If you’re looking for a more secure email service than Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook, or if you want an additional account for more sensitive communications, you’re in luck. There are plenty of great secure email options out there, and in this article, we’ll compare four of the best: ProtonMail, Mailfence, StartMail, and Tutanota.
Email Encryption
The most obvious reason to use a secure email service is to have greater privacy and security than popular email platforms provide. Each of these four email providers offers something referred to as zero-knowledge encryption, which means that all of the data in your account is locked up in such a way that even the service provider can’t unlock it. ProtonMail, Mailfence, StartMail, and Tutanota all offer truly end-to-end encrypted email.
However, there is an important difference between regular email encryption and secure email encryption. Every email provider encrypts your email as it flies across the internet and as it sits on their servers. But they still hold the key. Using secure email options is like owning your own home. You have the keys and can change the encryption keys whenever you want. In this case, services like ProtonMail, Mailfence, StartMail, and Tutanota are simply managing your property and do not have keys to go in whenever they want.
PGP Encryption
All of these services make encryption very easy for those who don’t consider themselves tech-savvy. However, they each also offer their own kind of PGP encryption for those who want extra security and don’t mind getting their hands dirty a little bit.
Account Security
In addition to email encryption, it’s important to rate secure email providers by how they allow users to secure their accounts. ProtonMail, Mailfence, StartMail, and Tutanota all offer two-factor authentication, which requires a user to enter a code sent to their phone or generated by an app in addition to their password. They also allow users to set up a recovery email and a recovery phone number in case they get locked out of their account.
Storage and Pricing
ProtonMail, Mailfence, StartMail, and Tutanota all offer free accounts with varying amounts of storage and features. ProtonMail and Mailfence both offer paid plans with more storage and features. StartMail offers a paid plan that includes additional features like advanced search and attachment size limits. Tutanota’s premium plan includes additional features like custom domains and alias addresses.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a more secure email service than Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook, there are plenty of great options out there. ProtonMail, Mailfence, StartMail, and Tutanota are all excellent choices with their own unique features. Ultimately, the best secure email option for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.