StartMail vs Gandi Mail
In short: StartMail wins on privacy, StartMail wins on price, and StartMail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick StartMail or Gandi Mail?
- Choose StartMail if you want to pay less: $4.99 a month and more space for your mail: 20 GB.
- Go for Gandi Mail if you'd like a company with a longer track record (since 1999).
| Feature | StartMail | Gandi Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Standard mailbox From £5.99 a mailbox a month, VAT included (£71.86 a year) |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | France |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | France |
| Founded | 2014 | 1999 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Unlimited throwaway addresses | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| 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
- StartMail's cheapest plan is Personal ($4.99 a month); Gandi Mail's is Standard mailbox (From £5.99 a mailbox a month, VAT included (£71.86 a year)).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and Gandi Mail no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and Gandi Mail with 10 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the Netherlands with StartMail, and in France with Gandi Mail.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and Gandi Mail in France, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Gandi Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and Gandi Mail has yes.
Common questions
Which is more private, StartMail or Gandi Mail?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Gandi Mail 2.5.
Which is cheaper, StartMail or Gandi Mail?
StartMail is cheaper. Its Personal plan is $4.99 a month, against From £5.99 a mailbox a month, VAT included (£71.86 a year) for Gandi Mail's Standard mailbox. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do StartMail and Gandi Mail work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. Gandi Mail: Yes.
Where do StartMail and Gandi Mail keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. Gandi Mail keeps it in France.
Recent price changes
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 · Gandi Mail news.
Alternatives to StartMail and Gandi Mail
StartMail vs mailbox.org · Gandi Mail vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · Gandi Mail vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · Gandi Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.