Mailfence alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Mailfence: PGP key management has a learning curve, and plain, utilitarian interface. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Mailfence, 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

#	App	Pricing	Open source	Platforms	Verified facts	Score
1	Proton Mail	Free plan + paid	Yes	Web, Windows, macOS +3	5 of 5	66.5
2	Tuta	Free plan + paid	Yes	Web, Windows, macOS +3	4 of 4	62.6
3	StartMail	Paid	No	Web, iOS, Android	4 of 4	59.6
4	Posteo	Paid	No	Web	4 of 4	57.2
5	mailbox.org	Paid	No	Web	4 of 4	55.3

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 Mailfence
Encryption handled automatically, with polished apps on every platform.
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 Mailfence 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. Tuta
Best for: People who want the most encryption for the least money and accept using Tuta's own apps
Free plan + paidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
62.6
score / 100
Why switch from Mailfence
Simpler encryption that also covers calendars and contacts.
Pros
Encrypts subjects, contacts and calendars, not just bodies
Open-source apps on desktop, mobile and web
Low-cost paid plans with custom domains
Cons
No IMAP, so third-party mail apps are not supported
Search and filtering are basic
Free plan has very little storage
Visit Tuta Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
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 Tuta a good Mailfence alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Storage (Free / Revolutionary / Legend)
1 GB / 20 GB / 500 GB
Checked Oct 25, 2026tuta.com(opens source in a new tab)
Encryption
End-to-end, post-quantum
Checked Oct 25, 2026tuta.com(opens source in a new tab)
Family member add-on
€3 per user/month (Revolutionary)
Checked Oct 25, 2026tuta.com(opens source in a new tab)
License
GPL-3.0
Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
3. StartMail
Best for: People who want private email with lots of aliases and simple encryption
PaidWeb, iOS, Android
59.6
score / 100
Why switch from Mailfence
Private email with unlimited aliases and easy password-based encryption.
Pros
Unlimited aliases on all plans
Password-protected encrypted email to anyone
IMAP support for any mail app
Cons
No free plan
Fewer features and add-on services than Proton
Stored mail not end-to-end encrypted by default
Visit StartMail 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 StartMail a good Mailfence alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Personal plan
$59.88 per year
Checked Oct 25, 2026startmail.com(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
7 days
Checked Oct 25, 2026startmail.com(opens source in a new tab)
Aliases
Unlimited
Checked Oct 25, 2026startmail.com(opens source in a new tab)
Jurisdiction
Netherlands
Checked Oct 25, 2026startmail.com(opens source in a new tab)
4. Posteo
Best for: People who want cheap, private email that works with any standard mail app
PaidWeb
57.2
score / 100
Why switch from Mailfence
Low-cost private email with OpenPGP support and encrypted storage.
Pros
Very low fixed price with no ads
Anonymous sign-up and payment
Standard protocols, so any mail and calendar app works
Cons
No custom domains
Plain web interface and no own mobile apps
No free plan
Visit Posteo Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.369
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 Posteo a good Mailfence alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Price
1 EUR per month
Checked Oct 25, 2026posteo.de(opens source in a new tab)
Storage
4 GB, upgradeable
Checked Oct 25, 2026posteo.de(opens source in a new tab)
Anonymous sign-up
Yes
Checked Oct 25, 2026posteo.de(opens source in a new tab)
Included apps
Email, address book, calendar, notes
Checked Oct 25, 2026posteo.de(opens source in a new tab)
5. mailbox.org
Best for: European individuals and businesses who want private email and office tools in one place
PaidWeb
55.3
score / 100
Why switch from Mailfence
European provider with PGP and a full office suite.
Pros
Low per-user prices with custom domains
Data stored in Germany with PGP options
Includes calendar, cloud storage, office suite and meetings
Cons
Web interface feels dated
No dedicated mobile apps
No free plan
Visit mailbox.org Details and reviews
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.363
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 mailbox.org a good Mailfence alternative?
Verified facts
4 of 4 verified
Light plan
€1 per user/month (2 GB)
Checked Oct 25, 2026mailbox.org(opens source in a new tab)
Standard plan
€4 per user/month (20 GB)
Checked Oct 25, 2026mailbox.org(opens source in a new tab)
Free trial
30 days
Checked Oct 25, 2026mailbox.org(opens source in a new tab)
Data location
Germany
Checked Oct 25, 2026mailbox.org(opens source in a new tab)