eclipso Mail Europe

Overview

eclipso Mail Europe is an email service bundled with cloud storage and organizer tools, available on the web and major desktop and mobile platforms. It suits people who want integrated encryption, standard mail-client access and German data hosting; the free plan is a sensible starting point, while the high paid-plan prices make careful capacity checks essential.

Founded in 2003 and based in Bayreuth, Germany, eclipso serves private and business customers. The company says more than 50,000 users have switched to the service.

Key features

Email shares one login with cloud storage, calendar, contacts, tasks, notes, fax, SMS and online post-office tools. That makes eclipso more useful to people who want an organizer alongside mail, but less compelling if they need only a straightforward inbox.

OpenPGP and S/MIME end-to-end encryption are integrated without browser extensions or third-party software. Two-factor authentication and TLS protect accounts and mail in transit; DKIM, DMARC and SPF provide additional email protections. eclipso says emails, contacts and files remain on servers in Germany, that it complies with EU GDPR and is governed by German law, and that it does not share data with advertisers or third parties. Personal mailbox registration can be completed without providing personal data.

Mail is accessible through webmail, POP3, IMAP and SMTP, the eclipso app, or clients such as Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail. This flexibility favors people who already have a preferred mail client. The iPhone and Android app also handles calendar, contacts and cloud storage, and includes PGP, PIN protection, dark mode and push notifications. Its 50 MB email-attachment limit is useful for routine files, though large attachments may need another route.

Pricing

Freemail costs nothing, requires no credit card and provides 4 GB of storage, one email address, POP3/SMTP and IMAP, CalDAV/CardDAV, Office and Organizer tools, spam and virus protection, and an ad-free experience. It has no aliases. This is the clearest fit for an individual who can work within one address and modest storage; the absence of aliases is a real constraint for separating roles or sign-ups.

Connect costs €149 a month and includes 20 GB, 11 email addresses, POP3/SMTP/IMAP, CalDAV/CardDAV, Office and Organizer tools, spam and virus protection, an ad-free service and a custom mail domain. It suits users who need multiple addresses and a domain, but the jump from free is substantial for anyone who does not need that capacity.

Premium costs €299 a month. It raises storage to 40 GB and addresses to 25, adds WebDAV and 200 credits per month, and retains mail protocols, calendar and contacts synchronization, spam and virus protection, no ads and a custom domain. It is a better match for heavier use of storage and addresses; the added capacity and features are difficult to justify for a small personal mailbox.

Business costs €599 a month and includes 100 GB, 51 email addresses, WebDAV, mail protocols, CalDAV/CardDAV, spam and virus protection, no ads and one custom mail domain. Its larger address and storage allowances target business use, but the price is a significant commitment for a small team. Paid plans and add-ons are prepaid and do not renew automatically; the booking period ends unless extended.

MailSpace add-ons provide lifetime storage for a one-time payment: +25 GB costs €6,900, paid once, +50 GB costs €12,900, paid once, and +100 GB costs €19,900, paid once. Each has no follow-on costs. These suit existing users who need lasting extra capacity without a recurring add-on charge, rather than customers deciding between mail plans.

Platforms

eclipso supports Android, iOS, macOS, Windows and the web. Standard POP3, IMAP and SMTP access also lets users choose compatible clients, including Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail, rather than relying solely on eclipso’s own interfaces.

Who it's for

Choose eclipso if you value integrated OpenPGP or S/MIME, German hosting, broad mail-client support and organizer tools under one account. The free tier works for an individual who needs one address and can stay within 4 GB. Connect, Premium and Business are aimed at progressively higher address and storage needs, with Business including one custom domain.

Look elsewhere if price is the main concern for a multi-address setup, if the free plan’s one-address limit is too restrictive, or if you do not need the organizer and communications tools bundled with mail. Support is available by email and phone Monday to Friday, 09:00–12:30 and 13:30–17:00. Maximum response times during stated working-day support hours are 24 hours for Connect and four hours for Premium and Business.

Pros and cons

• Pros: OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption are integrated, so users need no browser extension or separate encryption software.
• Pros: POP3, IMAP and SMTP support allows use with common third-party mail clients as well as webmail and the eclipso app.
• Pros: The free plan includes organizer tools and is ad-free, with no credit card required.
• Pros: The company says files and mail stay on German servers and that it does not share data with advertisers or third parties.
• Cons: Freemail has only one address and no aliases, limiting separation of personal, work and registration mail.
• Cons: Paid plans cost €149 a month or more, making them hard to justify without a need for their higher address or storage limits.
• Cons: Mobile email attachments are capped at 50 MB, which can constrain larger-file workflows.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, browse Private Email Services.

Aster Mail is worth considering if you want an open-source option, Linux support, or a free plan with 10 GB encrypted storage, five aliases and one custom domain.

Disroot Email is a free alternative with a 1 GB mailbox, webmail and standard mail protocols, plus optional PGP encryption.

Proton Mail offers a free plan with 1 GB storage and one email address, making it another option for users comparing free encrypted email services.

Riseup Email is a free email option for users who can meet its invite requirement and work within 1 GB of storage.

Thelemail is an alternative to consider if published open-source clients and tools are a priority.

Tuta Mail offers a free plan with 1 GB storage, one calendar, three labels and end-to-end encryption for users who can work within those limits.

Mailo has a free plan with 1 GB email storage, 500 MB document and photo storage, five aliases and ads, suited to users willing to trade an ad-free service for aliases on the free tier.

Mailfence is another freemium email service to compare if its free or paid plans better fit your storage needs.

Verdict

eclipso Mail Europe is a strong choice for privacy-conscious individuals or businesses who want integrated OpenPGP or S/MIME, German hosting and the freedom to use established mail clients alongside organizer tools. Start with Freemail if one address and 4 GB are enough. Choose a paid plan only when its address, storage or domain allowances meet a concrete need; otherwise, the monthly cost is the clearest reason to look elsewhere.