Best Private Email Services in 2026
Updated
In short: Aster Mail is ranked #1 of 29 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Proton Mail and eclipso Mail Europe. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Proton Mail. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Secria Mail at $0.21/mo.
A private email service needs to suit both your privacy expectations and the way you handle messages. Compared on encryption scope and legal jurisdiction, the entries also vary in IMAP support, custom domains, and email aliases. Mailbox storage can help you assess room for messages, while a private calendar adds another feature to consider alongside email. Aster Mail, Proton Mail, and eclipso Mail Europe are among the services shown. Check free-plan availability and the paid-from price, then weigh these details against the access methods, address options, and privacy protections you want.
29 private email services ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
10 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 1 has open-source code on record, and 1 has full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aster MailWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Full bars | 6 of 6 | $2.42/mo | 8.2 | ||
| 2 | Proton MailWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.8 | |
| 3 | eclipso Mail EuropeWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | €149/mo | 6.7 | |
| 4 | ThelemailWeb · Mac · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | €2/mo | 6.7 | |
| 5 | Tuta MailWindows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | €3/mo | 6.7 | |
| 6 | Disroot EmailWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | 6 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 7 | MailoWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | €1.50/mo | 6.6 | |
| 8 | MailfenceWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | €2.50/mo | 6.5 | |
| 9 | Secria MailWeb · Android · iPhone | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $0.21/mo | 6.5 | |
| 10 | Cock.liWeb | One bar | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.1 | |
| 11 | Private-MailWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 12 | PreVeilWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 5 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 13 | Riseup EmailWeb · Windows · Linux · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 14 | Kolab NowWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | CHF 5/mo | 5.3 |
| 15 | mailboxWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 6 of 6 | €1/mo | 5.3 |
| 16 | Tau MailWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 17 | VibeMailWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 18 | HushmailWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | $5/mo | 5.2 |
| 19 | MailZyroWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | StartMailWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 5 of 6 | $4.99/mo | 5.2 |
| 21 | DeoMailWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | RunboxWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | €1.66/mo | 5.1 |
| 23 | ShutboxWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | PosteoWeb · Windows · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
| 25 | SoverinWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | €3.25/mo | 5.0 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which private email service is ranked first on Freedom251?
Aster Mail is ranked #1 of 29 with a score of 8.2. Proton Mail is second and eclipso Mail Europe third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Secria Mail has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.21/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.