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Fastmail alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Fastmail: no free plan, and not end-to-end encrypted. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Fastmail, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Proton Mail currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Proton Mail logoProton MailFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 566.5
2Zoho Mail logoZoho MailFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 459.6
  1. Proton Mail logo

    1. Proton MailTop pick

    Best for: Privacy-minded people and teams who want encrypted email without running servers

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Fastmail

    Adds end-to-end encryption and a free plan, at the cost of IMAP convenience.

    Pros

    • End-to-end and zero-access encryption by default
    • Open-source, audited apps on every major platform
    • Bundles with Proton VPN, Drive, Calendar and Pass

    Cons

    • Free plan has little storage and one address
    • Search and third-party integrations are more limited than Gmail
    • Using desktop clients needs the paid Bridge app
    Visit Proton Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Proton Mail a good Fastmail alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Mail Plus price
    $4.99/month, or $3.99/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Jurisdiction
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes, independently audited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    License (web clients)
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Zoho Mail logo

    2. Zoho Mail

    Best for: Small businesses that want cheap, ad-free email on their own domain

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Fastmail

    Cheaper business email on your own domain, with a free plan for small teams.

    Pros

    • Free plan for a few users on a custom domain
    • Much cheaper than Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
    • Ties into Zoho CRM and the rest of the Zoho suite

    Cons

    • Free plan lacks IMAP and has limited storage
    • Interface feels crowded
    • Fewer third-party integrations than Google or Microsoft
    Visit Zoho Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho Mail a good Fastmail alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Up to 5 users
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan storage
    5 GB per user, one domain
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    TLS, S/MIME, AES-256 at rest
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business customers
    550,000+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Fastmail alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Proton Mail logo

Best Fastmail alternative for most people

Proton Mail

Adds end-to-end encryption and a free plan, at the cost of IMAP convenience.

Zoho Mail logo

Best Fastmail alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Zoho Mail

Cheaper business email on your own domain, with a free plan for small teams.

Proton Mail logo

Best Fastmail alternative for open source

Proton Mail

Adds end-to-end encryption and a free plan, at the cost of IMAP convenience.

HEY logo

Best Fastmail alternative for Mac

HEY

Another paid, independent service with an opinionated inbox design.

Proton Mail logo

Best Fastmail alternative for Windows

Proton Mail

Adds end-to-end encryption and a free plan, at the cost of IMAP convenience.

Proton Mail logo

Best Fastmail alternative for Linux

Proton Mail

Adds end-to-end encryption and a free plan, at the cost of IMAP convenience.

StartMail logo

Best Fastmail alternative for iPhone and Android

StartMail

Private email with unlimited aliases, based in the Netherlands.

mailbox.org logo

Best Fastmail alternative for working in the browser

mailbox.org

A European provider with similar standards support and an office suite.

Fastmail alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Fastmail?

Proton Mail ranks first right now. Adds end-to-end encryption and a free plan, at the cost of IMAP convenience. HEY and Zoho Mail follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Fastmail?

Yes. Proton Mail (free plan + paid) and Zoho Mail (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Fastmail?

Yes: Proton Mail.

Which Fastmail alternatives work on Linux?

Proton Mail, HEY and Zoho Mail run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Fastmail?

The complaints we hear most: no free plan; not end-to-end encrypted; no desktop apps of its own.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Fastmail, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.