> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Best Secure Email Services For Privacy Concerned People
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/secure-private-email-services/
- Published: 2019-08-26T05:27:03.000Z
- Updated: 2026-01-05T07:19:01.000Z
- Description: Explore some of the best privacy-friendly email services to take control of your data and fight away from big tech.
- Author: Abhishek Prakash
- Tags: Privacy 🛡️, List 📋

Can you call Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo! Mail etc. as secure email services?

Well, yes, in the way that your data is (usually) safe from outside attackers. But when we talk of secure email service, the focus is on data security and privacy.

If you see ads in your Gmail box based on the context of emails, surely, your emails are no longer private.

![Ads in Gmail](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/11/gmail-ads-1.webp)

No matter what. If you are concerned about the privacy and security of your email conversation and want them to be as private as possible – this article will help you find the best email services for the job. You may also like our recommendations for [tools to protect your privacy](https://itsfoss.com/privacy-tools/) coupled with the options listed here.

*Do keep in mind that we have compiled this list by judging their privacy policies, and what many users have to say about them. However, we still advise you should always be cautious with your data.*

Our list includes paid and free secure email providers, which may offer standalone applications for multiple platforms or the usual web-based platforms.

📋

If you want to take my recommendation, [go with ProtonMail](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=37&aff%5Fid=1173&ref=itsfoss.com). It has modern interface and useful features so you might not even miss something like Gmail. Bundled with password manager, VPN and cloud storage, Proton is a no-brainer. And yes, you can use it for free or opt for the paid version to support them and get extra features.

## 1\. Proton Mail

![a screenshot of the proton mail banner on its website](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/06/Proton_Mail.jpg)

[Proton Mail](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=37&aff%5Fid=1173&ref=itsfoss.com) is a very popular **Swiss-based** email service that follows an ad-free model to protect your privacy. It is protected by many layers of security, with strong encryption at all times.

Proton Mail apps are open-source, so you can review its code to make sure that it is up to the task.

You can get started for free but with paid options, you get more perks and better features for its VPN, Cloud storage, [ProtonPass password manager](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=42&aff%5Fid=1173&ref=itsfoss.com) etc. ProtonPass is a standalone offering and is quite a reliable open source password manager. 

📋

We at It's FOSS use ProtonMail for our @itsfoss.com emails. Quite satisfied with their service as they fit our needs. We ditched Google Workspace for Proton more than five years ago and we are not going back.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ End-to-end encryption.  
✅ Free & Paid options are available.  
✅ 2FA with hardware security keys.  
✅ Labels and folders to organize emails.  
✅ Undo send option.  
✅ [Manager newsletter subscriptions](https://itsfoss.com/news/protonmail-gmail-better-newsletter/).  
✅ Email tracker prevention.  
✅ Easily migrate from other email services.

[Proton Mail](https://itsfoss.click/protonmail?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 2\. Tuta

![tuta screenshot](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/10/tuta.jpg)

Tuta (formerly known as [Tutanota](https://itsfoss.com/tutanota-review/)) is an encrypted email service provider from **Germany**. It is fit for both personal and business use, which also offers standalone calendar mobile apps. You will need a premium subscription for access to its features such as extra email addresses, custom domains, more storage, etc.

It is a suitable option for many privacy-focused users if you do not want a suite of products along with it like Proton.

Tuta is among the first to implement quantum-resistant cryptography. So, it is definitely an email service to keep an eye on.

Their paid plan comes with at least three custom domains, and if you are opting for its unlimited business plan, it lets you add custom branding to it.

📋

We use Tuta for our other domain @linuxhandbook.com emails. While the features may seem limited when compared to Proton Mail or Gmail, you can go for the simplicity and affordable pricing for custom domains.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ High emphasis on end-to-end encryption.  
✅ Quantum-resistant cryptography  
✅ Free & Paid options available. Paid plan is quite affordable when compared to others.  
✅ Encrypted calendar.  
✅ All their email clients are open-source.

