Best Encrypted Email Services in 2025: Privacy-First Providers

1. ProtonMail - Best Overall

**Rating: 9.5/10**

ProtonMail is the most popular encrypted email service, trusted by journalists, activists, and privacy-conscious users worldwide.

**Security:** • End-to-end encryption by default • Zero-access encryption • Swiss jurisdiction • Open-source clients • Multiple independent audits

**Features:** • Web, iOS, and Android apps • Proton Calendar (encrypted) • Proton Drive (encrypted storage) • Proton VPN (included in paid plans) • Custom domains (paid) • Bridge for desktop clients (paid)

**Pricing:** • Free: 500MB, 1 address • Plus: $3.99/month (15GB) • Unlimited: $9.99/month (500GB)

**Pros:** ✓ Most established encrypted email ✓ Excellent ecosystem (VPN, Drive, Calendar) ✓ Easy migration from Gmail ✓ Tor access available

**Cons:** ✗ Limited free tier ✗ Some features require Bridge ✗ Slower than Gmail

**Best For:** Users who want the most trusted, feature-rich encrypted email experience.

2. Tutanota - Best for Full Encryption

**Rating: 9.2/10**

Tutanota takes encryption further than ProtonMail, encrypting subject lines and contact names—not just message content.

**Security:** • Full end-to-end encryption (including subject lines) • Zero-knowledge calendar • German jurisdiction (strong privacy laws) • Open-source • Post-quantum encryption (in development)

**Features:** • Web, iOS, Android, desktop apps • Encrypted calendar included • Encrypted contacts • Custom domains (paid) • Alias addresses

**Pricing:** • Free: 1GB, 1 address • Premium: €3/month (10GB) • Teams: €6/user/month

**Pros:** ✓ Subject line encryption ✓ Native desktop apps ✓ Affordable premium ✓ Calendar included free

**Cons:** ✗ No IMAP/SMTP (can't use other clients) ✗ Smaller ecosystem than ProtonMail ✗ Less name recognition

**Best For:** Privacy purists who want maximum encryption including metadata.

3. Mailfence - Best for Business Features

**Rating: 8.8/10**

Mailfence offers a more traditional email experience with strong encryption and collaboration tools.

**Security:** • OpenPGP encryption • Digital signatures • Belgian jurisdiction • No advertising/tracking • Two-factor authentication

**Features:** • Calendar, contacts, documents • Groups and sharing • Custom domains • IMAP/SMTP support • Works with any email client

**Pricing:** • Free: 500MB, limited features • Entry: €2.50/month (5GB) • Pro: €7.50/month (20GB)

**Pros:** ✓ Full email client compatibility ✓ Document collaboration ✓ Groups for teams ✓ More traditional workflow

**Cons:** ✗ Not end-to-end by default ✗ Older interface design ✗ Less intuitive than competitors

**Best For:** Users who need encrypted email with traditional features and IMAP support.

4. Skiff Mail - Best for Web3 Integration

**Rating: 8.5/10**

Skiff is a newer encrypted email with modern design and Web3 features.

**Security:** • End-to-end encryption • Zero-knowledge • Open-source • Wallet login support • Metadata protection

**Features:** • Skiff Pages (encrypted docs) • Skiff Drive (encrypted storage) • Skiff Calendar • Custom domains • Crypto wallet integration

**Pricing:** • Free: 10GB • Pro: $8/month • Business: $12/month

**Pros:** ✓ Modern, beautiful interface ✓ Generous free tier ✓ Web3/crypto integration ✓ Full productivity suite

**Cons:** ✗ Newer, less proven ✗ Smaller user base ✗ Limited track record

**Best For:** Users who want modern design and crypto/Web3 integration.

5. StartMail - Best for Email Aliases

**Rating: 8.3/10**

StartMail, from the makers of Startpage, focuses on alias management and ease of use.

**Security:** • PGP encryption • Dutch jurisdiction • No tracking or advertising • IMAP support

**Features:** • Unlimited email aliases • Custom domain support • Desktop client compatibility • One-click alias creation • Vault for secure storage

**Pricing:** • Personal: $5/month • Business: $5.85/user/month • 7-day free trial

**Pros:** ✓ Best alias management ✓ Easy to use ✓ Works with any email client ✓ Quick setup

**Cons:** ✗ No free tier ✗ PGP requires recipient setup ✗ Fewer features than competitors

**Best For:** Users who want easy alias creation without temporary email.

Comparison Table

| Feature | ProtonMail | Tutanota | Mailfence | Skiff | StartMail | |---------|------------|----------|-----------|-------|-----------| | **Rating** | 9.5 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.3 | | **E2E Encryption** | Yes | Yes | Optional | Yes | Optional | | **Subject Encrypted** | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | | **Jurisdiction** | Switzerland | Germany | Belgium | USA | Netherlands | | **Open Source** | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | No | | **Free Tier** | 500MB | 1GB | 500MB | 10GB | No | | **Desktop App** | Bridge | Native | IMAP | Web | IMAP | | **Calendar** | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | | **VPN Included** | Paid | No | No | No | No | | **Best Price** | $4/mo | €3/mo | €2.50/mo | $8/mo | $5/mo |

How to Choose Your Encrypted Email

**For Maximum Privacy:** → **Tutanota** - Full encryption including subject lines

**For Best Ecosystem:** → **ProtonMail** - VPN, Drive, Calendar all integrated

**For Business Use:** → **Mailfence** - Collaboration tools, IMAP support

**For Modern Design:** → **Skiff** - Beautiful UI, generous free tier

**For Email Aliases:** → **StartMail** - Best alias management

**For Beginners:** → **ProtonMail** - Most user-friendly, best documentation

**For Developers:** → **ProtonMail** or **Tutanota** - Best open-source options

Encrypted Email Limitations

Encrypted email is powerful but not perfect:

**Encryption Only Works Between Users** If you email someone on Gmail, the email leaves the encrypted zone once it reaches Google's servers. For truly private communication, both parties need encrypted email.

**Password-Protected Emails** ProtonMail and Tutanota offer password-protected emails to non-users. The recipient gets a link to view the message securely.

**Metadata Still Exists** Even encrypted services know: • Who you email • When you email them • Your IP address (unless using VPN/Tor)

**Government Requests** Encrypted providers can't provide email content, but they can provide metadata under legal orders. Swiss providers (ProtonMail) offer the strongest legal protection.

**Search Limitations** Because emails are encrypted, server-side search is limited. You can search subjects and recipients, but full-text search may be limited or client-side only.