Outlook.com vs Mailfence
On privacy it's Mailfence. On price it's Outlook.com. On features it's Mailfence. Here's everything side by side, last checked 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Outlook.com suits you best if you want email without paying for it; 15 GB of storage; and a provider that's been going since 1996.
- Go for Mailfence if you'd like your email to stay in Belgium; email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts; and email at your own domain name.
| Feature | Outlook.com | Mailfence |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 3.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | Entry €3.50 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | Yes, 500 MB–1 GB, no own domain |
| Storage | 15 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | United States | Belgium |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | Belgium |
| Founded | 1996 | 2013 |
| Free trial | Free | Free plan |
| 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 | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
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How Outlook.com and Mailfence differ
- Cheapest plans: Outlook.com Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space), Free. Mailfence Entry, €3.50 a month.
- Outlook.com has a free plan (15 GB); Mailfence has a free plan (500 MB–1 GB, no own domain).
- Space: Outlook.com gives 15 GB of storage, Mailfence 10 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States and worldwide for Outlook.com, Belgium for Mailfence.
- The companies sit under different laws: Outlook.com in United States, Mailfence in Belgium.
- On encryption, Outlook.com doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas Mailfence offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- You can use your own domain with Mailfence, but not with Outlook.com.
- Outlook.com (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Mailfence doesn't.
Questions people ask
Is Outlook.com more private than Mailfence?
Mailfence scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. Mailfence gives you your email to stay in Belgium and email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts.
Is Outlook.com cheaper than Mailfence?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). Mailfence's cheapest plan, Entry, is €3.50 a month. Mailfence has a free plan too: 500 MB–1 GB, no own domain.
Can I use my own domain with Outlook.com or Mailfence?
Only Mailfence does (Yes). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Outlook.com and Mailfence?
Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Mailfence keeps it in Belgium.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Outlook.com news · Mailfence news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · Mailfence vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs Posteo · Mailfence vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail · Mailfence vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Switching takes an evening to set up. Follow the steps for your direction: Outlook.com to Mailfence · Mailfence to Outlook.com.