mailbox.org vs StartMail
In short: mailbox.org wins on privacy, mailbox.org wins on price, and they tie on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 22 October 2026.
mailbox.org or StartMail: which should you choose?
- Choose mailbox.org if you want to pay less: €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026); open-source apps anyone can check; and to sign up without proving who you are.
| Feature | mailbox.org | StartMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Standard €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026) | Personal $4.99 a month |
| Free plan | No (30-day trial) | No (7-day trial) |
| Storage | 20 GB | 20 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ 1 |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | Germany | Netherlands |
| Your data is kept in | Germany | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2014 | 2014 |
| Free trial | 30 days free | 7 days free |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | Unlimited throwaway addresses |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | Offer 50% off |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- mailbox.org's cheapest plan is Standard (€3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026)); StartMail's is Personal ($4.99 a month).
- mailbox.org has no free plan; StartMail has no free plan.
- mailbox.org keeps your mail in Germany, while StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands.
- The companies sit under different laws: mailbox.org in Germany, StartMail in Netherlands.
- Aliases: mailbox.org offers yes, StartMail unlimited throwaway addresses.
mailbox.org and StartMail: your questions
Is mailbox.org more private than StartMail?
mailbox.org scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and StartMail 3.5. mailbox.org gives you open-source apps anyone can check and to sign up without proving who you are.
Is mailbox.org cheaper than StartMail?
mailbox.org is cheaper. Its Standard plan is €3 a month, yearly (from summer 2026), against $4.99 a month for StartMail's Personal. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with mailbox.org or StartMail?
Yes, both do. mailbox.org: Yes. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one.
Where is my email stored with mailbox.org and StartMail?
mailbox.org keeps it in Germany. StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands.
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 · StartMail news.
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Moving your email
Ready to move? My step-by-step guides cover your mail, contacts, forwarding and your own domain: mailbox.org to StartMail · StartMail to mailbox.org.