15 Most Secure Email Providers in 2022

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Secure Email Server

The internet has impacted the way we communicate to an extent that most of our communication happens on smartphones through apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, or via social media. However, even in this era, email still stands to be one of the primary modes of communication. A lot of information and details, (mostly formal and even confidential) are shared over email.

The standard email service providers like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, iCloud Mail, and others are some of the most popular email services that are used by individuals all around the globe. Although these providers offer their services for free, there is a hidden cost that some of the users might not mind, but it can be a concern for others. These email service providers make their profits using your data for sending ads and promotional content. This makes your personal data vulnerable and if you don’t want this to happen, then you should go for a more secure alternative.

There are a lot of secure email service providers on the internet that give priority to your security and data privacy. In this article, we will discuss the best email services including both free and paid ones that will protect your data from third-party services and hackers.

Things to Keep in Mind While Choosing an Email Service

There are some essential tips and factors that you should keep in mind before you go for a secure email service provider.

  • End-to-end encryption: This is the most important factor that should be considered before choosing any email service as it ensures that there is no involvement of third-party services and your data remains protected from any kind of attack.
  • Dedicated apps for email service: Many email services provide dedicated apps for emails that make it more convenient to access your emails and other related services. So, you should always look for those who provide a dedicated app, instead of the traditional integrated email service.
  • Privacy policies: Privacy policies are vital as they tell how your data will be managed, stored, and protected and what other security standards will be utilized. This will let you know the transparency and the procedures used by the email service provider concerning user data.
  • Essential features and tools: Apart from the email services, there must be some other essential tools and features that you should look for before you make your decision. These features consist of a simple and intuitive user interface along with tools like a calendar to make event scheduling convenient, cloud storage, and inbox.
  • Price: Checking the price details is also one of the most important factors. You should check what services you are getting and if it is affordable for you or not. Always compare the services according to the features they provide and at what rate you are getting those services.

15 Top Secure Email Server

1. Protonmail

Protonmail is considered to be one of the most secured and encrypted email servers. Proton mail is a Switzerland-based email service provider that supports both Android and iOS. The basic principle on which Protonmail works is zero knowledge and zero access. This principle restricts even the developers and engineers behind Protonmail from reading or having access to your emails.

Protonmail provides end-to-end encryption and is open-source software. You will get a storage space of 500 MB and 150 emails per day in the free plan of Protonmail. If you want more features, you can switch to its paid plan.

Pros

  • Provides end-to-end encryption.
  • Even the employees do not have access to the emails.
  • Plus plan provides in-built VPN protection.

Cons

  • Limited storage.
  • The Plus plan is a bit expensive.
  • Limite features in the free plan.

2. Tutanota

Tutanota is a Germany-based email service provider. Its security level is quite similar to Protonmail. All the emails are encrypted from the sender’s end all the way to the receiver’s end and get decrypted directly on the receiver’s device. No decryption takes place in the path. Also, no one has access to the encryption key which makes the emails highly safe and secure.

Tutanota offers an efficient and user-friendly interface. With just one click you can choose whether you want your emails to be private or non-private. You do not even have to mention your phone number for verification.

Pros

  • Supports both Android and iOS.
  • Provides end-to-end encryption.
  • No phone number is required for verification.
  • Provides 1GB storage.

Cons

  • You cannot search for past emails.
  • Most of the advanced features are available for paid subscribers only.
  • You can not send emails in bulk.

3. CounterMail

CounterMail is a well-established email service provider and has been successfully delivering its services for more than 10 years. It is a Swedish email service provider that provides encrypted emailing. CounterMail saves all the emails on compact disks rather than hard drives to prevent data theft or data alteration.

CounterMail provides a free trial for one week so that you can thoroughly check the services before paying for the premium plan. Also, you can create various web forms even if you have a free subscription.

Pros

  • Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.
  • Comes with an inbuilt integrated password manager called Safebox.
  • Provides access to SMTP and IMAP.

Cons

  • Unable to send encrypted emails to non-subscribers.
  • Costly compared to many other email service providers.
  • The free trial provides only 3MB of storage.
  • Does not offer a lifetime free plan.

