Other email services

The following services share the same emphasis on protection as the services in our main overview Privacy, but differ in one or more key ways - they typically do not have built-in end-to-end encryption as a standard part of the service, or are not open-source. Still, they are solid alternatives to the usual email providers.

Runbox

Headquarters: Norway (Oslo) Website: runbox.com Free plan: No (free trial month + 60-day money back guarantee)

Runbox is Norwegian e-mail service operating since 2000, run by an employee-owned company with no external investors. The service focuses purely on email - no ads, no tracking, no data mining. The servers are located in a highly secure data centre in Oslo and are powered entirely by renewable energy. Runbox has been awarded the „ethical best buy“ by the independent organisation Ethical Consumer.

All communication between the user and the servers is protected by TLS/SSL. However, Runbox does not have built-in end-to-end encryption - emails are stored unencrypted on servers. For E2E encryption you need to use PGP via external tools like Mailvelope or set up S/MIME in the desktop client. Runbox is transparent in this regard and openly advises users on how to provide encryption themselves.

The service supports IMAP, POP3 and SMTP, offers calendar, contact management, cloud storage and easy migration from other services. Most of the code is open-source. It falls under Norwegian jurisdiction, which provides strong data protection.

Plans start at around $1.67 per month (Micro) with 2GB of storage, regular plans offer 10-50GB.

Infomaniac

Headquarters: Switzerland Website: infomaniac.com Free Plan: Yes (20 GB email + 15 GB documents within the kSuite)

Infomaniak is a large Swiss cloud service provider with more than 25 years of history and 3 million users. It offers a comprehensive ecosystem kSuite - email, cloud storage (kDrive), online office package compatible with Microsoft formats Office, and collaboration tools.

From 2025, Infomaniak offers one-click email encryption. Messages are encrypted on servers using ECC and OpenPGP standards and stored in encrypted form. Recipients with an Infomaniac account read the messages automatically; external recipients are given a password by the sender. However, this is not full end-to-end encryption in the true sense - the private keys are managed by Infomaniak's infrastructure, not solely by the user.

Infomaniak is not open-source, but operates its own independent infrastructure exclusively in Switzerland, adheres to GDPR and the Swiss FADP, and is funded by the sale of services, not advertising. The service runs on 100 % renewable energy. Support for PGP compatibility with other encrypted providers is in the pipeline.

Paid plans for companies start at around CHF 1.50 per mailbox per month.

Hushmail

Headquarters: Canada (Vancouver) Website: hushmail.com Free plan: No (14-day free trial)

Hushmail is one of the oldest encrypted email services - it's been around since 1999. It primarily targets professionals in healthcare and legal practices, offering a solution that is compliant with the US HIPAA standard for protecting medical information.

The service supports OpenPGP encryption. Emails between Hushmail users are automatically end-to-end encrypted. For communication with recipients on other services, Hushmail offers encrypted web forms and password-protected messages. Also included are encrypted forms for receiving data from clients - a feature targeted at healthcare professionals, therapists and lawyers.

Hushmail is not open-source and its parent company (Hush Communications) is under Canadian jurisdiction.

Personal use plans start at about $5.99 per month with 10GB of storage.

CodaMail

Headquarters: USA Website: codamail.com Free plan: No (30-day free trial, no card required)

CodaMail (formerly Cotse.Net) is a private email service operating since 1999, run by a small company called Packetderm, LLC. It is a service aimed at advanced users who want maximum control over their email - from encryption to header management to network anonymity.

CodaMail automatically removes more than 35 identifying headers (IP address, email client, device information, etc.) from outgoing messages, making it much more difficult to track the sender. The service offers AES-256-GCM encryption of stored messages and optional zero-access PGP encryption, where the provider does not have access to the contents of the mailbox. Unlimited masked aliases are also available, VPN and proxy services, custom domains, CalDAV/CardDAV, and the „dead man's switch“ feature (automatically sending a message if the user does not log in for a long time).

CodaMail is not open-source, but its focus on privacy and range of features are remarkable. Accounts are handled manually as a safeguard against abuse, and all support is provided directly by the development team. The service is under US jurisdiction.

Paid plans start at approximately $4 per month.

Soverin

Headquarters: Netherlands Website: soverin.com Free plan: No (30-day money back guarantee)

Soverin is a Dutch email service operating since 2015, aimed at users who want to move away from big providers to something simpler and more private. The service's tagline is „email for people“ - the goal is to offer a secure alternative without technical jargon and complicated setup.

The service automatically removes the sender's IP address from email headers and all communication is protected by encryption TLS with an A+ rating from SSL Labs. Data is stored on encrypted drives in data centres exclusively in the Netherlands. However, Soverin does not have built-in end-to-end encryption - messages are protected in transit and in storage, but the provider has technical access to them.

Soverin requires the use of your own domain, which you can bring or register directly through the service. This means you retain control of your email identity and can leave at any time without losing your address. Included are a calendar, contact management, unlimited aliases and support for standard IMAP, POP3, CalDAV and CardDAV protocols for use with any email client.

The service is not open-source, but is funded entirely by subscriptions - no ads, no tracking, no data sales. The servers run on renewable energy. It falls under Dutch jurisdiction and complies with GDPR.

The basic plan costs around €3.25 per month (€39 per year) and includes 25GB of storage.

Last updated: February 2026. Information and ratings in this article are based on publicly available sources as of the date of publication and are subject to change over time. We recommend checking the current status of individual applications directly with their operators before making a decision.