GMX vs Forward Email
They tie on privacy, GMX wins on price and Forward Email wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
GMX or Forward Email: which should you choose?
- Go for GMX if you'd like your mail kept in Germany (European data centres); email without paying for it; and more room (65 GB, against 10 GB).
- Forward Email suits you best if you want a provider with no advertising business behind it; an address on your own domain; and open-source apps anyone can check.
| Feature | GMX | Forward Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Free Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents) | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, with adverts | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 65 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | Germany | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Germany (European data centres) | United States |
| Founded | 1997 | 2017 |
| Free trial | Free | Free plan |
| 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 | Up to 10 addresses | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 25 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- GMX's cheapest plan is Free (Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents)); Forward Email's is Enhanced Protection ($3 a month).
- GMX has a free plan (with adverts); Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only).
- Space: GMX gives 65 GB of storage, Forward Email 10 GB of storage.
- GMX keeps your mail in Germany (European data centres), while Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
- The companies sit under different laws: GMX in Germany, Forward Email in United States.
- On encryption, GMX doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- You can use your own domain with Forward Email, but not with GMX.
- GMX (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Forward Email doesn't.
- Aliases: GMX offers up to 10 addresses, Forward Email yes.
Questions people ask
Is GMX more private than Forward Email?
They score the same for privacy: 2 out of 5 each. The differences are in the details, such as where your mail is kept (Germany (European data centres) for GMX, the United States for Forward Email).
Is GMX cheaper than Forward Email?
GMX costs nothing to start (Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents)). Forward Email's cheapest plan, Enhanced Protection, is $3 a month. Forward Email has a free plan too: forwarding only.
Can I use my own domain with GMX or Forward Email?
Only Forward Email does (Unlimited). With GMX your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with GMX and Forward Email?
GMX keeps it in Germany (European data centres). Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
No price changes for either since 25 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: GMX news · Forward Email news.
Alternatives to GMX and Forward Email
GMX vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs mailbox.org · GMX vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Posteo · GMX vs Proton Mail · Forward Email vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving between any two providers works the same way. Pick your two providers for the steps.