Secure Email Providers
Privacy-focused email services with end-to-end encryption to protect your communications.
Why Secure Email Matters
Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo scan emails for ad targeting. Metadata reveals communication patterns. Secure providers offer end-to-end encryption, zero-knowledge architecture, and strong privacy policies.
Top Secure Email Providers
ProtonMail
Free 500MB. €3.99/mo unlimited. Swiss-based. Zero-knowledge encryption. No logs. Most popular secure email.
Tutanota
Free 1GB. €1/mo 10GB. German-based. Open-source. Encrypted contacts/calendar. Most affordable.
Mailbox.org
€1/mo 2GB. German-based. Office suite included. Calendar, tasks. GDPR compliant. Green energy.
StartMail
$6/mo. Dutch-based. Disposable aliases. PGP support. 7-day free trial. User-friendly.
Mailfence
Free 500MB. €2.50/mo 5GB. Belgian-based. Digital signatures. Calendar. Full OpenPGP support.
Posteo
€1/mo 2GB. German-based. Anonymous payment. Eco-friendly. No ads. Privacy-focused.
What to Look For
- End-to-End Encryption: Provider can't read your emails
- Zero-Knowledge Architecture: No access to your data
- No Logging Policy: Doesn't store metadata or IP addresses
- Privacy Jurisdiction: Based outside 5/9/14 Eyes countries
- Open Source: Code can be audited for backdoors
- Two-Factor Authentication: Protects account access
- Anonymous Sign-up: No phone number required
- Custom Domain Support: Use your own domain
ProtonMail vs Tutanota
ProtonMail Advantages
More storage on free tier. Better app experience. Import from Gmail. Tor hidden service. Name recognition.
Tutanota Advantages
More affordable paid plans. Open-source. Encrypted contacts/calendar. Cleaner codebase. Search encrypted data.
Recommendation
ProtonMail for most users (better UX). Tutanota if budget priority or prefer open-source.
Limitations of Encrypted Email
Only Encrypted Within Service
ProtonMail to ProtonMail fully encrypted. ProtonMail to Gmail: encrypted in transit but Gmail can read.
Subject Lines Not Encrypted
Most providers can't encrypt subject (email standard limitation). Keep sensitive info in body.
Metadata Still Visible
Sender, recipient, timestamp visible even with encryption. Use privacy-focused providers to minimize.
Recipient Security Matters
If recipient uses Gmail, Google can read their copy. Encryption only as strong as weakest link.
Transitioning from Gmail
Choose Provider
Start with ProtonMail or Tutanota free tier. Test before committing. Check features needed.
Import Old Emails
ProtonMail Bridge (paid) or Easy Switch. Manual export/import also possible. Keep Gmail as backup initially.
Update Accounts
Change email on important services. Financial accounts, shopping, subscriptions. Gradual transition.
Set Up Forwarding
Forward Gmail to new email temporarily. Catch any missed updates. Notify contacts of new address.
Gradually Phase Out
Keep Gmail active 6-12 months. Delete old emails. Eventually close or just stop checking.
Email Aliases & Privacy
Disposable Addresses
SimpleLogin, AnonAddy. Forward to real email. Disable if spammed. Identify who sold your address.
Catch-All Domains
Own domain lets you use unlimited addresses. amazon@yourdomain.com, facebook@yourdomain.com.
Plus Addressing
Gmail trick: yourname+amazon@gmail.com. All go to yourname@gmail.com. Track who shares email.
PGP Encryption
- What is PGP: Pretty Good Privacy. Encrypt emails to anyone, any provider
- How it Works: Public key encryption. Anyone can encrypt to you, only you decrypt
- Complexity: Steep learning curve. Key management challenging. Not user-friendly
- Better Option: Use secure provider instead. ProtonMail handles encryption automatically
- When to Use PGP: Communicating with technical users. Maximum security needed
Business Email
ProtonMail Professional
€6.99/user/mo. Custom domains. 5GB storage. Catch-all. Priority support. Multi-user management.
Tutanota Business
€4/user/mo. Custom domains. Encrypted. Affordable for teams. Calendar included.
Mailfence Pro
€7.50/user/mo. Office suite. Digital signatures. Groups. Shared calendar.
Free vs Paid Features
Free Tier
Limited storage (500MB-1GB). Basic features. Good for testing. Sufficient for light users.
Paid Benefits
More storage. Custom domains. Aliases. IMAP/SMTP. Priority support. Bridge apps. Worth it for daily use.
Mobile Apps
- All major secure providers have iOS and Android apps
- ProtonMail and Tutanota have excellent mobile experience
- Push notifications work reliably
- Biometric unlock for convenience
- Offline access to previously downloaded emails
Best Practices
Use Strong Password
Unique password for email account. Password manager recommended. Enable 2FA.
Separate Personal & Work
Different accounts for different contexts. Limits damage from breach or compromise.
Be Selective
Don't give email to every website. Use aliases for non-essential signups.
Verify Sender
Check sender address carefully. Phishing common via email. Hover over links before clicking.