StartMail vs. ProtonMail. How Do They Compare?

Think about it: your inbox probably holds personal identifiers, financial information, passwords, and maybe even health records. Not to mention the tons of spam and phishing emails that flood most of our inboxes every single day. In 2025, sensitive data is super vulnerable and can be snatched up and used against you in a matter of seconds.

But here’s some good news: there’s a growing list of private email services out there designed to protect your inbox from prying eyes. So how can you determine which one is right for you? Proton Mail is perhaps the biggest name on that list, but does that make it the best? If you're looking for a Proton Mail alternative, something just as private but more flexible and user-friendly, StartMail might be exactly what you’re after. We’re here to outline the facts so you can decide which one suits you best

Plans, Pricing, and What You Get (Bang for Your Buck)

First, the good news: neither StartMail nor Proton Mail shows you ads, profiles you, or sells your data. Neither company makes a dollar off your data, which is a big deal. However, secure email services still need to pay their engineers, support staff, and other teams that contribute to the user experience. This is why both StartMail and ProtonMail charge subscription fees. So what does pricing look like? We’ll cover that first...

StartMail Pricing:

• Personal Plan: $4.99/month - 20 GB storage, 1 custom domain, unlimited aliases
• Business Plan: $6.99/month - 30 GB storage, unlimited custom domains, unlimited aliases
• 25% discount on additional user subscriptions
• 7-day free trial available

ProtonMail Pricing:

• Free Plan - 1 GB storage, 1 address, 150 messages/day
• Mail Plus ($4.99/month) - 15 GB, 10 addresses, 1 custom domain, 10 aliases
• Proton Unlimited ($9.99/month) - 500 GB, 3 custom domains, unlimited aliases
• Proton Duo ($14.99/month) - 1 TB, 30 addresses, priority support

Additional Users & Flexibility:

When it comes to adding users, StartMail has an advantage. We offer a 25% discount for adding extra users, which is super convenient for families or small teams. Meanwhile, ProtonMail charges full price per additional user. The majority of Proton Plans only support one user, except for ProtonDuo, which supports two.

On the other hand, Proton does offer a free tier. But if you want private email with features that you can actually use for all of your day-to-day needs, you’ll have to pay a bit either way. Both providers start at the same price point, but when it comes to value-for-dollar, StartMail gives you all features upfront without lots of upsells.

Feature	StartMail	ProtonMail
Price	$4.99/month	Free / $4.99 (limited) / $9.99 / $14.99
Free Trial	✅ 7 days	✅ Free plan (very limited)
Unlimited Aliases	✅ All plans	⚠️ Only on $9.99+ plans
Custom Domain Support	✅ 1–Unlimited	⚠️ 1–3 (based on plan)
Additional users	✔️ 25% discount	❌ Full price

Features and Usability

Encryption:

Both StartMail and ProtonMail take your privacy seriously by using strong encryption to protect your messages. Encryption scrambles your emails so they can only be read by someone with the correct key or password. Both providers support OpenPGP, a widely used system for sending secure, encrypted emails. ProtonMail includes end-to-end encryption within its platform by default, but it's only available when you're sending an email to another Proton user.

StartMail supports end-to-end encryption in a slightly different way through OpenPGP, which can be used with third-party tools. This gives users the option to set up their own advanced encryption, especially when using external apps or IMAP. That way, you can configure a setup that best meets your needs, and you don't have to rely solely on us to protect your data should you want an additional layer of security. But no matter what your setup is, StartMail also makes it easy to send password-protected emails to anyone, even if they don’t use encryption tools. When sending a secure message to a non-StartMail user, you can add a password and a separate hint or delivery method. The recipient will need this password to open the message, ensuring your communication stays private no matter where it's going.

Email Aliases:

StartMail offers unlimited disposable aliases by default to both Personal and Business accounts, an essential feature for true digital privacy. Disposable email aliases are also called burner aliases, hide-my-email aliases, or temporary email addresses. Create a disposable email alias and sign up for any newsletter, service, or discount on any website without giving away your real email address. If one of those aliases starts getting spam or compromised, you can simply delete it - no disruption to your main inbox. Those are just a few ways you can utilize this feature. And if you want more ideas, here are the top 10 situations to use a burner email address.

Proton Mail limits disposable aliases (and calls them hide-my-email aliases) depending on your plan. The more you pay, the more you get. Unlimited aliases are only included with their $9.99/month “Unlimited” plan.

Custom Domains:

A custom domain gives you full control over your email identity. It not only enhances your professionalism but also frees you from default provider domains. For businesses, a custom domain reinforces your brand with every email you send, keeping your communication consistent, recognizable, and credible. Custom domains also work seamlessly with aliases, allowing you to create unique addresses for different teams, clients, or purposes.

StartMail offers support for one custom domain with its Personal plan and unlimited custom domains with its Business plan, which is ideal teams or growing companies who want more flexibility without extra costs. Proton Mail offers custom domain support starting with its Mail Plus plan, but accessing more domains or advanced domain features requires upgrading to higher-tier plans, making it potentially more expensive for users with broader needs.

Email Migration & Ease of Use:

StartMail has a simple, familiar interface that supports imports and exports. Transferring your email and contacts from your previous email provider to StartMail is pretty straightforward. You can easily move your emails, folders, and contacts from Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook into StartMail using our built-in ShuttleCloud Email Migration Tool. You just log in with your old account details, pick what you want to move, grant permission, and StartMail takes care of the rest. For contacts, you can upload a .vcf file (a vCard), which most providers let you export.

