StartMail vs addy.io
They tie on privacy, addy.io wins on price and StartMail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- StartMail suits you best if you want 20 GB of storage; to read your mail in any app, such as Apple Mail, Outlook or Thunderbird; and a calendar and contacts alongside your mail.
- Choose addy.io if you want the lower price (About $1 a month, yearly); a free plan to start on; and open-source apps anyone can check.
| Feature | StartMail | addy.io |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Lite About $1 a month, yearly |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | Yes |
| Storage | 20 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | EU |
| Founded | 2014 | 2018 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | Free plan |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Unlimited throwaway addresses | Unlimited aliases |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | ✓ Yes |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | Offer 50% off | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- Cheapest plans: StartMail Personal, $4.99 a month. addy.io Lite, About $1 a month, yearly.
- StartMail has no free plan; addy.io has a free plan ().
- Space: StartMail gives 20 GB of storage, addy.io no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Your mail is stored in the Netherlands with StartMail, and in the EU with addy.io.
- The companies sit under different laws: StartMail in Netherlands, addy.io in United Kingdom.
- On encryption, StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage), whereas addy.io doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- Mail apps: StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP; addy.io only works in its own apps.
- Aliases: StartMail offers unlimited throwaway addresses, addy.io unlimited aliases.
StartMail and addy.io: your questions
Is StartMail more private than addy.io?
They score the same for privacy: 3.5 out of 5 each. The differences are in the details, such as where your mail is kept (the Netherlands for StartMail, the EU for addy.io).
Is StartMail cheaper than addy.io?
addy.io is cheaper. Its Lite plan is About $1 a month, yearly, against $4.99 a month for StartMail's Personal. addy.io 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 StartMail or addy.io?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. addy.io: Yes.
Where is my email stored with StartMail and addy.io?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. addy.io keeps it in the EU.
Can I use StartMail and addy.io in Apple Mail or Outlook?
StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP. addy.io only works in its own apps.
Price changes and news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: StartMail news · addy.io news.
Also worth a look
StartMail vs mailbox.org · addy.io vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · addy.io vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · addy.io vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.