Posteo vs DuckDuckGo Email Protection
On privacy it's Posteo. On price it's a tie. On features it's Posteo. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Posteo is the better pick if you want your mailbox stored in Germany; email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts; and 4 GB of storage.
- DuckDuckGo Email Protection is the better pick if you want a mailbox that costs nothing and to try it free first.
| Feature | Posteo | DuckDuckGo Email Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 4.5 | 0.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 3.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Posteo €1 a month | Free Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes, unlimited @duck.com aliases |
| Storage | 4 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | No | No |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Germany | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Germany | United States |
| Founded | 2009 | 2021 |
| Free trial | No, €1 a month from the start | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Yes (posteo.de only) | Unlimited aliases |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | 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
- On price: Posteo Posteo at €1 a month, against DuckDuckGo Email Protection Free at Free.
- For free, Posteo gives you no free plan, and DuckDuckGo Email Protection a free plan (unlimited @duck.com aliases).
- Posteo comes with 4 GB of storage and DuckDuckGo Email Protection with no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Your mail is stored in Germany with Posteo, and in the United States with DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- Posteo is based in Germany and DuckDuckGo Email Protection in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Posteo offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); DuckDuckGo Email Protection doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- Posteo works in any mail app over IMAP, and DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
- Only DuckDuckGo Email Protection is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Posteo has yes (posteo.de only) and DuckDuckGo Email Protection has unlimited aliases.
Common questions
Which is more private, Posteo or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
Posteo scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and DuckDuckGo Email Protection 0. Posteo gives you your mailbox stored in Germany, email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts and apps whose code is public.
Which is cheaper, Posteo or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
DuckDuckGo Email Protection costs nothing to start (Free). Posteo's cheapest plan, Posteo, is €1 a month.
Do Posteo and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work with my own domain?
No, neither lets you use your own domain, so your address stays on theirs.
Where do Posteo and DuckDuckGo Email Protection keep my email?
Posteo keeps it in Germany. DuckDuckGo Email Protection keeps it in the United States.
Do Posteo and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work in other mail apps?
Posteo works in any mail app over IMAP. DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
Price changes and news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Posteo news · DuckDuckGo Email Protection news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Posteo vs mailbox.org · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs mailbox.org · Posteo vs Proton Mail · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Proton Mail · Posteo vs Tuta · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Tuta
Switching between them
Moving to Posteo · Moving from Posteo. Or see all my switching guides.