Gmail vs Posteo
Posteo wins on privacy, they tie on price and Gmail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Gmail is the better pick if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; a free plan to start on; and 15 GB of storage.
- Posteo suits you best if you want your mail kept in Germany; a provider with no advertising business behind it; and more built in, including PGP encryption as well as sieve filters.
| Feature | Gmail | Posteo |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 4.5 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 4.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month | Posteo €1 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB shared with Drive | No |
| Storage | 15 GB | 4 GB |
| Your own domain | No | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | United States | Germany |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | Germany |
| Founded | 2004 | 2009 |
| Free trial | Free | No, €1 a month from the start |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Plus addressing only | Yes (posteo.de only) |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | ✓ Yes |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: Gmail Free (Google One 100 GB for more space), Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month. Posteo Posteo, €1 a month.
- For free, Gmail gives you a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive), and Posteo no free plan.
- Gmail comes with 15 GB of storage and Posteo with 4 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with Gmail, and in Germany with Posteo.
- Gmail is based in the United States and Posteo in Germany, so different privacy laws apply.
- Gmail doesn't encrypt mail end to end; Posteo offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- Only Gmail is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Gmail has plus addressing only and Posteo has yes (posteo.de only).
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Gmail or Posteo?
Posteo scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and Gmail 0. Posteo gives you your mail kept in Germany, a provider with no advertising business behind it and open-source apps.
Which is cheaper, Gmail or Posteo?
Gmail costs nothing to start (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month). Posteo's cheapest plan, Posteo, is €1 a month.
Do Gmail and Posteo work with my own domain?
No, neither lets you use your own domain, so your address stays on theirs.
Where do Gmail and Posteo keep my email?
Gmail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Posteo keeps it in Germany.
Prices and the latest news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Gmail news · Posteo news.
Alternatives to Gmail and Posteo
Gmail vs mailbox.org · Posteo vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Proton Mail · Posteo vs Proton Mail · Gmail vs Tuta · Posteo vs Tuta
How to switch
Switching takes an evening to set up. Follow the steps for your direction: Gmail to Posteo · Posteo to Gmail.