Proton Mail vs StartMail
In short: Proton Mail wins on privacy, Proton Mail wins on price, and StartMail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 23 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Proton Mail if you want mail that's encrypted end to end without any setup; the lower price ($3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly)); and to try it free first.
- StartMail is the better pick if you want more space for your mail: 20 GB and to read your mail in any app, such as Apple Mail, Outlook or Thunderbird.
| Feature | Proton Mail | StartMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Price | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Features | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Mail Plus $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly) | Personal $4.99 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 1 GB, no own domain | No (7-day trial) |
| Storage | 15 GB | 20 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ 1 |
| End-to-end encryption | ✓ Built in | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | Switzerland | Netherlands |
| Your data is kept in | Switzerland | Netherlands |
| Founded | 2014 | 2014 |
| Free trial | Free plan; 30-day refund on paid plans | 7 days free |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | With Proton Bridge on paid plans | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | 10 addresses | Unlimited throwaway addresses |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | ✓ Yes | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | Offer Proton's current deals | Offer 50% off |
| Last checked | 23 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- Cheapest plans: Proton Mail Mail Plus, $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly). StartMail Personal, $4.99 a month.
- Proton Mail has a free plan (1 GB, no own domain); StartMail has no free plan.
- Space: Proton Mail gives 15 GB of storage, StartMail 20 GB of storage.
- Data location: Switzerland for Proton Mail, Netherlands for StartMail.
- The companies sit under different laws: Proton Mail in Switzerland, StartMail in Netherlands.
- On encryption, Proton Mail encrypts mail end to end, whereas StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- Mail apps: Proton Mail works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans; StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP.
- Aliases: Proton Mail offers 10 addresses, StartMail unlimited throwaway addresses.
Proton Mail and StartMail: your questions
Is Proton Mail more private than StartMail?
Proton Mail scores 5 out of 5 for privacy and StartMail 3.5. Proton Mail gives you mail that's encrypted end to end without any setup, open-source apps anyone can check and sign-up without ID.
Is Proton Mail cheaper than StartMail?
Proton Mail is cheaper. Its Mail Plus plan is $3.99 a month, yearly ($4.99 monthly), against $4.99 a month for StartMail's Personal. Proton Mail also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with Proton Mail or StartMail?
Yes, both do. Proton Mail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one.
Where is my email stored with Proton Mail and StartMail?
Proton Mail keeps it in Switzerland. StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands.
Can I use Proton Mail and StartMail in Apple Mail or Outlook?
Proton Mail works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans. StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Proton Mail news · StartMail news.
Alternatives to Proton Mail and StartMail
Proton Mail vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs mailbox.org · Proton Mail vs Posteo · StartMail vs Posteo · Proton Mail vs Tuta · StartMail vs Tuta
How to switch
Switching takes an evening to set up. Follow the steps for your direction: Proton Mail to StartMail · StartMail to Proton Mail.