StartMail vs SimpleLogin
In short: StartMail wins on privacy, SimpleLogin wins on price, and StartMail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Go for StartMail if you'd like more space for your mail: 20 GB; the choice of any mail app over IMAP; and calendar and contacts in the same account.
- Go for SimpleLogin if you'd like a cheaper plan, at $36 a year (with Proton Pass); to try it free first; and open-source apps.
| Feature | StartMail | SimpleLogin |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 3.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Premium $36 a year (with Proton Pass) |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | Yes, 10 aliases |
| Storage | 20 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | Switzerland (Proton) |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | EU |
| Founded | 2014 | 2019 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | Free plan |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Unlimited throwaway addresses | Unlimited aliases |
| 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 | 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); SimpleLogin's is Premium ($36 a year (with Proton Pass)).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and SimpleLogin a free plan (10 aliases).
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and SimpleLogin with no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Your mail is stored in the Netherlands with StartMail, and in the EU with SimpleLogin.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and SimpleLogin in Switzerland (Proton), so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); SimpleLogin doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP, and SimpleLogin only works in its own apps.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and SimpleLogin has unlimited aliases.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, StartMail or SimpleLogin?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and SimpleLogin 3.
Which is cheaper, StartMail or SimpleLogin?
SimpleLogin is cheaper. Its Premium plan is $36 a year (with Proton Pass), against $4.99 a month for StartMail's Personal. SimpleLogin also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do StartMail and SimpleLogin work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. SimpleLogin: Yes.
Where do StartMail and SimpleLogin keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. SimpleLogin keeps it in the EU.
Do StartMail and SimpleLogin work in other mail apps?
StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP. SimpleLogin only works in its own apps.
Price changes and news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: StartMail news · SimpleLogin news.
Also worth a look
StartMail vs mailbox.org · SimpleLogin vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · SimpleLogin vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · SimpleLogin vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.