iCloud Mail vs Posteo
On privacy it's Posteo. On price it's a tie. On features it's iCloud Mail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 22 October 2026.
iCloud Mail or Posteo: which should you choose?
- iCloud Mail is the better pick if you want a free plan before you pay anything; email at your own domain name; and 50 GB of storage.
- Posteo suits you best if you want your mail kept in Germany; a cheaper plan, at €1 a month; and more built in, including PGP encryption as well as sieve filters.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | Posteo |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 4.5 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 4.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Posteo €1 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | 4 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | 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 | 2011 | 2009 |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | No, €1 a month from the start |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Hide My Email | 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 |
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Where they differ
- iCloud Mail's cheapest plan is iCloud+ 50 GB (£0.99 a month); Posteo's is Posteo (€1 a month).
- For free, iCloud Mail gives you a free plan (5 GB, no own domain), and Posteo no free plan.
- iCloud Mail comes with 50 GB of storage and Posteo with 4 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States and worldwide for iCloud Mail, Germany for Posteo.
- iCloud Mail is based in the United States and Posteo in Germany, so different privacy laws apply.
- iCloud Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end; Posteo offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- iCloud Mail lets you bring your own domain name; Posteo doesn't.
- For extra addresses, iCloud Mail has hide my email and Posteo has yes (posteo.de only).
iCloud Mail and Posteo: your questions
Which is more private, iCloud Mail or Posteo?
Posteo scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and iCloud Mail 0.5. Posteo gives you your mail kept in Germany, apps whose code is public and sign-up without ID.
Which is cheaper, iCloud Mail or Posteo?
Posteo is cheaper. Its Posteo plan is €1 a month, against £0.99 a month for iCloud Mail's iCloud+ 50 GB. iCloud Mail also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do iCloud Mail and Posteo work with my own domain?
Only iCloud Mail does (Up to 5). With Posteo your address stays on its own domain.
Where do iCloud Mail and Posteo keep my email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Posteo keeps it in Germany.
Recent price changes
- 1 July 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.99 (UK price rise, 2023)
- 1 June 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.79
The latest headlines: iCloud Mail news · Posteo news.
Alternatives to iCloud Mail and Posteo
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Posteo vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · Posteo vs Proton Mail · iCloud Mail vs Tuta · Posteo vs Tuta
Moving your email
Ready to move? My step-by-step guides cover your mail, contacts, forwarding and your own domain: iCloud Mail to Posteo · Posteo to iCloud Mail.