Paul O'Brieneverything email Subscribe

mail.com vs DuckDuckGo Email Protection

In short: they tie on privacy, they tie on price, and mail.com wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.

mail.com or DuckDuckGo Email Protection: which should you choose?

  • mail.com is the better pick if you want 65 GB of storage; the choice of any mail app over IMAP; and a calendar and contacts alongside your mail.
Featuremail.comDuckDuckGo Email Protection
Overall2.52.0
Privacy0.00.0
Price5.05.0
Features4.0Not rated
Cheapest planFree
Free
Free
Free
Free planYes, with advertsYes, unlimited @duck.com aliases
Storage65 GBForwards only
Your own domainNoNo
End-to-end encryptionNoNo
Company based in United States United States
Your data is kept in United States United States
Founded19952021
Free trialFreeFree
Funded by advertisingYes, or its parent company isYes, or its parent company is
Works in any mail app✓ IMAP and SMTPNo, its own apps only
Calendar and contacts✓ YesNo
AliasesUp to 10 addressesUnlimited aliases
Open-source appsNoNo
Sign up without IDNoNo
White labelNoNo
Reader offerNoneNone
Last checked25 October 202625 October 2026

Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.

How mail.com and DuckDuckGo Email Protection differ

  • For free, mail.com gives you a free plan (with adverts), and DuckDuckGo Email Protection a free plan (unlimited @duck.com aliases).
  • mail.com comes with 65 GB of storage and DuckDuckGo Email Protection with no storage, as it forwards mail on.
  • mail.com works in any mail app over IMAP, and DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
  • For extra addresses, mail.com has up to 10 addresses and DuckDuckGo Email Protection has unlimited aliases.

Common questions

Which is more private, mail.com or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?

They score the same for privacy: 0 out of 5 each. The differences are in the details, such as where your mail is kept (the United States for mail.com, the United States for DuckDuckGo Email Protection).

Which is cheaper, mail.com or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?

Their cheapest plans cost about the same: mail.com Free, DuckDuckGo Email Protection Free.

Do mail.com and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work with my own domain?

No, neither lets you use your own domain, so your address stays on theirs.

Where do mail.com and DuckDuckGo Email Protection keep my email?

Both keep it in the United States.

Do mail.com and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work in other mail apps?

mail.com works in any mail app over IMAP. DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.

Prices and the latest news

No price changes for either since 25 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.

The latest headlines: mail.com news · DuckDuckGo Email Protection news.

Also worth a look

mail.com vs mailbox.org · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs mailbox.org · mail.com vs Posteo · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Posteo · mail.com vs Proton Mail · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Proton Mail

How to switch

Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.

Get new posts and become a member

You're subscribing to Paul O'Brien - Insights, my newsletter. When I publish a new review, guide or explainer, it comes straight to your inbox. It's free, and you also become a member.

See everything members get

I'll send one email first so you can confirm it's you. Already subscribed? Sign in to manage your details