4. Mailfence

Mailfence is a Belgian email service provider. Just like Protonmail, Mailfence provides 500MB storage with end-to-end encrypted emails for free of cost. You can switch to the paid subscription for more storage and custom domain. Mailfence works on open PGP public-key encryption.

For enhanced security, Mailfence comes with a two-factor authentication feature. It also provides a calendar along with storage space to store files and documents. Also, it comes with an inbuilt spam blocker.

Pros

  • Offers both free and paid plans.
  • Provides custom domain.

Cons

  • Encryption keys are stored on their servers.
  • The encryption key can not be retrieved without another email.
  • Free storage is just 500 MB.
  • Emails sent to non Mailfence users are not encrypted.

5. Hushmail

Hushmail is another secure email service provider that is based in Canada. Just like its counterparts, Hushmail works on open PGP public key encryption for better security. To test their services before going for its plans, you can opt for a 14-day free trial.

Hushmail does not ask you for your credit/debit card details for the free trial. That means, once you are done with your free trial, you cannot opt for a paid plan automatically. Nonetheless, its annual plan comes at $49.98.

Pros

  • The paid plan provides massive storage of 10GB.
  • Supports end-to-end encryption.
  • Includes two-factor authentication.
  • Inbuilt spam blocker and autoresponder.
  • Protected by Canadian laws.

Cons

  • Fewer features in the free trial plan.
  • The paid version is a little bit expensive.
  • Can not use the same email and phone number while registration and verification.

6. Mailbox

Mailbox is one of the most popular and oldest email services that provide secure communication to its users. It has its data centers located in Germany, and it provides privacy and security to your data as per the strict German rules.

You can use the Mailbox interface from any platform like PC, Mac, and smartphones, making it very convenient to use its mailing services. It is one of those privacy-oriented email service providers that also offer sufficient cloud storage.

Pros

  • It can block promotional emails.
  • Paid plans come with great features and users can also opt for various add-ons.
  • Supports various platforms like mobile, PC, Mac, and tablets.
  • Provides custom domain and aliases.

Cons

  • Lacks encryption of the metadata.
  • Can be a bit costlier compared to other service providers.
  • Free services can be availed only under a limited trial period.

7. StartMail

StartMail has its headquarters in the Netherlands. It is another email service provider that promises secure email services. StartMail can work on various platforms, including Windows, Android, macOS, and Linux. Also, StartMail provides an optional 30-day free trial.

The email service provider offers two paid plans. Either you can go for the Personal plan that gives you 10 GB storage along with 10 email addresses or you can opt for the Business plan that provides one mailbox along with 10 GB storage and a custom domain.

Pros

  • Provides huge storage of 10 GB.
  • IMAP and SMTR are supported.

Cons

  • No end-to-end encryption is provided.
  • Privacy might get affected due to Netherland’s surveillance laws.
  • Does not provide a lifetime free plan.

8. Posteo

Posteo is another Germany-based email service provider. It is an open-source and affordable alternative to conventional email service providers. Its services are powered by eco-friendly energy and have its data centers in Berlin. It runs on modern security and encryption-based models to provide a sustainable and secure emailing experience.

You can also use Posteo on multiple devices like tablets, laptops, and mobile devices. It offers affordable pricing plans that start at 1€/month. It also ensures that your IP address is not shared in your emails to avoid email tracking. However, it lacks a free trial or any free plan.

Pros

  • Encryption of entire content, including attachments and metadata.
  • Employs advanced security protocols.
  • Supports signup and payment options using an anonymous identity.
  • Supports upgrade to email aliases and storage.

Cons

  • It does not provide custom domains.
  • It does not have any free plan or free trial period.
  • There is no separate folder for spam emails.

9. FastMail

FastMail is an Australian email service provider giant that has its branches in the United States too. It follows strict encryption rules to send and receive emails and hence, is relatively secured compared to other email services.

FastMail is totally transparent to its users and is strictly against any kind of surveillance program. However, FastMail does not provide a free plan. It offers three paid plans that range from $3 to $9.

Pros

  • Comparatively cheaper than other email service providers.
  • Provides storage up to 100 GB.
  • 30-days free trial.
  • Encryption takes place at every step.

