Mailfence

Overview

Mailfence is a Brussels-based email service that pairs end-to-end encryption with document storage and paid options for custom domains and mail-client access. It is best suited to people who want those capabilities together and can choose a tier that fits their storage needs. The free plan is a useful entry point, but using a custom domain or standard mail protocols means moving up to Entry.

Key features

End-to-end encryption is central to Mailfence’s appeal for people prioritizing private email. The free plan also includes web access and 1 GB of total storage, divided between 500 MB for email and 500 MB for documents. That split makes it possible to try both services, but the email allowance is modest for a mailbox expected to hold years of messages and attachments.

Aliases are available even on Base, but custom domains and POP, IMAP, SMTP, and ActiveSync access begin at Entry. That distinction matters: Base can suit someone who wants more room and multiple addresses while staying in Mailfence’s web experience, whereas Entry is the practical minimum for a personal domain or connection through those protocols. Higher tiers increase storage and alias allowances; Pro and Ultra also include priority support.

Pricing

Mailfence uses a freemium model. Free costs nothing, billed monthly, and includes 1 GB total storage: 500 MB for email, 500 MB for documents, and web access. It is a no-cost way to start, but has no custom domain or mail-protocol access.

Base costs €2.50 a month, billed annually. Its 11 GB total storage, 5 GB of email storage, and 10 aliases make it a measured upgrade for web users who need more capacity. It still excludes custom domains and POP, IMAP, SMTP, and ActiveSync, so the lower price does not suit users who depend on those connections.

Entry costs €3.50 a month, billed annually. It raises the allowance to 40 GB total and 10 GB for email, with 50 aliases, custom domains, and POP, IMAP, SMTP, and ActiveSync. For a modest increase over Base, it removes the main access restrictions, making it the strongest fit for users who need a domain or mail-client compatibility.

Pro costs €9.50 a month and includes 78 GB total storage, up to 100 aliases, custom domains, the four protocols, and priority support. Ultra costs €29 a month, billed monthly, and raises total storage to 225 GB and aliases to 200 while retaining those domain, protocol, and support features. Pro is aimed at users with larger storage needs or who value priority support; Ultra is the higher-capacity option, with a monthly billing term. A separate email-storage allowance is not given for these two tiers.

Platforms

Mailfence supports web, iOS, and Android. The Free plan is explicitly web access; POP, IMAP, SMTP, and ActiveSync are available from Entry upward. Anyone who needs those protocols should not mistake mobile apps for mail-client protocol support on the lower tiers.

Who it's for

Mailfence makes the most sense for people seeking end-to-end encrypted email with document storage, and for users who need aliases, a custom domain, or protocol support and are willing to pay for the appropriate plan. Free and Base are better for web-first use with limited storage or budgets. It is less suitable for someone who needs a personal domain or standard protocol access without moving beyond the lower tiers.

Pros and cons

• Pros: End-to-end encryption is available alongside email and document storage, including a free starting tier.
• Pros: Entry combines custom domains, 50 aliases, and all four listed protocols for €3.50 a month billed annually.
• Cons: Free provides only 500 MB of email storage, limiting its usefulness as a long-term primary mailbox.
• Cons: Base remains web-oriented: it has no custom domain or POP, IMAP, SMTP, or ActiveSync access.
• Cons: The Pro and Ultra tiers cost more, and the listed terms distinguish Ultra’s monthly billing from the annual terms on Base and Entry.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Email providers, Private Email Services, and Secure Email Providers.

• Aster Mail is worth considering for readers who want open-source software and a free plan with 10 GB encrypted storage, five aliases, and one custom domain.
• Proton Mail is another freemium option, with a free plan offering 1 GB of storage and one email address across web, desktop, and mobile platforms.
• Tuta Mail may suit someone who wants a free plan with end-to-end encryption and a calendar, alongside a 1 GB storage cap.
• eclipso Mail Europe is an alternative with a free 4 GB plan, one email address, and no aliases.
• Mailo may be preferable to someone who wants IMAP4 and EAS access on its free plan, which includes 1 GB email storage, 500 MB document and photo storage, five aliases, and ads.
• mail.de offers a free plan with 500 MB storage, a 25-email-per-day limit, and a 60 MB attachment size.
• SecureMyEmail has a free plan for one email address and paid monthly options for up to eight addresses per user.
• NevTan Mail is another freemium option; its free plan includes 5 GB storage per mailbox and up to 10 mailboxes.

Verdict

Choose Mailfence if you want end-to-end encrypted email with document storage and value having custom domains and protocol access available on a paid tier. Entry is the sensible starting point for those domain and connectivity needs; Free and Base are constrained by storage and access limits. Look elsewhere if those limits do not fit your workflow or you want a different free-plan feature mix.