Firefox Relay vs IONOS Mail
In short: IONOS Mail wins on privacy, Firefox Relay wins on price, and IONOS Mail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Firefox Relay suits you best if you want the lower price ($0.99 a month); a free plan to start on; and open-source apps.
- IONOS Mail suits you best if you want your mailbox stored in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed; email at your own domain name; and more room (2 GB, against none).
| Feature | Firefox Relay | IONOS Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 1.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Features | Not rated | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Premium $0.99 a month | Mail Basic About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed) |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 aliases | No |
| Storage | Forwards only | 2 GB |
| Your own domain | Own subdomain only | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States (Mozilla) | Germany |
| Your data is kept in | United States | UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed |
| Founded | 2020 | 1988 |
| Free trial | Free plan | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | No, its own apps only | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | No | No |
| Aliases | Unlimited aliases | Yes |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 25 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: Firefox Relay Premium, $0.99 a month. IONOS Mail Mail Basic, About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed).
- For free, Firefox Relay gives you a free plan (5 aliases), and IONOS Mail no free plan.
- Firefox Relay comes with no storage, as it forwards mail on and IONOS Mail with 2 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States for Firefox Relay, UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed for IONOS Mail.
- Firefox Relay is based in the United States (Mozilla) and IONOS Mail in Germany, so different privacy laws apply.
- IONOS Mail lets you bring your own domain name; Firefox Relay doesn't.
- Firefox Relay only works in its own apps, and IONOS Mail works in any mail app over IMAP.
- For extra addresses, Firefox Relay has unlimited aliases and IONOS Mail has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Firefox Relay or IONOS Mail?
IONOS Mail scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and Firefox Relay 1. IONOS Mail gives you your mailbox stored in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
Which is cheaper, Firefox Relay or IONOS Mail?
Firefox Relay is cheaper. Its Premium plan is $0.99 a month, against About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed) for IONOS Mail's Mail Basic. Firefox Relay also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do Firefox Relay and IONOS Mail work with my own domain?
Only IONOS Mail does (Yes). With Firefox Relay your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Firefox Relay and IONOS Mail keep my email?
Firefox Relay keeps it in the United States. IONOS Mail keeps it in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
Do Firefox Relay and IONOS Mail work in other mail apps?
Firefox Relay only works in its own apps. IONOS Mail works in any mail app over IMAP.
Prices and the latest news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Firefox Relay news · IONOS Mail news.
Alternatives to Firefox Relay and IONOS Mail
Firefox Relay vs mailbox.org · IONOS Mail vs mailbox.org · Firefox Relay vs Posteo · IONOS Mail vs Posteo · Firefox Relay vs Proton Mail · IONOS Mail vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.