmail comes with 50 GB of storage and Kolab Now with 5 GB of storage.
- Fastmail keeps your mail in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups, while Kolab Now keeps it in Switzerland.
- Fastmail is based in Australia and Kolab Now in Switzerland, so different privacy laws apply.
- For extra addresses, Fastmail has masked email and aliases and Kolab Now has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Fastmail or Kolab Now?
Kolab Now scores 3 out of 5 for privacy and Fastmail 2. Kolab Now gives you open-source apps.
Which is cheaper, Fastmail or Kolab Now?
Fastmail is cheaper. Its Individual plan is $5 a month, yearly, against CHF 5 a month for Kolab Now's Mailbox. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do Fastmail and Kolab Now work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Fastmail: Yes. Kolab Now: Yes.
Where do Fastmail and Kolab Now keep my email?
Fastmail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups. Kolab Now keeps it in Switzerland.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Fastmail news · Kolab Now news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Fastmail vs mailbox.org · Kolab Now vs mailbox.org · Fastmail vs Posteo · Kolab Now vs Posteo · Fastmail vs Proton Mail · Kolab Now vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Fastmail · Moving from Fastmail. Or see all my switching guides.