Forward Email vs IONOS Mail
IONOS Mail wins on privacy, IONOS Mail wins on price and Forward Email wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Forward Email is the better pick if you want a free plan to start on; 10 GB of storage; and a calendar and contacts alongside your mail.
- Choose IONOS Mail if you want your email to stay in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed; to pay less: About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed); and a provider that's been going since 1988.
| Feature | Forward Email | IONOS Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Features | 4.5 | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Enhanced Protection $3 a month | Mail Basic About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed) |
| 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 | Germany |
| Your data is kept in | United States | UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed |
| Founded | 2017 | 1988 |
| 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 | 22 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- On price: Forward Email Enhanced Protection at $3 a month, against IONOS Mail Mail Basic at About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed).
- Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only); IONOS Mail has no free plan.
- Space: Forward Email gives 10 GB of storage, IONOS Mail 2 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the United States with Forward Email, and in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed with IONOS Mail.
- The companies sit under different laws: Forward Email in United States, IONOS Mail in Germany.
- On encryption, Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage), whereas IONOS Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
Questions people ask
Is Forward Email more private than IONOS Mail?
IONOS Mail scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and Forward Email 2. IONOS Mail gives you your email to stay in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
Is Forward Email cheaper than IONOS Mail?
IONOS Mail is cheaper. Its Mail Basic plan is About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed), 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.
Can I use my own domain with Forward Email or IONOS Mail?
Yes, both do. Forward Email: Unlimited. IONOS Mail: Yes.
Where is my email stored with Forward Email and IONOS Mail?
Forward Email keeps it in the United States. IONOS Mail keeps it in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
Prices and the latest news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Forward Email news · IONOS Mail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Forward Email vs mailbox.org · IONOS Mail vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs Posteo · IONOS Mail vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Proton Mail · IONOS Mail vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving between any two providers works the same way. Pick your two providers for the steps.