Forward Email vs Fasthosts
In short: Fasthosts wins on privacy, Fasthosts wins on price, and Forward Email wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Forward Email if you want to try it free first; 10 GB of storage; and calendar and contacts in the same account.
- Choose Fasthosts if you want your mailbox stored in the United Kingdom; the lower price (From £1 a month for the first year); and more years of history: it started in 1998.
| Feature | Forward Email | Fasthosts |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Enhanced Protection $3 a month | Email From £1 a month for the first year |
| Free plan | Yes, forwarding only | No |
| Storage | 10 GB | 2 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Unlimited | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | United States | United Kingdom (IONOS) |
| Your data is kept in | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2017 | 1998 |
| Free trial | Free plan | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Yes | 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 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Forward Email's cheapest plan is Enhanced Protection ($3 a month); Fasthosts's is Email (From £1 a month for the first year).
- For free, Forward Email gives you a free plan (forwarding only), and Fasthosts no free plan.
- Forward Email comes with 10 GB of storage and Fasthosts with 2 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States for Forward Email, United Kingdom for Fasthosts.
- Forward Email is based in the United States and Fasthosts in the United Kingdom (IONOS), so different privacy laws apply.
- Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Fasthosts doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
Forward Email and Fasthosts: your questions
Which is more private, Forward Email or Fasthosts?
Fasthosts scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and Forward Email 2. Fasthosts gives you your mailbox stored in the United Kingdom.
Which is cheaper, Forward Email or Fasthosts?
Fasthosts is cheaper. Its Email plan is From £1 a month for the first year, against $3 a month for Forward Email's Enhanced Protection. Forward Email also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do Forward Email and Fasthosts work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Forward Email: Unlimited. Fasthosts: Yes.
Where do Forward Email and Fasthosts keep my email?
Forward Email keeps it in the United States. Fasthosts keeps it in the United Kingdom.
Recent price changes
No price changes for either since 25 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Forward Email news · Fasthosts news.
Alternatives to Forward Email and Fasthosts
Forward Email vs mailbox.org · Fasthosts vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs Posteo · Fasthosts vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Proton Mail · Fasthosts vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.