Runbox vs mail.com
On privacy it's Runbox. On price it's mail.com. On features it's Runbox. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Runbox or mail.com?
- 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.
- mail.com suits you best if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; a free plan before you pay anything; and more space for your mail: 65 GB.
| Feature | Runbox | mail.com |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Mini $34.95 a year | Free Free |
| Free plan | No (30-day trial) | Yes, with adverts |
| Storage | 10 GB | 65 GB |
| 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 | 1995 |
| 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 | Up to 10 addresses |
| Open-source apps | ✓ Yes | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | 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: Runbox Mini at $34.95 a year, against mail.com Free at Free.
- For free, Runbox gives you no free plan, and mail.com a free plan (with adverts).
- Runbox comes with 10 GB of storage and mail.com with 65 GB of storage.
- Data location: Norway for Runbox, United States for mail.com.
- Runbox is based in Norway and mail.com in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- Runbox lets you bring your own domain name; mail.com doesn't.
- Only mail.com is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Runbox has 100 aliases and mail.com has up to 10 addresses.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Runbox or mail.com?
Runbox scores 3 out of 5 for privacy and mail.com 0. Runbox gives you your email to stay in Norway, a company that isn't funded by advertising and open-source apps anyone can check.
Which is cheaper, Runbox or mail.com?
mail.com costs nothing to start (Free). Runbox's cheapest plan, Mini, is $34.95 a year.
Do Runbox and mail.com work with my own domain?
Only Runbox does (Up to 5). With mail.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Runbox and mail.com keep my email?
Runbox keeps it in Norway. mail.com keeps it in the United States.
Prices and the latest news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Runbox news · mail.com news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Runbox vs mailbox.org · mail.com vs mailbox.org · Runbox vs Posteo · mail.com vs Posteo · Runbox vs Proton Mail · mail.com vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Runbox · Moving from Runbox. Or see all my switching guides.