StartMail vs Tuta Business
On privacy it's Tuta Business. On price it's StartMail. On features it's StartMail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick StartMail or Tuta Business?
- Choose StartMail if you want the lower price ($4.99 a month); freedom to use the mail app you already like; and more built in, including PGP encryption as well as POP3.
- Go for Tuta Business if you'd like encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail; more room (50 GB, against 20 GB); and apps whose code is public.
| Feature | StartMail | Tuta Business |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 4.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Essential About €6 per user a month |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | 50 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | ✓ Built in |
| Company based in | Netherlands | Germany |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | Germany |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| 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 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: StartMail Personal, $4.99 a month. Tuta Business Essential, About €6 per user a month.
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and Tuta Business no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and Tuta Business with 50 GB of storage.
- Data location: Netherlands for StartMail, Germany for Tuta Business.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and Tuta Business in Germany, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Tuta Business encrypts mail end to end.
- StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP, and Tuta Business only works in its own apps.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and Tuta Business has yes.
StartMail and Tuta Business: your questions
Which is more private, StartMail or Tuta Business?
Tuta Business scores 4.5 out of 5 for privacy and StartMail 3.5. Tuta Business gives you encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail and apps whose code is public.
Which is cheaper, StartMail or Tuta Business?
StartMail is cheaper. Its Personal plan is $4.99 a month, against About €6 per user a month for Tuta Business's Essential. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do StartMail and Tuta Business work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. Tuta Business: Yes.
Where do StartMail and Tuta Business keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. Tuta Business keeps it in Germany.
Do StartMail and Tuta Business work in other mail apps?
StartMail works in any mail app over IMAP. Tuta Business 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 · Tuta Business news.
Alternatives to StartMail and Tuta Business
StartMail vs mailbox.org · Tuta Business vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · Tuta Business vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · Tuta Business vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.