StartMail vs OVHcloud Email
StartMail wins on privacy, StartMail wins on price and StartMail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
StartMail or OVHcloud Email: which should you choose?
- Go for OVHcloud Email if you'd like a provider that's been going since 1999.
| Feature | StartMail | OVHcloud Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | Not rated |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | Not rated |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | MX Plan Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | Not confirmed |
| 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 | EU |
| 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 | 22 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- StartMail's cheapest plan is Personal ($4.99 a month); OVHcloud Email's is MX Plan (Not confirmed).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and OVHcloud Email no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and OVHcloud Email with storage not confirmed.
- StartMail keeps your mail in the Netherlands, while OVHcloud Email keeps it in the EU.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and OVHcloud Email in France, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); OVHcloud Email doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and OVHcloud Email has yes.
StartMail and OVHcloud Email: your questions
Which is more private, StartMail or OVHcloud Email?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and OVHcloud Email 2.5.
Do StartMail and OVHcloud Email work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. OVHcloud Email: Yes.
Where do StartMail and OVHcloud Email keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. OVHcloud Email keeps it in the EU.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: StartMail news · OVHcloud Email news.
Alternatives to StartMail and OVHcloud Email
StartMail vs mailbox.org · OVHcloud Email vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · OVHcloud Email vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · OVHcloud Email vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.