Mailfence vs StartMail
On privacy it's a tie. On price it's Mailfence. On features it's StartMail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 22 October 2026.
Mailfence or StartMail: which should you choose?
- Go for Mailfence if you'd like the lower price (€3.50 a month) and a free plan to start on.
- StartMail suits you best if you want 20 GB of storage.
| Feature | Mailfence | StartMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Features | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Entry €3.50 a month | Personal $4.99 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 500 MB–1 GB, no own domain | No (7-day trial) |
| Storage | 10 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 | Belgium | Netherlands |
| Your data is kept in | Belgium | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2013 | 2014 |
| Free trial | Free plan | 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 | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | 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
- Cheapest plans: Mailfence Entry, €3.50 a month. StartMail Personal, $4.99 a month.
- Mailfence has a free plan (500 MB–1 GB, no own domain); StartMail has no free plan.
- Space: Mailfence gives 10 GB of storage, StartMail 20 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in Belgium with Mailfence, and in the Netherlands with StartMail.
- The companies sit under different laws: Mailfence in Belgium, StartMail in Netherlands.
- Aliases: Mailfence offers yes, StartMail unlimited throwaway addresses.
Mailfence and StartMail: your questions
Is Mailfence more private than StartMail?
They score the same for privacy: 3.5 out of 5 each. The differences are in the details, such as where your mail is kept (Belgium for Mailfence, the Netherlands for StartMail).
Is Mailfence cheaper than StartMail?
Mailfence is cheaper. Its Entry plan is €3.50 a month, against $4.99 a month for StartMail's Personal. Mailfence also has 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 StartMail?
Yes, both do. Mailfence: Yes. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one.
Where is my email stored with Mailfence and StartMail?
Mailfence keeps it in Belgium. StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands.
Recent price changes
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Mailfence news · StartMail news.
Also worth a look
Mailfence vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs mailbox.org · Mailfence vs Posteo · StartMail vs Posteo · Mailfence vs Proton Mail · StartMail vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Ready to move? My step-by-step guides cover your mail, contacts, forwarding and your own domain: Mailfence to StartMail · StartMail to Mailfence.