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Anonymous email services

These services let you create an account without a phone number or an existing email address. Combine them with a VPN or Tor and anonymous payment for more privacy.

  1. 1. Forward Email Grade A Our pick

    Open-source email service with encrypted mailboxes, custom domains, and IMAP, POP3, SMTP, CalDAV and CardDAV on every paid plan.

    Why it is our pick: The whole service is published on GitHub, server code included. Each mailbox is a separately encrypted SQLite file, IMAP, POP3, SMTP, CalDAV and CardDAV work with any app, and custom domains are included on low-cost plans.

    Based in the United States (Five Eyes). Score 93/100.

  2. 2. mailbox.org Grade C

    Paid email, calendar and office service from Berlin, Germany, with built-in PGP encryption and support for custom domains.

    Based in Germany (Fourteen Eyes). Score 70/100.

  3. 3. StartMail Grade C

    Paid email service from the Netherlands with built-in PGP encryption, unlimited aliases and custom domains.

    Based in the Netherlands (Nine Eyes). Score 66/100.

  4. 4. CounterMail Grade C

    Paid email service in Sweden that encrypts mail with OpenPGP and stores it encrypted. New registrations are closed.

    Based in Sweden (Fourteen Eyes). Score 62/100.

  5. 5. Posteo Grade C

    Paid, ad-free email service from Germany that runs without collecting names or addresses and accepts anonymous payment.

    Based in Germany (Fourteen Eyes). Score 62/100.

  6. 6. Tuta Grade C

    End-to-end encrypted email and calendar service from Germany, with open-source apps for web, desktop and mobile.

    Based in Germany (Fourteen Eyes). Score 61/100.

  7. 7. Riseup Grade D

    Email, mailing list and VPN service run by an autonomous tech collective in Seattle for activists and social movements. Accounts need an invite, and the service is funded by donations.

    Based in the United States (Five Eyes). Score 59/100.

  8. 8. Purelymail Grade D

    Low-cost email hosting from the United States with custom domains, standard protocols and mail stored encrypted with the user's password.

    Based in the United States (Five Eyes). Score 55/100.

How this list is made

Entries are ranked with our picks first, then by score against public criteria. Every answer links to evidence, and hosted services are tested automatically. Only entries answering sign up without personal data with evidence are included. The list updates when ratings change.

Compare all: email providers. Criteria and scoring.

Questions

Can email be completely anonymous?

Sign-up can be, but metadata such as IP addresses, recipients and timing can still identify you. Use a VPN or Tor, pay anonymously, and avoid linking the account to your real identity.