[Tuta](https://tutanota.com/?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 3\. StartMail

![a screenshot of the startmail banner on its website](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/06/StartMail.jpg)

An email service by Startpage.com (one of the [best google alternatives](https://itsfoss.com/privacy-search-engines/)), [StartMail](https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=itsfoss) is a good choice for being one of the best private email services available. This service too is based in Europe, **Netherlands** this time.

While StartMail doesn't offer a free tier like ProtonMail and Tutanota, it does offer a free 7-day trial. You can explore it and if you like the service, you can then upgrade to a paid plan at the end of your trial period.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ Modern features.  
✅ PGP email encryption.  
✅ Unlimited disposable email aliases to hide your actual address.  
✅ 20 GB storage.  
✅ Custom domain option available with upgrade.  
❌ No free tier

[StartMail](https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=itsfoss)

[StartMail - Exclusive 50% DiscountTrusted friends of StartMail can now benefit from this exclusive deal to receive a flat 50% discount - 1st year only - when purchasing a new StartMail Account!![](https://www.startmail.com/static/icons/apple-touch-icon.png)StartMail![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/47413/1670496632-startmail-50.png?auto=format&fit=max&w=1200)](https://www.startmail.com/partner/?ref=itsfoss)

## 4\. Librem Mail

![a screenshot of the librem mail banner on its website](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/06/Librem_Mail.jpg)

This is part of the [Librem One](https://itsfoss.com/librem-one/) suite by Purism, a **US-based** privacy company that is also behind privacy-focused hardware. Unlike others, it isn’t free. You need to opt for the premium subscription to get access to their private email service, Librem Mail.

Personally, I haven’t used it. But, it looks like a decent end-to-end encrypted, ad-free email service, and given the history of Purism to protect users’ privacy, it should be a good pick.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ Decentralized  
✅ End-to-end encryption  
✅ Ad-free  
✅ Access using any compatible app.  
❌ No free tier

[Librem One](https://librem.one/?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 5\. Mailbox

![a screenshot of the mailbox banner on its website](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/06/Mailbox.jpg)

Another service based in **Germany**. [Mailbox](https://mailbox.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) is an impressive secure email service that is powered by green energy. The data centers are located in Germany, which makes it quite privacy-friendly.

It will cost you 1 Euro/month, which includes 2 GB of secure cloud storage. The idea of having cloud storage along with your email isn’t new — but not all privacy-focused email providers offer that.

In addition, it provides many security features to help you keep your emails private.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ Privacy-focused  
✅ Cloud storage offering  
✅ End-to-End encryption  
✅ Productivity suite with office tools, calendar, tasks, meet and more  
❌ No free tier  
❌ No email address hiding option

## 6\. Mailfence

![Mailfence](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2019/08/mailfence.png?fit=800%2C295&ssl=1)

Mailfence is a **Belgium-based** privacy-focused email service that enforces OpenPGP end-to-end encryption.

Like ProtonMail and some other reputed players in this list, Mailfence offers more than just encrypted emails. It also has a calendar, contacts and document storage. You may also edit the documents online, just like Google Docs.

You can use it for free for 500 MB of emails and 500 MB of document storage. If you want more storage, you can upgrade to a paid plan that also allows additional features like POP, IMAP, SMTP, ActiveSync, custom domains and user management for businesses.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ End-to-end encrypted.  
✅ EU privacy law compliant.  
✅ Free & Paid options. Paid option is cheaper than most other services in this list.  
✅ Custom domain support available.  
✅ Document storage.  
✅ 2FA Available.  
✅ Mobile apps also available  
❌ No email address hiding option

[Mailfence](https://mailfence.com/?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 7\. Hushmail

![a screenshot of the overview section of hushmail on its website](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/06/Hushmail.jpg)

**Canada-based** [Hushmail](https://www.hushmail.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) is an encrypted email service provider specifically created for businesses in healthcare industry. The main feature is you get HIPAA-compliant email which is a recommendation for doctors and hospitals. 

