StartMail vs IceWarp
StartMail wins on privacy, IceWarp wins on price and StartMail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose StartMail if you want your email to stay in the Netherlands and 20 GB of storage.
- Go for IceWarp if you'd like the lower price ($1.35 a user a month, yearly ($1.50 monthly)).
| Feature | StartMail | IceWarp |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 1.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Cloud, entry plan $1.35 a user a month, yearly ($1.50 monthly) |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | 2 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | Czechia |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | The data centre you choose |
| Founded | 2014 | Unknown |
| Free trial | 7 days free | First month free |
| 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
- Cheapest plans: StartMail Personal, $4.99 a month. IceWarp Cloud, entry plan, $1.35 a user a month, yearly ($1.50 monthly).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and IceWarp no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and IceWarp with 2 GB of storage.
- Data location: Netherlands for StartMail, The data centre you choose for IceWarp.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and IceWarp in Czechia, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); IceWarp doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and IceWarp has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, StartMail or IceWarp?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and IceWarp 1.5. StartMail gives you your email to stay in the Netherlands.
Which is cheaper, StartMail or IceWarp?
IceWarp is cheaper. Its Cloud, entry plan plan is $1.35 a user a month, yearly ($1.50 monthly), against $4.99 a month for StartMail's Personal. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do StartMail and IceWarp work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. IceWarp: Yes.
Where do StartMail and IceWarp keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. IceWarp keeps it in The data centre you choose.
Price changes and news
- 22 October 2026 IceWarp: $3.50 a user a month, when I checked
The latest headlines: StartMail news · IceWarp news.
Not sold on either? Try these
StartMail vs mailbox.org · IceWarp vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · IceWarp vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · IceWarp vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.