Posteo vs StartMail
Posteo wins on privacy, Posteo wins on price and StartMail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Posteo or StartMail: which should you choose?
- Choose Posteo if you want a cheaper plan, at €1 a month; apps whose code is public; and an account that doesn't need your phone number or ID.
- StartMail suits you best if you want to use your own domain, like you@yourname.co.uk and 20 GB of storage.
| Feature | Posteo | StartMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Features | 3.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Posteo €1 a month | Personal $4.99 a month |
| Free plan | No | No (7-day trial) |
| Storage | 4 GB | 20 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ 1 |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | Germany | Netherlands |
| Your data is kept in | Germany | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2009 | 2014 |
| Free trial | No, €1 a month from the start | 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 (posteo.de only) | Unlimited throwaway addresses |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | 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
- On price: Posteo Posteo at €1 a month, against StartMail Personal at $4.99 a month.
- Posteo has no free plan; StartMail has no free plan.
- Space: Posteo gives 4 GB of storage, StartMail 20 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in Germany with Posteo, and in the Netherlands with StartMail.
- The companies sit under different laws: Posteo in Germany, StartMail in Netherlands.
- You can use your own domain with StartMail, but not with Posteo.
- Aliases: Posteo offers yes (posteo.de only), StartMail unlimited throwaway addresses.
Posteo and StartMail: your questions
Is Posteo more private than StartMail?
Posteo scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and StartMail 3.5. Posteo gives you apps whose code is public and an account that doesn't need your phone number or ID.
Is Posteo cheaper than StartMail?
Posteo is cheaper. Its Posteo plan is €1 a month, against $4.99 a month for StartMail's Personal. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Posteo or StartMail?
Only StartMail does (1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one). With Posteo your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Posteo and StartMail?
Posteo keeps it in Germany. 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: Posteo news · StartMail news.
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Moving your email
Decided? These guides take you through moving your mail, contacts and address: Posteo to StartMail · StartMail to Posteo.