Outlook.com vs Stalwart
In short: Stalwart wins on privacy, Outlook.com wins on price, and Outlook.com wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Outlook.com or Stalwart: which should you choose?
- Outlook.com is the better pick if you want more years of history: it started in 1996.
- Choose Stalwart if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; an address on your own domain; and open-source apps anyone can check.
| Feature | Outlook.com | Stalwart |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | Not rated |
| Privacy | 0.0 | Not rated |
| Price | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Features | 4.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | Community Free (Enterprise from €2 per mailbox a year) |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | Yes, open source |
| Storage | 15 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United Kingdom |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | Your own server |
| Founded | 1996 | 2019 |
| Free trial | Free | Free to download |
| 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 | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| 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
- On price: Outlook.com Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) at Free, against Stalwart Community at Free (Enterprise from €2 per mailbox a year).
- Outlook.com has a free plan (15 GB); Stalwart has a free plan (open source).
- Space: Outlook.com gives 15 GB of storage, Stalwart storage not confirmed.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with Outlook.com, and in Your own server with Stalwart.
- The companies sit under different laws: Outlook.com in United States, Stalwart in United Kingdom.
- You can use your own domain with Stalwart, but not with Outlook.com.
- Outlook.com (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Stalwart doesn't.
Questions people ask
Can I use my own domain with Outlook.com or Stalwart?
Only Stalwart does (Yes). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Outlook.com and Stalwart?
Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Stalwart keeps it in Your own server.
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: Outlook.com news · Stalwart news.
Also worth a look
Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · Stalwart vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs Posteo · Stalwart vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail · Stalwart vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to Outlook.com · Moving from Outlook.com. Or see all my switching guides.