StartMail vs Rackspace Email
StartMail wins on privacy, StartMail wins on price and they tie on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Go for StartMail if you'd like your mail kept in the Netherlands and to pay less: $4.99 a month.
- Go for Rackspace Email if you'd like more room (25 GB, against 20 GB) and a provider that's been going since 1998.
| Feature | StartMail | Rackspace Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 0.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | 2.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Rackspace Email $10 per mailbox a month (from March 2026) |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | 25 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | United States |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | United States and UK |
| Founded | 2014 | 1998 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | 14 days 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 | ✓ Yes |
| Reader offer | Offer 50% off | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How StartMail and Rackspace Email differ
- StartMail's cheapest plan is Personal ($4.99 a month); Rackspace Email's is Rackspace Email ($10 per mailbox a month (from March 2026)).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and Rackspace Email no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and Rackspace Email with 25 GB of storage.
- StartMail keeps your mail in the Netherlands, while Rackspace Email keeps it in the United States and UK.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and Rackspace Email in the United States, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Rackspace Email doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and Rackspace Email has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, StartMail or Rackspace Email?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Rackspace Email 0.5. StartMail gives you your mail kept in the Netherlands.
Which is cheaper, StartMail or Rackspace Email?
StartMail is cheaper. Its Personal plan is $4.99 a month, against $10 per mailbox a month (from March 2026) for Rackspace Email's Rackspace Email. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do StartMail and Rackspace Email work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. Rackspace Email: Yes.
Where do StartMail and Rackspace Email keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. Rackspace Email keeps it in the United States and UK.
Price changes and news
- 1 March 2026 Rackspace Email: $10 (March 2026 rise)
- 1 January 2026 Rackspace Email: $3
The latest headlines: StartMail news · Rackspace Email news.
Not sold on either? Try these
StartMail vs mailbox.org · Rackspace Email vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · Rackspace Email vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · Rackspace Email vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.