Runbox vs AOL Mail
On privacy it's Runbox. On price it's AOL Mail. On features it's Runbox. Here's everything side by side, last checked 22 October 2026.
Runbox or AOL Mail: which should you choose?
- Runbox suits you best if you want your email to stay in Norway; a company that isn't funded by advertising; and email at your own domain name.
- AOL Mail suits you best if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; a free plan before you pay anything; and more years of history: it started in 1993.
| Feature | Runbox | AOL Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Mini $34.95 a year | Free Free |
| Free plan | No (30-day trial) | Yes |
| Storage | 10 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | Norway | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Norway | United States |
| Founded | 2000 | 1993 |
| Free trial | 30 days free, then a 60-day refund | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | 100 aliases | Yes |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How Runbox and AOL Mail differ
- Runbox's cheapest plan is Mini ($34.95 a year); AOL Mail's is Free (Free).
- For free, Runbox gives you no free plan, and AOL Mail a free plan ().
- Runbox comes with 10 GB of storage and AOL Mail with storage not confirmed.
- Data location: Norway for Runbox, United States for AOL Mail.
- Runbox is based in Norway and AOL Mail in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Runbox lets you bring your own domain name; AOL Mail doesn't.
- Only AOL Mail is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Runbox has 100 aliases and AOL Mail has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Runbox or AOL Mail?
Runbox scores 3 out of 5 for privacy and AOL Mail 0. Runbox gives you your email to stay in Norway, a company that isn't funded by advertising and open-source apps.
Which is cheaper, Runbox or AOL Mail?
AOL Mail costs nothing to start (Free). Runbox's cheapest plan, Mini, is $34.95 a year.
Do Runbox and AOL Mail work with my own domain?
Only Runbox does (Up to 5). With AOL Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Runbox and AOL Mail keep my email?
Runbox keeps it in Norway. AOL Mail keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Runbox news · AOL Mail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Runbox vs mailbox.org · AOL Mail vs mailbox.org · Runbox vs Posteo · AOL Mail vs Posteo · Runbox vs Proton Mail · AOL Mail vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Runbox · Moving from Runbox. Or see all my switching guides.