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StartMail alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave StartMail: no free plan, and fewer features and add-on services than Proton. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces StartMail, 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
2Mailfence logoMailfenceFree plan + paidNoWeb3 of 359.6
3Tuta logoTutaFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 457.2
  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 StartMail

    End-to-end encrypted by default, with a free plan and more services.

    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 StartMail 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. Mailfence logo

    2. Mailfence

    Best for: Users who want OpenPGP encryption that works with other PGP tools

    Free plan + paidWeb

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from StartMail

    European private email with OpenPGP and a free tier.

    Pros

    • OpenPGP encryption and signatures built in
    • Works with standard mail clients via IMAP and POP
    • Includes calendar, contacts and documents

    Cons

    • PGP key management has a learning curve
    • Plain, utilitarian interface
    • Free plan is small
    Visit Mailfence 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 Mailfence a good StartMail alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    1 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mailfence.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Jurisdiction
    Belgium
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mailfence.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    OpenPGP
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mailfence.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Tuta logo

    3. 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

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from StartMail

    Encrypts the whole mailbox, at a lower price.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Tuta a good StartMail 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)

The best StartMail alternative for…

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

Proton Mail logo

Best StartMail alternative for most people

Proton Mail

End-to-end encrypted by default, with a free plan and more services.

Mailfence logo

Best StartMail alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Mailfence

European private email with OpenPGP and a free tier.

Tuta logo

Best StartMail alternative for open source

Tuta

Encrypts the whole mailbox, at a lower price.

Proton Mail logo

Best StartMail alternative for Mac

Proton Mail

End-to-end encrypted by default, with a free plan and more services.

Proton Mail logo

Best StartMail alternative for Windows

Proton Mail

End-to-end encrypted by default, with a free plan and more services.

Proton Mail logo

Best StartMail alternative for Linux

Proton Mail

End-to-end encrypted by default, with a free plan and more services.

Fastmail logo

Best StartMail alternative for iPhone and Android

Fastmail

Masked email aliases plus a faster interface and calendar.

mailbox.org logo

Best StartMail alternative for working in the browser

mailbox.org

German provider with PGP, custom domains and an office suite.

StartMail alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to StartMail?

Proton Mail ranks first right now. End-to-end encrypted by default, with a free plan and more services. Fastmail and Mailfence follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to StartMail?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to StartMail?

Yes: Proton Mail and Tuta.

Which StartMail alternatives work on Linux?

Proton Mail and Tuta run on Linux.

Why do people switch from StartMail?

The complaints we hear most: no free plan; fewer features and add-on services than Proton; stored mail not end-to-end encrypted by default.

How is this list ranked?

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