Mailfence vs Forward Email
In short: Mailfence wins on privacy, they tie on price, and they tie on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Mailfence or Forward Email: which should you choose?
- Go for Mailfence if you'd like your mail kept in Belgium.
- Forward Email suits you best if you want the lower price ($3 a month) and open-source apps.
| Feature | Mailfence | Forward Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 2.0 |
| Price | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Entry €3.50 a month | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 500 MB–1 GB, no own domain | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 10 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | Belgium | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Belgium | United States |
| Founded | 2013 | 2017 |
| Free trial | Free plan | Free plan |
| 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 | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | 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.
The key differences
- Cheapest plans: Mailfence Entry, €3.50 a month. Forward Email Enhanced Protection, $3 a month.
- Mailfence has a free plan (500 MB–1 GB, no own domain); Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only).
- Mailfence keeps your mail in Belgium, while Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
- The companies sit under different laws: Mailfence in Belgium, Forward Email in United States.
Questions people ask
Is Mailfence more private than Forward Email?
Mailfence scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Forward Email 2. Mailfence gives you your mail kept in Belgium.
Is Mailfence cheaper than Forward Email?
Forward Email is cheaper. Its Enhanced Protection plan is $3 a month, against €3.50 a month for Mailfence's Entry. Forward Email and Mailfence also have a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Mailfence or Forward Email?
Yes, both do. Mailfence: Yes. Forward Email: Unlimited.
Where is my email stored with Mailfence and Forward Email?
Mailfence keeps it in Belgium. Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Mailfence news · Forward Email news.
Alternatives to Mailfence and Forward Email
Mailfence vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs mailbox.org · Mailfence vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Posteo · Mailfence vs Proton Mail · Forward Email vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Mailfence · Moving from Mailfence. Or see all my switching guides.