Proton Mail vs StartMail: Which Secure Email Wins?

You want email that keeps your stuff private. Not just from hackers, but from ads, trackers, and even the company running the service. That’s where secure email providers like Proton Mail and StartMail come in. Both promise to lock down your inbox. But they do it differently.

In this Proton Mail vs StartMail comparison, you’ll see how they differ in encryption, privacy laws, custom domains, business features, pricing, usability, and more. By the end, you’ll know exactly which service deserves your money.

Proton Mail vs StartMail at a Glance

Feature	Proton Mail	StartMail
Headquarters	Switzerland	Netherlands
Encryption Model	End to end encryption with zero access architecture	Server side encryption with optional PGP
Free Plan	Yes	No
Custom Domains	Available on paid plans	Available on paid plans
Email Aliases	Limited on lower tiers	Unlimited disposable aliases
IMAP/SMTP Support	Available through Proton Mail Bridge	Native IMAP/SMTP support
Mobile Apps	Dedicated Android and iOS apps	No dedicated mobile app
Business Plans	Yes	Yes
Storage	Starts free, scales with plans	20 GB to 30 GB
Tracking Protection	Blocks trackers and remote content	Blocks tracking pixels and external images

 

For most people, the biggest difference comes down to encryption philosophy. Proton Mail builds privacy directly into the platform. StartMail focuses more on compatibility and flexibility.

Proton Mail

Standout features: End‑to‑end encryption, zero‑access architecture, and Swiss jurisdiction

Let’s start with Proton Mail. The company built its name on end‑to‑end encrypted email services with zero‑access architecture. Here’s what that means for you.

When you send a Proton Mail-to-Proton Mail message, it’s encrypted on your device before it leaves. Proton’s servers store it, but they don’t have the key to unlock it. That’s zero‑access. Even if someone forced them to hand over data, they’d only see scrambled text.

Proton Mail also runs under Swiss jurisdiction. Switzerland has strong privacy laws and sits outside US and EU surveillance agreements. The company doesn’t keep IP logs by default, and they’ve fought court orders in the past. For encrypted inbox with zero‑knowledge storage vs server‑side encrypted email, Proton Mail is firmly in the zero‑knowledge camp.

Other things you get with Proton Mail:

• Built‑in encryption: No plugins needed. It just works in the app or browser.
• Self‑destructing messages: Set emails to expire after you send them.
• Secure email providers that block tracking pixels and remote images: Proton Mail blocks these by default so senders can’t track if you opened the mail.
• Open source apps: Security experts can audit the code.

You can grab Proton Mail here:

• Web
• iOS App Store
• Google Play

StartMail

Standout features: PGP encryption, IMAP/SMTP support, and unlimited disposable aliases

Now look at StartMail. It takes a different path. StartMail uses PGP encryption, which is the OG standard for email privacy. You can encrypt messages to any PGP user, not just other StartMail accounts.

The big win with StartMail is flexibility. You get full IMAP/SMTP support. That means you can use it with Apple Mail, Outlook, Thunderbird, or any email client you already like. Proton Mail only added limited IMAP support through a paid Bridge app for desktop. If you live in your own email app, StartMail feels easier.

StartMail also gives you unlimited disposable aliases. Create a new email address for every service you sign up for. If one starts getting spam, delete it. Your real inbox stays clean. For privacy, that’s huge.

Other StartMail features:

• Server‑side encryption: Your mail is encrypted at rest on their servers, but they manage the keys. It’s not zero‑access like Proton Mail.
• Secure email providers that block tracking pixels and remote images: StartMail blocks these too, so marketers can’t stalk your opens.
• Netherlands jurisdiction: Based in the EU, StartMail follows GDPR. Strong privacy rules, but Dutch law differs from Swiss law.

You can get StartMail from its official page.

Proton Mail vs StartMail for Privacy Laws

Jurisdiction matters when choosing a secure email provider.

Proton Mail

Swiss privacy laws are some of the strongest globally. The company isn’t under US or EU mass surveillance laws. Proton Mail stores minimal metadata and doesn’t log IPs by default. If Swiss courts demand data, Proton Mail can only hand over what they have, which isn’t the message content.

StartMail

Based in the Netherlands, StartMail falls under EU GDPR. GDPR gives you strong rights over your data. Dutch law requires some metadata retention, but StartMail says they minimize logs and don’t store IP addresses longer than needed. Because they manage encryption keys for you, they could technically access mail if legally compelled.

So if you want zero‑knowledge storage, Proton Mail wins. If you’re fine with GDPR protection and need IMAP, StartMail is solid.

Proton Mail vs StartMail for Migration Tools and Ease of Setup

Switching email sounds like a headache. But both services try to make it simple.

Proton Mail

Use the Easy Switch tool. It pulls in your Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo mail, including folders and contacts. The web app is clean and works like Gmail. If you want Outlook or Apple Mail, you need the Proton Mail Bridge app, and that’s only on paid plans.

StartMail

Since it supports IMAP/SMTP out of the box, you can just add your account to any app you use. Migration is as easy as dragging folders. StartMail also has an import tool for contacts and existing mail.

If you want the easiest encrypted email service to switch to from Gmail, StartMail feels more familiar because it works with the apps you already use. Proton Mail feels more like moving to a new ecosystem.

Proton Mail vs StartMail for Custom Domains and Business Email

Run a freelance gig or small business? You probably want yourname@yourdomain.com. Both services handle support for custom domains, aliases, and catch‑all addresses in secure email, but there are quirks.

Proton Mail

Paid plans from Proton Mail include custom domain support, multiple email addresses, business email plans, and team management tools.

You need a paid plan like Mail Plus or Proton Unlimited. Setup is straightforward with DNS guides. You get 10 addresses on Mail Plus and 15 on Proton Unlimited. Catch‑all is included. If you manage a team, Proton for Business adds user management and more storage.

StartMail

Custom domains are available on all paid plans. You get 10 aliases per user, plus unlimited disposable aliases. Catch‑all is supported too. StartMail’s business plans are simple and let you add team members without much fuss.

StartMail includes:

• One custom domain on Personal plans
• Unlimited domains on Business plans
• Unlimited aliases
• Shared aliases for teams

Business users who manage multiple domains may appreciate StartMail’s generous domain support.

If you need secure email with custom domain for freelancers and small businesses, both work. Proton Mail gives you tighter encryption. StartMail gives you more flexibility with email clients.