StartMail vs Proton Mail for Business
In short: Proton Mail for Business wins on privacy, StartMail wins on price, and StartMail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 22 October 2026.
StartMail or Proton Mail for Business: which should you choose?
- Choose StartMail if you want to pay less: $4.99 a month; more room (20 GB, against 15 GB); and freedom to use the mail app you already like.
- Go for Proton Mail for Business if you'd like end-to-end encryption built in and open-source apps anyone can check.
| Feature | StartMail | Proton Mail for Business |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Mail Essentials $6.99 per user a month |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | 15 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ 3 |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | ✓ Built in |
| Company based in | Netherlands | Switzerland |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | Switzerland |
| Founded | 2014 | 2014 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | 30-day refund |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | With Proton Bridge on paid plans |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Unlimited throwaway addresses | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | Offer 50% off | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 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); Proton Mail for Business's is Mail Essentials ($6.99 per user a month).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and Proton Mail for Business no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and Proton Mail for Business with 15 GB of storage.
- StartMail keeps your mail in the Netherlands, while Proton Mail for Business keeps it in Switzerland.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and Proton Mail for Business in Switzerland, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Proton Mail for Business encrypts mail end to end.
- StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP, and Proton Mail for Business works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and Proton Mail for Business has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, StartMail or Proton Mail for Business?
Proton Mail for Business scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and StartMail 3.5. Proton Mail for Business gives you end-to-end encryption built in and open-source apps anyone can check.
Which is cheaper, StartMail or Proton Mail for Business?
StartMail is cheaper. Its Personal plan is $4.99 a month, against $6.99 per user a month for Proton Mail for Business's Mail Essentials. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do StartMail and Proton Mail for Business work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. Proton Mail for Business: 3 domains on its cheapest plan that allows one.
Where do StartMail and Proton Mail for Business keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. Proton Mail for Business keeps it in Switzerland.
Do StartMail and Proton Mail for Business work in other mail apps?
StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP. Proton Mail for Business works in other mail apps through Proton Bridge on paid plans.
Prices and the latest news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: StartMail news · Proton Mail for Business news.
Also worth a look
StartMail vs mailbox.org · Proton Mail for Business vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · Proton Mail for Business vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · Proton Mail for Business vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.