Fastmail vs Outlook.com
Fastmail wins on privacy, Outlook.com wins on price and Fastmail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Go for Fastmail if you'd like your mail kept in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups; a provider with no advertising business behind it; and an address on your own domain.
- Go for Outlook.com if you'd like a mailbox that costs nothing and a free plan to start on.
| Feature | Fastmail | Outlook.com |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Individual $5 a month, yearly | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes, 15 GB |
| Storage | 50 GB | 15 GB |
| 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 and worldwide |
| Founded | 1999 | 1996 |
| Free trial | 30 days free | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| 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 Outlook.com differ
- Cheapest plans: Fastmail Individual, $5 a month, yearly. Outlook.com Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space), Free.
- For free, Fastmail gives you no free plan, and Outlook.com a free plan (15 GB).
- Fastmail comes with 50 GB of storage and Outlook.com with 15 GB of storage.
- Fastmail keeps your mail in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups, while Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide.
- Fastmail is based in Australia and Outlook.com in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Fastmail lets you bring your own domain name; Outlook.com doesn't.
- Only Outlook.com is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Fastmail has masked email and aliases and Outlook.com has yes.
Common questions
Which is more private, Fastmail or Outlook.com?
Fastmail scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. Fastmail gives you your mail kept in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups and a provider with no advertising business behind it.
Which is cheaper, Fastmail or Outlook.com?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). Fastmail's cheapest plan, Individual, is $5 a month, yearly.
Do Fastmail and Outlook.com work with my own domain?
Only Fastmail does (Yes). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Fastmail and Outlook.com keep my email?
Fastmail keeps it in the EU (Amsterdam) for UK customers, with a US replica and US backups. Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Fastmail news · Outlook.com news.
Alternatives to Fastmail and Outlook.com
Fastmail vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · Fastmail vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Posteo · Fastmail vs Proton Mail · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Ready to move? My step-by-step guides cover your mail, contacts, forwarding and your own domain: Fastmail to Outlook.com · Outlook.com to Fastmail.