Comparisons
VaelMail compared with other email providers
Each comparison shows what both services offer, where the other provider is the better choice, the sources behind every claim, and the date the facts were last checked.
Pick a provider
| Provider | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail | Mail that is end-to-end and zero-access encrypted by default, built-in PGP, open-source apps and an established company. | Third-party mail apps need the paid Bridge, Free has one address, and we found no direct Monero option. |
| Tuta | Default encryption of subject lines, calendar and contacts, open-source clients and servers in Germany at a low entry price. | No OpenPGP, no IMAP support found on its pages, and crypto only through gift cards from a reseller. |
| Gmail | The most widely supported mailbox, tied into Google's other services, with a phone number optional in the standard sign-up. | It is part of a Google account, Google may require phone verification, and it is run by an advertising company even though Google says it does not use Gmail content for personalised ads. |
| SimpleLogin | Putting forwarding aliases, replies from aliases and open-source tooling in front of a mailbox you already use. | It is not a mailbox: mail is forwarded to another provider, so that provider still sees it. |
| addy.io | Unlimited forwarding aliases on your own username, open-source code and a very low entry price, if you already have a mailbox. | It forwards to another provider, the free plan has no replies and only 10 MB of forwarded mail a month. |
| Firefox Relay | Quick masks from a large, well-known organisation, with a browser extension, if you already have an email address. | It needs an account with a verified email address, the free plan has 5 masks and no replies, and its premium tier was on a waitlist when we checked. |
| Mailfence | OpenPGP key management built into the webmail on every plan, a Belgian company and Tor access. | Sign-up needs an alternate email address, and mail apps over IMAP are only on paid plans from Entry. |
| mailbox.org | A paid German mailbox with PGP and S/MIME, IMAP, custom domains, disposable addresses and cash-by-post payment. | No permanent free plan, no crypto payment found, and the cheapest plan is annual only. |
| Posteo | A very inexpensive German mailbox with no personal details at sign-up, prepaid credit, cash payment by post and encrypted mail storage. | No free plan or trial, no custom domains, and no crypto payment found. |
| Outlook | A mailbox inside Microsoft's account and Microsoft 365 ecosystem, with a broad set of apps. | It is tied to a Microsoft account, and Microsoft's privacy statement says it may disclose the content of Outlook.com emails when legally required. |
| Fastmail | A polished, long-running paid mailbox with Masked Email on every plan, custom domains and a choice of EU or US data residency. | No free plan, no end-to-end encryption in its own apps, and payment only by card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay. |
Looking for the account-number idea behind VaelMail? Read the Mullvad model for email.
How these comparisons are made
- Every claim about another provider comes from that provider's own pages or an independent review, linked on the comparison page with the date it was read.
- If we could not confirm something, the page says so or leaves it out.
- Each page says where the other provider is the better choice, because the right service depends on what you need.
- VaelMail is a small independent service. The comparisons say plainly where larger providers have more to offer.
Something out of date? Tell us and we will check and correct it.
Looking for an alternative instead?
The alternatives guides list several providers for people leaving Proton Mail, Tuta, SimpleLogin or Gmail, including providers other than VaelMail.
Ready to try it?
Free accounts receive mail with no phone number and no payment.