mailbox.org vs Mail-in-a-Box
Mailbox.org wins on privacy, mailbox.org wins on price and mailbox.org wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
mailbox.org or Mail-in-a-Box: which should you choose?
- mailbox.org suits you best if you want your mail kept in Germany and an account that doesn't need your phone number or ID.
- Mail-in-a-Box is the better pick if you want a free plan before you pay anything.
| Feature | mailbox.org | Mail-in-a-Box |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | Not rated |
| Privacy | 4.5 | Not rated |
| Price | 4.0 | Not rated |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Standard €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026) | Open source Free |
| Free plan | No (30-day trial) | Yes, open source |
| Storage | 20 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Germany | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Germany | Your own server |
| Founded | 2014 | 2013 |
| Free trial | 30 days free | Free to download |
| 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 | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How mailbox.org and Mail-in-a-Box differ
- On price: mailbox.org Standard at €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026), against Mail-in-a-Box Open source at Free.
- For free, mailbox.org gives you no free plan, and Mail-in-a-Box a free plan (open source).
- mailbox.org comes with 20 GB of storage and Mail-in-a-Box with storage not confirmed.
- mailbox.org keeps your mail in Germany, while Mail-in-a-Box keeps it in Your own server.
- mailbox.org is based in Germany and Mail-in-a-Box in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- mailbox.org offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Mail-in-a-Box doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
mailbox.org and Mail-in-a-Box: your questions
Do mailbox.org and Mail-in-a-Box work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. mailbox.org: Yes. Mail-in-a-Box: Yes.
Where do mailbox.org and Mail-in-a-Box keep my email?
mailbox.org keeps it in Germany. Mail-in-a-Box keeps it in Your own server.
Prices and the latest 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 · Mail-in-a-Box news.
Alternatives to mailbox.org and Mail-in-a-Box
mailbox.org vs Posteo · Mail-in-a-Box vs Posteo · mailbox.org vs Proton Mail · Mail-in-a-Box vs Proton Mail · mailbox.org vs Tuta · Mail-in-a-Box vs Tuta
Moving your email
Moving to mailbox.org · Moving from mailbox.org. Or see all my switching guides.