Forward Email vs Names.co.uk
In short: Names.co.uk wins on privacy, Forward Email wins on price, and Forward Email wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Forward Email or Names.co.uk?
- Forward Email suits you best if you want a cheaper plan, at $3 a month; a free plan to start on; and more room (10 GB, against 5 GB).
- Choose Names.co.uk if you want your mail kept in the United Kingdom.
| Feature | Forward Email | Names.co.uk |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Enhanced Protection $3 a month | Email £9.99 per user a month (£1 for the first month), or £109.89 a year |
| Free plan | Yes, forwarding only | No |
| Storage | 10 GB | 5 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Unlimited | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | United States | United Kingdom |
| Your data is kept in | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2017 | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free plan | £1 for the first month |
| 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 |
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The key differences
- On price: Forward Email Enhanced Protection at $3 a month, against Names.co.uk Email at £9.99 per user a month (£1 for the first month), or £109.89 a year.
- Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only); Names.co.uk has no free plan.
- Space: Forward Email gives 10 GB of storage, Names.co.uk 5 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the United States with Forward Email, and in the United Kingdom with Names.co.uk.
- The companies sit under different laws: Forward Email in United States, Names.co.uk in United Kingdom.
- On encryption, Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage), whereas Names.co.uk doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
Questions people ask
Is Forward Email more private than Names.co.uk?
Names.co.uk scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and Forward Email 2. Names.co.uk gives you your mail kept in the United Kingdom.
Is Forward Email cheaper than Names.co.uk?
Forward Email is cheaper. Its Enhanced Protection plan is $3 a month, against £9.99 per user a month (£1 for the first month), or £109.89 a year for Names.co.uk's Email. 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 Names.co.uk?
Yes, both do. Forward Email: Unlimited. Names.co.uk: Yes.
Where is my email stored with Forward Email and Names.co.uk?
Forward Email keeps it in the United States. Names.co.uk keeps it in the United Kingdom.
Prices and the latest news
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 · Names.co.uk news.
Alternatives to Forward Email and Names.co.uk
Forward Email vs mailbox.org · Names.co.uk vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs Posteo · Names.co.uk vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Proton Mail · Names.co.uk vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving between any two providers works the same way. Pick your two providers for the steps.