mailcow vs BT Email
On privacy it's BT Email. On price it's BT Email. On features it's BT Email. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick mailcow or BT Email?
- mailcow is the better pick if you want an address on your own domain; your diary and address book in one place with your email; and open-source apps.
| Feature | mailcow | BT Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Not rated | 2.0 |
| Privacy | Not rated | 1.5 |
| Price | Not rated | 2.0 |
| Features | Not rated | 2.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Open source Free | Premium email £7.50 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, open source | Basic email, webmail only |
| Storage | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Germany | United Kingdom |
| Your data is kept in | Your own server | Not confirmed |
| Founded | Unknown | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free to download | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Yes | Up to 10 extra addresses |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | Unknown | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 25 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
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The key differences
- mailcow's cheapest plan is Open source (Free); BT Email's is Premium email (£7.50 a month).
- For free, mailcow gives you a free plan (open source), and BT Email Basic email, webmail only.
- Data location: Your own server for mailcow, Not confirmed for BT Email.
- mailcow is based in Germany and BT Email in the United Kingdom, so different privacy laws apply.
- mailcow lets you bring your own domain name; BT Email doesn't.
- For extra addresses, mailcow has yes and BT Email has up to 10 extra addresses.
mailcow and BT Email: your questions
Do mailcow and BT Email work with my own domain?
Only mailcow does (Yes). With BT Email your address stays on its own domain.
Where do mailcow and BT Email keep my email?
mailcow keeps it in Your own server. BT Email keeps it in Not confirmed.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: mailcow news · BT Email news.
Alternatives to mailcow and BT Email
mailcow vs mailbox.org · BT Email vs mailbox.org · mailcow vs Posteo · BT Email vs Posteo · mailcow vs Proton Mail · BT Email vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Whichever you choose, the move follows the same steps. Pick your two providers for the steps.