StartMail vs DuckDuckGo Email Protection
StartMail wins on privacy, DuckDuckGo Email Protection wins on price and StartMail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
StartMail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection: which should you choose?
- StartMail suits you best if you want your email to stay in the Netherlands; a company that isn't funded by advertising; and email at your own domain name.
- Choose DuckDuckGo Email Protection if you want email without paying for it and a free plan before you pay anything.
| Feature | StartMail | DuckDuckGo Email Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 0.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Free Free |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | Yes, unlimited @duck.com aliases |
| Storage | 20 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | No |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | United States |
| Founded | 2014 | 2021 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| 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 | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| 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.
Where they differ
- On price: StartMail Personal at $4.99 a month, against DuckDuckGo Email Protection Free at Free.
- StartMail has no free plan; DuckDuckGo Email Protection has a free plan (unlimited @duck.com aliases).
- Space: StartMail gives 20 GB of storage, DuckDuckGo Email Protection no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Data location: Netherlands for StartMail, United States for DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- The companies sit under different laws: StartMail in Netherlands, DuckDuckGo Email Protection in United States.
- On encryption, StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage), whereas DuckDuckGo Email Protection doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- You can use your own domain with StartMail, but not with DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- Mail apps: StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP; DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
- DuckDuckGo Email Protection (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; StartMail doesn't.
- Aliases: StartMail offers unlimited throwaway addresses, DuckDuckGo Email Protection unlimited aliases.
Common questions
Is StartMail more private than DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and DuckDuckGo Email Protection 0. StartMail gives you your email to stay in the Netherlands and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is StartMail cheaper than DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
DuckDuckGo Email Protection costs nothing to start (Free). StartMail's cheapest plan, Personal, is $4.99 a month.
Can I use my own domain with StartMail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
Only StartMail does (1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one). With DuckDuckGo Email Protection your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with StartMail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. DuckDuckGo Email Protection keeps it in the United States.
Can I use StartMail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection in Apple Mail or Outlook?
StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP. DuckDuckGo Email Protection 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 · DuckDuckGo Email Protection news.
Alternatives to StartMail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection
StartMail vs mailbox.org · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.