Forward Email vs Gandi Mail
In short: Gandi Mail wins on privacy, Forward Email wins on price, and they tie on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Forward Email or Gandi Mail: which should you choose?
- Choose Forward Email if you want a cheaper plan, at $3 a month; a free plan before you pay anything; and open-source apps.
- Choose Gandi Mail if you want your mailbox stored in France and a provider that's been going since 1999.
| Feature | Forward Email | Gandi Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Enhanced Protection $3 a month | Standard mailbox From £5.99 a mailbox a month, VAT included (£71.86 a year) |
| Free plan | Yes, forwarding only | No |
| Storage | 10 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Unlimited | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | United States | France |
| Your data is kept in | United States | France |
| Founded | 2017 | 1999 |
| 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 | ✓ Yes |
| 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.
The key differences
- On price: Forward Email Enhanced Protection at $3 a month, against Gandi Mail Standard mailbox at From £5.99 a mailbox a month, VAT included (£71.86 a year).
- For free, Forward Email gives you a free plan (forwarding only), and Gandi Mail no free plan.
- Your mail is stored in the United States with Forward Email, and in France with Gandi Mail.
- Forward Email is based in the United States and Gandi Mail in France, so different privacy laws apply.
- Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Gandi Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Forward Email or Gandi Mail?
Gandi Mail scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and Forward Email 2. Gandi Mail gives you your mailbox stored in France.
Which is cheaper, Forward Email or Gandi Mail?
Forward Email is cheaper. Its Enhanced Protection plan is $3 a month, against From £5.99 a mailbox a month, VAT included (£71.86 a year) for Gandi Mail's Standard mailbox. 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 Gandi Mail work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Forward Email: Unlimited. Gandi Mail: Yes.
Where do Forward Email and Gandi Mail keep my email?
Forward Email keeps it in the United States. Gandi Mail keeps it in France.
Prices and the latest news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 25 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Forward Email news · Gandi Mail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Forward Email vs mailbox.org · Gandi Mail vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs Posteo · Gandi Mail vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Proton Mail · Gandi Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.