Fastmail vs StartMail: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Fastmail and StartMail side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Fastmail leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Fastmail
Fast, private, and reliable email and calendar hosting for individuals and businesses.
Best for you if:
- • You want privacy focused email
StartMail
Secure, private, and encrypted email service with unlimited disposable addresses and no tracking.
Best for you if:
- • You want strong privacy protection with no tracking or profiling
| At a Glance | Fastmail | StartMail |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $3/user/mo, billed monthly Standard plan | From $4.99/mo, billed monthly StartMail plan |
Category | Email Productivity | Email Security |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.2 · Capterra 4.9 28 reviews | 4.3/5 SourceForge 4.3 67 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Watch out for | n/a | Additional accounts are 25% off, not free. |
Choose Fastmail or StartMail?
Choose Fastmail if
- You want privacy focused email
- You want good features
- Budget matters ($3/user/mo, billed monthly vs $4.99/mo, billed monthly)
Choose StartMail if
- You want strong privacy protection with no tracking or profiling
- You want comprehensive encryption options (PGP, password-protected)
In-Depth Analysis
Fastmail
Fast, private, and reliable email and calendar hosting for individuals and businesses.
Fastmail's pricing is fair, especially for the 'Standard' tier at $5/user/month offering 100GB storage.
Strengths
- Pro: Privacy focused email
- Pro: Good features
- Pro: Custom domains
- Pro: Calendar included
- Pro: No ads
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive vs Gmail
- Con: Limited integrations
- Con: Smaller ecosystem
- Con: Storage limited
- Con: No free tier
Key features
StartMail
Secure, private, and encrypted email service with unlimited disposable addresses and no tracking.
StartMail's pricing is fair for its secure email service, especially considering the unlimited aliases.
Watch out
Additional accounts are 25% off, not free.
Strengths
- Pro: Strong privacy protection with no tracking or profiling
- Pro: Comprehensive encryption options (PGP, password-protected)
- Pro: Unlimited disposable aliases enhance security and reduce spam
- Pro: GDPR compliant with servers in the Netherlands
- Pro: Good for individuals and businesses handling sensitive information
Weaknesses
- Con: No free tier, only a 7-day free trial
- Con: Requires a subscription fee, unlike many popular email services
Key features
Plans and prices: Fastmail vs StartMail
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fastmail |
| fastmail.com/pricing read Oct 19, 2026 |
| StartMail |
| startmail.com/pricing read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Fastmail pricing and StartMail pricing.
Key Takeaways
Fastmail
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5
- Lower entry price: $3/user/mo, billed monthly vs $4.99/mo, billed monthly
StartMail
- Choose if you want secure, private, and encrypted email service with unlimited disposable addresses and no tracking
What the data shows
On the data below, Fastmail leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Fastmail has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 28 reviews for Fastmail, 4.3/5 from 67 reviews for StartMail).
- Fastmail has the lower entry price: $3/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $4.99/mo, billed monthly (StartMail) for StartMail.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Fastmail and StartMail compare in 2026?
On the data below, Fastmail leads on higher user rating and lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Fastmail has the higher user rating (4.5/5 from 28 reviews for Fastmail, 4.3/5 from 67 reviews for StartMail). Fastmail has the lower entry price: $3/user/mo, billed monthly (Standard) against $4.99/mo, billed monthly (StartMail) for StartMail.
What are Fastmail and StartMail used for?
Fastmail: Fast, private, and reliable email and calendar hosting for individuals and businesses. StartMail: Secure, private, and encrypted email service with unlimited disposable addresses and no tracking.
What does Fastmail cost vs StartMail?
Fastmail's cheapest paid plan is Standard at $3/user/mo, billed monthly. StartMail's cheapest paid plan is StartMail at $4.99/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between Fastmail and StartMail?
Fastmail's main strength: privacy focused email. StartMail's main strength: strong privacy protection with no tracking or profiling.