StartMail vs Kolab Now
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.
StartMail or Kolab Now: which should you choose?
- Choose StartMail if you want to pay less: $4.99 a month and 20 GB of storage.
- Go for Kolab Now if you'd like apps whose code is public.
| Feature | StartMail | Kolab Now |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Mailbox CHF 5 a month |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | 5 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | Switzerland |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2014 | 2013 |
| 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 | ✓ Yes |
| 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.
Where they differ
- StartMail's cheapest plan is Personal ($4.99 a month); Kolab Now's is Mailbox (CHF 5 a month).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and Kolab Now no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and Kolab Now with 5 GB of storage.
- StartMail keeps your mail in the Netherlands, while Kolab Now keeps it in Switzerland.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and Kolab Now in Switzerland, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Kolab Now doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and Kolab Now has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, StartMail or Kolab Now?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Kolab Now 3.
Which is cheaper, StartMail or Kolab Now?
StartMail is cheaper. Its Personal plan is $4.99 a month, against CHF 5 a month for Kolab Now's Mailbox. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do StartMail and Kolab Now work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. Kolab Now: Yes.
Where do StartMail and Kolab Now keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. Kolab Now keeps it in Switzerland.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: StartMail news · Kolab Now news.
Also worth a look
StartMail vs mailbox.org · Kolab Now vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · Kolab Now vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · Kolab Now vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.