Cons

  • No free plan is offered.
  • Fewer features are offered in the free trial.

10. Librem Mail

Librem Mail is considered among the most secure email service providers. For better encryption, Librem Mail employs a combination of OpenKeyChain and K-9 Mail. The email service provider also comes with an inbuilt VPN to maximize security.

Librem Mail provides a free plan as well as paid plans. It offers two paid plans that start at a price of $7.99 per month and can go up to $14.99 per month.

Pros

  • It works on a combination of OpenKeyChain and K-9 Mail for better encryption.
  • The iOS version is entirely based on an open-source private internet.

Cons

  • The free plan offers a very basic level of security.
  • Paid plans are expensive as compared to other service providers.

11. Runbox

Runbox is an email service provider that is based in Norweigh and all its security protocols are according to the Norweigh security and privacy laws. Runbox mainly runs on hydropower energy. It provides email services for both personal account users and business professionals.

The services of Runbox can be tried through a free trial that lasts up to 30 days. It also supports a refund policy within 2 months of the payment. It provides easy transfer of all your contacts and emails from another email service. It also offers various tools and features like custom domain hosting and email aliases.

Pros

  • Separate folder and filter for spam mails.
  • Supports domain hosting and email aliases.

Cons

  • No free plan.

12. Criptext.com

Criptext is an entirely free email service that is open-source. It comes with powerful features to ensure a completely secure and elevating email experience. However, it does not provide any cloud storage to the users.

Criptext also allows users to leverage a wide variety of features like undo sent emails and real-time email tracking. It is based on the popular open-source Signal protocols. It can be accessed on various platforms like Windows, Linux, Mac, and Android.

Pros

  • Uses keys to encrypt your data and emails.
  • Option to take an email back within one hour.

Cons

  • Stores metadata and some other information.
  • Does not provide a custom domain.
  • A Criptext account is not supported on Outlook.

13. KolabNow

KolabNow is a Switzerland-based email service provider. Apart from email services, KolabNow provides many other integrated apps such as calendars and file editors.

KolabNow allows the synchronization of your data across various devices. It provides two types of paid packages. The first package is the Group Plan which costs approximately $5.56 per month per user and provides custom domain support along with a whole lot of features. The second package is the Individual Plan which costs up to $4.56 per month.

Pros

  • Entirely open source program.
  • Privacy policies are governed by Switzerland laws.
  • Comes with two different paid packages to cater to the needs of a large audience.

Cons

  • Debug reports are only saved when necessary.
  • It does not provide a free plan.
  • The paid plans are costly.

14. Disroot.org

Disroot.org provides tons of security tools in the security domain. One of their most popular services is the email service which is well-known for the security it provides. It has a web application as well as a desktop application.

It is open-source software and is maintained by a group of volunteers. It has an interface that supports multiple languages. This email server uses SSL for encrypting all the email data. It also provides additional features such as a decentralized chat app, discussion forum, other services which can be accessed even without a Disroot’s account.

Pros

  • Provides up to 2 GB of free email storage.
  • It is an open-source project.
  • Email and cloud storage can be extended by paying for them.

Cons

  • It has a small team that maintains the project.
  • Limited features and tools.

15. CTemplar

CTempler is based in Seychelles. Ctempler works on the zero-access password technology that makes it a more secure and reliable email service provider. All the emails are saved on servers in Iceland. Iceland has one of the strictest privacy laws which allows instant deletion of data and anonymous usage.

CTempler provides a free plan with 1 GB storage. There are four different paid plans. The cheapest among the four costs $8 per month and allows 2000 emails per day.

Pros

  • Emails sent to non CTemplar users can only be accessed through an encrypted link.
  • Provides many features such as aliases, filters, and many more.

Cons

  • The user interface is not intuitive.
  • It does not provide metadata encryption.
  • It does not support IMAP/SMTP.

Wrapping Up!

In this article, we have discussed the top 15 secure email services. At present, there are several such email service providers available on the internet. The email service providers listed above are chosen on the basis of their features and popularity.

We sincerely hope that this article will help you find the best email service that can meet all your requirements efficiently.

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