Microsoft 365 Business vs StartMail
StartMail wins on privacy, StartMail wins on price and they tie on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Microsoft 365 Business or StartMail: which should you choose?
- Go for Microsoft 365 Business if you'd like more space for your mail: 50 GB.
- StartMail suits you best if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; the lower price ($4.99 a month); and features the other lacks, like PGP encryption as well as catch-all address.
| Feature | Microsoft 365 Business | StartMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 1.0 | 3.5 |
| Price | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Business Basic £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT | Personal $4.99 a month |
| Free plan | No | No (7-day trial) |
| Storage | 50 GB | 20 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | ✓ 1 |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | United States | Netherlands |
| Your data is kept in | UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2011 | 2014 |
| Free trial | One month free on some plans | 7 days free |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | 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 |
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How Microsoft 365 Business and StartMail differ
- Cheapest plans: Microsoft 365 Business Business Basic, £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT. StartMail Personal, $4.99 a month.
- Microsoft 365 Business has no free plan; StartMail has no free plan.
- Space: Microsoft 365 Business gives 50 GB of storage, StartMail 20 GB of storage.
- Microsoft 365 Business keeps your mail in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham), while StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands.
- The companies sit under different laws: Microsoft 365 Business in United States, StartMail in Netherlands.
- On encryption, Microsoft 365 Business doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- Microsoft 365 Business (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; StartMail doesn't.
- Aliases: Microsoft 365 Business offers yes, StartMail unlimited throwaway addresses.
Questions people ask
Is Microsoft 365 Business more private than StartMail?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Microsoft 365 Business 1. StartMail gives you a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is Microsoft 365 Business cheaper than StartMail?
StartMail is cheaper. Its Personal plan is $4.99 a month, against £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT for Microsoft 365 Business's Business Basic. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Microsoft 365 Business or StartMail?
Yes, both do. Microsoft 365 Business: Yes. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one.
Where is my email stored with Microsoft 365 Business and StartMail?
Microsoft 365 Business keeps it in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham). StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands.
Prices and the latest news
- 27 July 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £5.40 (UK price change from 1 July 2026)
- 1 June 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £4.90
The latest headlines: Microsoft 365 Business news · StartMail news.
Also worth a look
Microsoft 365 Business vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs mailbox.org · Microsoft 365 Business vs Posteo · StartMail vs Posteo · Microsoft 365 Business vs Proton Mail · StartMail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Switching takes an evening to set up. Follow the steps for your direction: Microsoft 365 Business to StartMail · StartMail to Microsoft 365 Business.