Posteo vs Zimbra
In short: Posteo wins on privacy, Posteo wins on price, and Posteo wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Posteo if you want your mailbox stored in Germany and to sign up without proving who you are.
- Zimbra suits you best if you want a free plan before you pay anything and an address on your own domain.
| Feature | Posteo | Zimbra |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | Not rated |
| Privacy | 4.5 | Not rated |
| Price | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Features | 3.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Posteo €1 a month | Open source Free |
| Free plan | No | Open-source edition; paid Network Edition |
| Storage | 4 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Germany | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Germany | Your own server |
| Founded | 2009 | Unknown |
| Free trial | No, €1 a month from the start | Unknown |
| 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) | Yes |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- On price: Posteo Posteo at €1 a month, against Zimbra Open source at Free.
- Posteo has no free plan; Zimbra has Open-source edition; paid Network Edition.
- Space: Posteo gives 4 GB of storage, Zimbra storage not confirmed.
- Your mail is stored in Germany with Posteo, and in Your own server with Zimbra.
- The companies sit under different laws: Posteo in Germany, Zimbra in United States.
- On encryption, Posteo offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage), whereas Zimbra doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- You can use your own domain with Zimbra, but not with Posteo.
- Aliases: Posteo offers yes (posteo.de only), Zimbra yes.
Common questions
Can I use my own domain with Posteo or Zimbra?
Only Zimbra does (Yes). With Posteo your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Posteo and Zimbra?
Posteo keeps it in Germany. Zimbra keeps it in Your own server.
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 · Zimbra news.
Alternatives to Posteo and Zimbra
Posteo vs mailbox.org · Zimbra vs mailbox.org · Posteo vs Proton Mail · Zimbra vs Proton Mail · Posteo vs Tuta · Zimbra vs Tuta
How to switch
Moving to Posteo · Moving from Posteo. Or see all my switching guides.