Forward Email vs STRATO Mail
STRATO Mail wins on privacy, they tie on price and Forward Email wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Forward Email if you want to pay less: $3 a month; a free plan to start on; and more room (10 GB, against 2 GB).
- Choose STRATO Mail if you want your mailbox stored in Germany.
| Feature | Forward Email | STRATO Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Enhanced Protection $3 a month | Mail Basic €3 a month |
| 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 | Germany |
| Founded | 2017 | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free plan | 1 month free |
| 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 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How Forward Email and STRATO Mail differ
- Forward Email's cheapest plan is Enhanced Protection ($3 a month); STRATO Mail's is Mail Basic (€3 a month).
- For free, Forward Email gives you a free plan (forwarding only), and STRATO Mail no free plan.
- Forward Email comes with 10 GB of storage and STRATO Mail with 2 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States for Forward Email, Germany for STRATO Mail.
- Forward Email is based in the United States and STRATO Mail in Germany, so different privacy laws apply.
- Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); STRATO Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
Forward Email and STRATO Mail: your questions
Which is more private, Forward Email or STRATO Mail?
STRATO Mail scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and Forward Email 2. STRATO Mail gives you your mailbox stored in Germany.
Which is cheaper, Forward Email or STRATO Mail?
Forward Email is cheaper. Its Enhanced Protection plan is $3 a month, against €3 a month for STRATO Mail's Mail Basic. 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 STRATO Mail work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. Forward Email: Unlimited. STRATO Mail: Yes.
Where do Forward Email and STRATO Mail keep my email?
Forward Email keeps it in the United States. STRATO Mail keeps it in Germany.
Price changes and news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Forward Email news · STRATO Mail news.
Alternatives to Forward Email and STRATO Mail
Forward Email vs Posteo · STRATO Mail vs Posteo · Forward Email vs mailbox.org · STRATO Mail vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs Proton Mail · STRATO Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.