Fastmail vs Mailfence
Mailfence wins on privacy, Mailfence wins on price and Fastmail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Fastmail is the better pick if you want 50 GB of storage and a company with a longer track record (since 1999).
- Go for Mailfence if you'd like a cheaper plan, at €3.50 a month; to try it free first; and features the other lacks, like PGP encryption as well as pay with cash or crypto.
| Feature | Fastmail | Mailfence |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 3.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Individual $5 a month, yearly | Entry €3.50 a month |
| Free plan | No | Yes, 500 MB–1 GB, no own domain |
| Storage | 50 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | Australia | Belgium |
| Your data is kept in | EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups | Belgium |
| Founded | 1999 | 2013 |
| 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 | Masked email and aliases | Yes |
| 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 | 22 October 2026 |
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How Fastmail and Mailfence differ
- Fastmail's cheapest plan is Individual ($5 a month, yearly); Mailfence's is Entry (€3.50 a month).
- Fastmail has no free plan; Mailfence has a free plan (500 MB–1 GB, no own domain).
- Space: Fastmail gives 50 GB of storage, Mailfence 10 GB of storage.
- Data location: EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups for Fastmail, Belgium for Mailfence.
- The companies sit under different laws: Fastmail in Australia, Mailfence in Belgium.
- On encryption, Fastmail doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas Mailfence offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- Aliases: Fastmail offers masked email and aliases, Mailfence yes.
Questions people ask
Is Fastmail more private than Mailfence?
Mailfence scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Fastmail 2.
Is Fastmail cheaper than Mailfence?
Mailfence is cheaper. Its Entry plan is €3.50 a month, against $5 a month, yearly for Fastmail's Individual. Mailfence 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 or Mailfence?
Yes, both do. Fastmail: Yes. Mailfence: Yes.
Where is my email stored with Fastmail and Mailfence?
Fastmail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups. Mailfence keeps it in Belgium.
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 news · Mailfence news.
Alternatives to Fastmail and Mailfence
Fastmail vs mailbox.org · Mailfence vs mailbox.org · Fastmail vs Posteo · Mailfence vs Posteo · Fastmail vs Proton Mail · Mailfence vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Decided? These guides take you through moving your mail, contacts and address: Fastmail to Mailfence · Mailfence to Fastmail.