StartMail vs Yahoo Mail
In short: StartMail wins on privacy, Yahoo Mail wins on price, and StartMail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick StartMail or Yahoo Mail?
- StartMail suits you best if you want your mailbox stored in the Netherlands; a company that isn't funded by advertising; and an address on your own domain.
- Go for Yahoo Mail if you'd like email without paying for it; a free plan before you pay anything; and more years of history: it started in 1997.
| Feature | StartMail | Yahoo Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 0.0 |
| Price | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Free (Mail Plus ad-free, 200 GB) Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price) |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | Yes, 20 GB |
| Storage | 20 GB | 20 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | No |
| 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 worldwide |
| Founded | 2014 | 1997 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| 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 | 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.
The key differences
- Cheapest plans: StartMail Personal, $4.99 a month. Yahoo Mail Free (Mail Plus ad-free, 200 GB), Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price).
- StartMail has no free plan; Yahoo Mail has a free plan (20 GB).
- Your mail is stored in the Netherlands with StartMail, and in the United States and worldwide with Yahoo Mail.
- The companies sit under different laws: StartMail in Netherlands, Yahoo Mail in United States.
- On encryption, StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage), whereas Yahoo Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- You can use your own domain with StartMail, but not with Yahoo Mail.
- Yahoo Mail (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; StartMail doesn't.
- Aliases: StartMail offers unlimited throwaway addresses, Yahoo Mail yes.
Questions people ask
Is StartMail more private than Yahoo Mail?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Yahoo Mail 0. StartMail gives you your mailbox stored in the Netherlands and a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is StartMail cheaper than Yahoo Mail?
Yahoo Mail costs nothing to start (Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price)). StartMail's cheapest plan, Personal, is $4.99 a month.
Can I use my own domain with StartMail or Yahoo Mail?
Only StartMail does (1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one). With Yahoo Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with StartMail and Yahoo Mail?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. Yahoo Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: StartMail news · Yahoo Mail news.
Alternatives to StartMail and Yahoo Mail
StartMail vs mailbox.org · Yahoo Mail vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · Yahoo Mail vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · Yahoo Mail vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.