# The most private email services

Private email services compared by public evidence: encryption, open source, trackers, ads, audits, jurisdiction and live security tests.

A private email service does not read, sell or advertise against your mail, keeps as little data as possible, and proves it with public code, audits and clear policies. Every service below is scored against the same [public criteria](/criteria/#email-providers), with a link to evidence for every answer and automated tests of its mail and web servers.

Services funded by advertising are left out of this list. See [all email providers](/email-providers/) for the full comparison, including Gmail and Outlook.com.

1. [Forward Email](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/forward-email/) (our pick): A (93/100). Open-source email service with encrypted mailboxes, custom domains, and IMAP, POP3, SMTP, CalDAV and CardDAV on every paid plan.
2. [mailbox.org](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/mailbox-org/): C (70/100). Paid email, calendar and office service from Berlin, Germany, with built-in PGP encryption and support for custom domains.
3. [StartMail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/startmail/): C (66/100). Paid email service from the Netherlands with built-in PGP encryption, unlimited aliases and custom domains.
4. [Kolab Now](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/kolab-now/): C (64/100). Paid email and groupware service from Apheleia IT in Switzerland, built on the open-source Kolab platform, with calendars, contacts, files and video calls.
5. [Proton Mail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/protonmail/): C (64/100). End-to-end encrypted email service from Switzerland, with apps for web, Android, iOS and desktop.
6. [CounterMail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/countermail/): C (62/100). Paid email service in Sweden that encrypts mail with OpenPGP and stores it encrypted. New registrations are closed.
7. [Posteo](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/posteo/): C (62/100). Paid, ad-free email service from Germany that runs without collecting names or addresses and accepts anonymous payment.
8. [Tuta](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/tuta/): C (61/100). End-to-end encrypted email and calendar service from Germany, with open-source apps for web, desktop and mobile.
9. [Disroot](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/disroot/): D (59/100). Volunteer-run platform from the Netherlands offering email and other open services.
10. [Riseup](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/riseup/): D (59/100). 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.
11. [Purelymail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/purelymail/): D (55/100). Low-cost email hosting from the United States with custom domains, standard protocols and mail stored encrypted with the user's password.
12. [Mailfence](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/mailfence/): D (54/100). Email service from Belgium with built-in OpenPGP encryption and signing, plus calendar, contacts and document storage.
13. [Infomaniak Mail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/infomaniak-mail/): D (53/100). Email service from Swiss company Infomaniak, with free ik.me addresses and paid hosting for custom domains, plus web and mobile apps.
14. [Fastmail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/fastmail/): D (50/100). Paid email service from Australia with custom domains and standard protocols.
15. [Runbox](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/runbox/): D (49/100). Paid email service from Norway with custom domain hosting, standard protocols and an open-source webmail app.
16. [iCloud Mail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/icloud-mail/): D (47/100). Email service included with every Apple Account, with @icloud.com addresses and custom domains for iCloud+ subscribers.
17. [Zoho Mail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/zoho-mail/): D (45/100). Email service from Zoho for businesses and individuals, with custom domains, calendar and contacts, and an ad-free free plan.
18. [GoDaddy Email](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/godaddy-email/): F (39/100). Business email for custom domains sold by GoDaddy. It runs on Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online), with Outlook webmail and apps.
19. [Namecheap Private Email](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/namecheap-private-email/): F (36/100). Paid email hosting from Namecheap for custom domains, with webmail, calendar and standard protocol access.
20. [Migadu](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/migadu/): F (35/100). Swiss email hosting service for custom domains, priced by usage rather than per mailbox, with standard IMAP, POP3 and SMTP access.

## What is the most private email service?

The most private services encrypt stored mail, publish their code, have no ads or trackers, and have been independently audited. The list above is ranked by those criteria, with our picks first. Check the evidence for the features you need.

## Is Gmail private?

Gmail scans mail for spam and security, uses account activity across Google services for advertising, and does not encrypt stored mail with a key only you hold. See the full Gmail rating and private alternatives to Gmail.

## Does jurisdiction matter for private email?

Jurisdiction decides which laws can compel a provider to hand over data. The data it can hand over depends mostly on what it stores and who holds the keys. Each rating shows the country, Eyes alliance membership and whether the CLOUD Act applies.

Source: https://privacyratings.com/private-email/