ProtonMail follows a similar migration process. They offer a tool called EasySwitch to safely transfer over your emails, calendars, and contacts from an external email account (like Google, Yahoo, or Outlook).

Email Client Access (Mobile & Desktop Apps):

Another major contrast between the two services is how they handle access through external email apps, i.e. the ones you use on your phone or computer (like Apple Mail on iOS, K-Mail for Android, or Thunderbird). With StartMail, you automatically get full IMAP support by default. IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) is the standard that allows these apps to connect to the StartMail server to check and download new messages.

ProtonMail is different. To access your ProtonMail account through a third-party email app, you’ll need to install a separate desktop application called Proton Bridge. Without this extra step, ProtonMail won’t work with external email clients. If you want to access your Proton account on your phone, you'll have to use their native apps for direct access.

Support:

With StartMail, all users get access to email support, no matter which plan you're on.

ProtonMail handles support differently. Their free plan is limited to support via forums and help center articles, and the cheapest paid plan (MailPlus) offers what's called “priority support.” While ProtonMail doesn’t clearly define this, it likely means you’ll get a response within 1–2 business days. If you upgrade to a higher-tier plan, you’ll get “dedicated support,” which likely means faster replies, often within 24 hours. In short, the more you pay, the better support you receive.

Feature	StartMail	ProtonMail
End-to-End Encryption	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
OpenPGP Support	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Unlimited Aliases	✅ All plans	⚠️ Only on $9.99+ plan
Custom Domains	✅ 1–Unlimited (based on plan)	⚠️ Limited, from MailPlus plans
Email Migration	✅ ShuttleCloud	✅ EasySwitch
IMAP Support (Email Apps)	✅ Built-in	⚠️ Requires Proton Bridge
Email Support	✅ All users	⚠️ Tier-based

Ecosystem & App Availability

StartMail offers webmail access and is designed to work with any third-party app, giving you the flexibility to use your preferred tools without restrictions. It’s built around an open ecosystem that allows you to stick with your existing calendar, contacts, and other apps without being forced into anything new. In other words, StartMail isn’t trying to lock you into anything. We deliver secure email that fits into your setup, not the other way around.

Proton Mail provides webmail and native apps for both iOS and Android. It’s tightly integrated into the larger Proton ecosystem, which includes tools like Proton Drive, Calendar, and VPN. While that bundled approach can be appealing, many of the most useful features across those services are locked behind higher-tier plans and paywalls. ProtonMail is designed to keep you within its ecosystem and wants to be the single service managing as much of your data and day-to-day work as possible. This is exactly why their pricing model really encourages upgrades. It can feel like you’re being nudged to pay more to unlock the tools that matter most. Meanwhile, StartMail wants to work with whatever apps and software you already use.

Data Ownership & Company Background

Both companies fully own their infrastructure, which is another big deal. Simply put, they each run their own physical servers, manage their own data centers, and control storage, networking, software, and encryption. Contrary to free providers, ProtonMail and StartMail do not rent their core systems or servers from third-party companies such as Google Cloud or Amazon Web Services.

All private data for StartMail is hosted in centers located in the Netherlands. These secure data centers have our 100% owned servers on our custom-built, dedicated cabinets. All Proton Mail servers are located in Switzerland and Germany, and the servers themselves use encrypted hard drives with several layers of passwords. So even if someone managed to steal the physical equipment, they still couldn’t access your data.

But here's the catch: location drastically affects your data rights. StartMail is based in the Netherlands, which operates under strict GDPR privacy regulations. ProtonMail was founded in Switzerland, which is also known for robust privacy laws. The processing of personal data is mainly regulated by the Federal Act on Data Protection of 25 September 2020 (FADP), and its has latest revision has helped it align more with the requirements of the GDPR.

However, an amendment to their current surveillance law would require VPNs, messaging apps, and email providers to identify and retain user data. The proposed changes pose a grave threat to the fundamental right to privacy, the security of encryption, and essential safeguards for all individuals, businesses, and democracy itself. Proton’s CEO was outraged and confirmed he would move the company out of Switzerland should the law pass. "I think we would have no choice but to leave Switzerland," said Yen. "The law would become almost identical to the one in force today in Russia. We would be less confidential as a company in Switzerland than Google, based in the US.”

Both StartMail and ProtonMail are European companies that clearly care about data privacy, but right now, StartMail is in a more politically stable environment.

Final Thought: Which is right for you?

Both StartMail and ProtonMail are excellent choices for those seeking more privacy compared to mainstream providers like Gmail. They prioritize user privacy, offer strong encryption, and never monetize your data. StartMail may be the better choice for users who want full control over their private email without paying extra for essential features. It’s a great alternative to ProtonMail.

If you prefer a full-featured, private email experience without upsells or ecosystem lock-in, StartMail offers a straightforward solution.

But when it comes to private email, there are more than two options. That's why our comparison of StartMail vs. ProtonMail is just the first. In the coming months, we plan on comparing ourselves with other private email providers, including StartMail vs. Tuta. If you have suggestions for other providers you'd like us to compare, you can reach out on our socials (X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, or Mastodon) or contact our support team!