StartMail vs Zen Internet
StartMail wins on privacy, StartMail wins on price and StartMail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Should you pick StartMail or Zen Internet?
- Choose StartMail if you want your diary and address book in one place with your email.
- Go for Zen Internet if you'd like a company with a longer track record (since 1995).
| Feature | StartMail | Zen Internet |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 4.0 | Not rated |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| Price | 3.5 | Not rated |
| Features | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Personal $4.99 a month | Web hosting Not confirmed |
| Free plan | No (7-day trial) | No |
| Storage | 20 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ 1 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) | No |
| Company based in | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| Your data is kept in | Netherlands | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2014 | 1995 |
| Free trial | 7 days free | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Unlimited throwaway addresses | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | Offer 50% off | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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How StartMail and Zen Internet differ
- StartMail's cheapest plan is Personal ($4.99 a month); Zen Internet's is Web hosting (Not confirmed).
- For free, StartMail gives you no free plan, and Zen Internet no free plan.
- StartMail comes with 20 GB of storage and Zen Internet with storage not confirmed.
- StartMail keeps your mail in the Netherlands, while Zen Internet keeps it in the United Kingdom.
- StartMail is based in the Netherlands and Zen Internet in the United Kingdom, so different privacy laws apply.
- StartMail offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage); Zen Internet doesn't encrypt mail end to end.
- For extra addresses, StartMail has unlimited throwaway addresses and Zen Internet has yes.
StartMail and Zen Internet: your questions
Which is more private, StartMail or Zen Internet?
StartMail scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and Zen Internet 2.5.
Do StartMail and Zen Internet work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. StartMail: 1 domain on its cheapest plan that allows one. Zen Internet: Yes.
Where do StartMail and Zen Internet keep my email?
StartMail keeps it in the Netherlands. Zen Internet keeps it in the United Kingdom.
Prices and the latest 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 · Zen Internet news.
Not sold on either? Try these
StartMail vs mailbox.org · Zen Internet vs mailbox.org · StartMail vs Posteo · Zen Internet vs Posteo · StartMail vs Proton Mail · Zen Internet vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to StartMail · Moving from StartMail. Or see all my switching guides.