Different plans are also available for law firms, enterprises, and small businesses.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ Separate plans & pricing for business users (small businesses, healthcare, law, non-profits, & enterprise).  
✅ OpenPGP end-to-end encryption.  
✅ Ability to create secure web forms and e-signatures.  
❌ No free tier

[Hushmail](https://www.hushmail.com/?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 8\. CounterMail

![Countermail 1](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/wordpress/2019/08/countermail-1.jpg?fit=800%2C454&ssl=1)

CounterMail is an old-school styled, secure email service. It lets you try the service for one week absolutely for free. In addition to the encryption, it lets you have your own domain and create web forms.

The more you spend, the more storage you get. The features remain the same – which is a good thing. If you know someone using the service, you can try it for free up to 10 days; otherwise, it is a paid-only option.

CounterMail servers are located in **Sweden**.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ OpenPGP end-to-end encryption  
✅ Custom domain support  
✅ Web form support  
❌ No free tier

[CounterMail](https://countermail.com/?p=start&ref=itsfoss.com)

## 

## 9\. POSTEO

![a screenshot of the posteo banner on its website](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/06/Posteo.jpg)

[Posteo.de](https://posteo.de/en?ref=itsfoss.com) is an reputed email service that focuses on privacy and security while also running on green energy, like Mailbox. No prizes for guessing that it is from Germany.

It's an affordable solution – for just 1 Euro/month (billed annually). However, they do not support adding a custom domain – even if you want to pay more.

Fortunately, you do get email aliases. You can upgrade the storage space along with email aliases, and calendars for an additional fee.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ Open-Source  
✅ Runs on green energy  
✅ OpenPGP encryption support  
❌ No free tier but costs just 1 euro a month

[Posteo](https://posteo.de/en?ref=itsfoss.com)

## 10\. Fastmail

![a screenshot of the fastmail banner on its website](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/06/Fastmail.jpg)

Based in **Australia**, [Fastmail](https://join.fastmail.com/itsfoss?ref=itsfoss.com) marketed itself as the fastest email service. That's why they called it Fastmail, perhaps. Later, it pitched itself to a private and secure email service, although it does NOT support end to end encryption like Tutanota and some others in this list.

It does have [email masking service](https://itsfoss.com/protect-email-address/) to hide your emails and there are several productivity features like pinning and snoozing messages.

They offer a 30-day trial, after which you can opt for one of their paid plans that start at $3/month.

**Key Highlights:**

✅ Strong data protection standards  
✅ Pixel tracking protection  
✅ Email aliases  
✅ Feature-rich platform  
❌ No free tier

[Fastmail](https://join.fastmail.com/itsfoss?ref=itsfoss.com)

[11 Ways to Improve Your PrivacyBring your A game to improve your privacy online, whether you are a Linux user or not. Follow these tips for a secure experience!![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSAnkush Das![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/04/ways-to-enhance-your-privacy.png)](https://itsfoss.com/improve-privacy/)

## Conclusion

Some readers mentioned [Lavabit](https://lavabit.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) as another option, if you want to explore something else, you can take a look at it. 

I am surprised to see so many secure email services coming from Germany. And here we all thought Switzerland was the privacy heaven.

Personally, I use ProtonMail and Tuta. [ProtonMail](https://go.getproton.me/aff%5Fc?offer%5Fid=37&aff%5Fid=1173&ref=itsfoss.com) has more feature, looks more modern and is complete package. Definitely something worth trying for. 

🗒️

Some of you may be skeptical about some of the email services which are end-to-end encrypted.  
  
Well, to clear things up right off the bat, by default, not all the emails you send are not “end-to-end” encrypted but secure. When we mention end-to-end encrypted – it means, only the receiver can decrypt (or access) the message. You can learn more about it in Proton's [blog post](https://proton.me/blog/what-is-end-to-end-encryption?ref=itsfoss.com).

*Such privacy-focused email services are the need of the hour, seeing that big tech is just toying around with user data for their gains.*

*💬 Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know below!*