mailbox.org vs CounterMail
Mailbox.org wins on privacy, they tie on price and mailbox.org wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Should you pick mailbox.org or CounterMail?
- Choose mailbox.org if you want a cheaper plan, at €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026); more room (20 GB, against 4 GB); and open-source apps anyone can check.
- CounterMail suits you best if you want end-to-end encryption built in.
| Feature | mailbox.org | CounterMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Price | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Standard €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026) | Premium, 12 months $4 a month, paid yearly ($49) |
| Free plan | No (30-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | 4 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | ✓ Built in |
| Company based in | Germany | Sweden |
| Your data is kept in | Germany | Sweden |
| Founded | 2014 | Unknown |
| Free trial | 30 days free | Unknown |
| 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 | ✓ Yes | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- On price: mailbox.org Standard at €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026), against CounterMail Premium, 12 months at $4 a month, paid yearly ($49).
- mailbox.org has no free plan; CounterMail has no free plan.
- Space: mailbox.org gives 20 GB of storage, CounterMail 4 GB of storage.
- mailbox.org keeps your mail in Germany, while CounterMail keeps it in Sweden.
- The companies sit under different laws: mailbox.org in Germany, CounterMail in Sweden.
- On encryption, mailbox.org offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage), whereas CounterMail encrypts mail end to end.
Common questions
Is mailbox.org more private than CounterMail?
mailbox.org scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and CounterMail 4. mailbox.org gives you open-source apps anyone can check and an account that doesn't need your phone number or ID.
Is mailbox.org cheaper than CounterMail?
mailbox.org is cheaper. Its Standard plan is €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026), against $4 a month, paid yearly ($49) for CounterMail's Premium, 12 months. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with mailbox.org or CounterMail?
Yes, both do. mailbox.org: Yes. CounterMail: Yes.
Where is my email stored with mailbox.org and CounterMail?
mailbox.org keeps it in Germany. CounterMail keeps it in Sweden.
Price changes and news
- 1 September 2026 mailbox.org: €3.00 (announced 15 July 2026)
- 1 June 2026 mailbox.org: €2.50
The latest headlines: mailbox.org news · CounterMail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
mailbox.org vs Posteo · CounterMail vs Posteo · mailbox.org vs Proton Mail · CounterMail vs Proton Mail · mailbox.org vs Tuta · CounterMail vs Tuta
Moving your email
Moving to mailbox.org · Moving from mailbox.org. Or see all my switching guides.