GMX vs IONOS Mail
On privacy it's IONOS Mail. On price it's GMX. On features it's GMX. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
GMX or IONOS Mail: which should you choose?
- GMX suits you best if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; a free plan before you pay anything; and 65 GB of storage.
- IONOS Mail suits you best if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; to use your own domain, like you@yourname.co.uk; and a provider that's been going since 1988.
| Feature | GMX | IONOS Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Features | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents) | Mail Basic About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed) |
| Free plan | Yes, with adverts | No |
| Storage | 65 GB | 2 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Germany | Germany |
| Your data is kept in | Germany (European data centres) | UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed |
| Founded | 1997 | 1988 |
| Free trial | Free | Unknown |
| 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 | No |
| Aliases | Up to 10 addresses | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | 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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How GMX and IONOS Mail differ
- GMX's cheapest plan is Free (Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents)); IONOS Mail's is Mail Basic (About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed)).
- For free, GMX gives you a free plan (with adverts), and IONOS Mail no free plan.
- GMX comes with 65 GB of storage and IONOS Mail with 2 GB of storage.
- GMX keeps your mail in Germany (European data centres), while IONOS Mail keeps it in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
- IONOS Mail lets you bring your own domain name; GMX doesn't.
- Only GMX is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, GMX has up to 10 addresses and IONOS Mail has yes.
GMX and IONOS Mail: your questions
Which is more private, GMX or IONOS Mail?
IONOS Mail scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and GMX 2. IONOS Mail gives you a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Which is cheaper, GMX or IONOS Mail?
GMX costs nothing to start (Free (paid plans only for German and Austrian residents)). IONOS Mail's cheapest plan, Mail Basic, is About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed).
Do GMX and IONOS Mail work with my own domain?
Only IONOS Mail does (Yes). With GMX your address stays on its own domain.
Where do GMX and IONOS Mail keep my email?
GMX keeps it in Germany (European data centres). IONOS Mail keeps it in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
Recent price changes
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: GMX news · IONOS Mail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
GMX vs mailbox.org · IONOS Mail vs mailbox.org · GMX vs Posteo · IONOS Mail vs Posteo · GMX vs Proton Mail · IONOS Mail vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.