Best Secure Email Services of 2025
Expert reviews of the best encrypted email providers. Compare privacy features, encryption standards, and pricing to protect your communications.
Quick Comparison
Top secure email providers at a glance
| Provider | Free Plan | Paid Price | Jurisdiction | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton Mail | ✓ Yes | $4.99/mo | Switzerland | 4.9 | |
| Tutanota | ✓ Yes | $3.00/mo | Germany | 4.7 | |
| Mailfence | ✓ Yes | $2.50/mo | Belgium | 4.6 | |
| StartMail | ✗ No | $5.00/mo | Netherlands | 4.5 | |
| Posteo | ✗ No | €1.00/mo | Germany | 4.4 |
Proton Mail
Best Overall Secure Email
Key Features
Free Plan
Yes - 1 GB storage, 150 messages/day
Paid Plans
Mail Plus $4.99/mo, Proton Unlimited $9.99/mo (includes VPN, Drive, Pass)
Jurisdiction
Switzerland (strong privacy laws)
Pros
- ✓Best-in-class privacy
- ✓Swiss jurisdiction
- ✓Open-source
- ✓Part of Proton ecosystem
- ✓Free plan available
Cons
- ✗Limited free storage (1GB)
- ✗Less features than traditional email
Privacy-focused users, journalists, activists, security professionals
Tutanota
Best Budget Secure Email
Key Features
Free Plan
Yes - 1 GB storage, 1 calendar
Paid Plans
Revolutionary $3/mo, Legend $8/mo
Jurisdiction
Germany (GDPR protection)
Pros
- ✓Most affordable paid plan
- ✓Quantum-resistant encryption
- ✓Open-source
- ✓Free plan available
Cons
- ✗Limited third-party app integration
- ✗Smaller feature set than competitors
Budget-conscious privacy seekers, students, basic secure email needs
Mailfence
Best for Business Features
Key Features
Free Plan
Yes - 500 MB storage
Paid Plans
Entry $2.50/mo, Pro $7.50/mo, Ultra $25/mo
Jurisdiction
Belgium (GDPR protection)
Pros
- ✓OpenPGP standard (interoperable)
- ✓Good business features
- ✓POP/IMAP support
- ✓Affordable
Cons
- ✗Not as user-friendly
- ✗Less modern interface
- ✗Limited mobile apps
Business users, OpenPGP users, existing email client users
StartMail
Best for Custom Domains
Key Features
Free Plan
No - 7-day trial available
Paid Plans
Personal $5/mo or $50/year
Jurisdiction
Netherlands (GDPR protection)
Pros
- ✓Unlimited aliases
- ✓Custom domain included
- ✓Privacy-focused
- ✓Easy PGP encryption
Cons
- ✗No free plan
- ✗More expensive
- ✗Smaller provider
Custom domain users, alias management, privacy professionals
Posteo
Best Eco-Friendly Option
Key Features
Free Plan
No - €1/mo required
Paid Plans
€1/mo (add storage for €0.25/GB)
Jurisdiction
Germany (GDPR protection)
Pros
- ✓Cheapest option (€1/mo)
- ✓Eco-friendly
- ✓Anonymous payment
- ✓Ad-free
Cons
- ✗No free plan
- ✗Basic features
- ✗Limited storage (2GB base)
Eco-conscious users, minimalists, European users
How to Choose a Secure Email Provider
Essential factors for protecting your email privacy
Encryption Standard
Look for end-to-end encryption (E2EE) that ensures only you and your recipient can read messages. Zero-access encryption means even the provider can't decrypt your emails. Proton Mail and Tutanota offer this by default.
Jurisdiction & Privacy Laws
Provider location matters. Switzerland (Proton Mail) has the strongest privacy laws. EU countries offer GDPR protection. Avoid providers in Five Eyes surveillance alliance countries if privacy is critical.
Open-Source & Audits
Open-source software allows independent security audits. Proton Mail, Tutanota, and Posteo are open-source and regularly audited. This transparency builds trust in their security claims.
Free vs. Paid Plans
Free plans are great for testing, but paid plans offer more storage, custom domains, and advanced features. Expect to pay $3-10/mo for robust secure email with adequate storage and features.
Usability vs. Security Trade-off
Strong encryption may limit some conveniences like search, IMAP access, or third-party apps. Decide what balance works for you. Proton Mail offers the best balance of security and usability.
Additional Security Features
Consider two-factor authentication (2FA), email aliasing, custom domains, and calendar/contacts encryption. Integration with other secure services (VPN, drive, password manager) adds convenience.
Complete Your Privacy Setup
Protect your entire digital life with these privacy tools
Disclaimer: No email system is 100% secure. While encrypted email providers offer strong protection, security also depends on your practices (strong passwords, 2FA, avoiding phishing). We may receive compensation when you sign up through our links. All information accurate as of publication date and subject to change.
Last updated: October 2025