Skip to content
SourceTier
Sign in Ask SourceTier
Personal tech
LaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTVsGamingSmart home
Business tech
AI and agentsCRMCloudSecurityProcurementDeveloper tools
Directories
Buying guidesAll categoriesAll productsAll vendorsPricing by productSecurity and compliance
Intelligence
NewsChangesResearchMarket mapsMethodologyBlog
Compare
Tools
Sign in
Ask SourceTier

Email services.
Choose what fits.

Choose for the address you want to keep and the apps you use. A hosted mailbox and a desktop email client do different jobs; this guide focuses on mailbox services.

Explore documented productsYour buying checklist
  1. Set your priorities
  2. Compare the evidence
  3. Try your workflow

What do you need from your mailbox?

01A personal inbox

Check the ongoing plan, mailbox allowance and recovery steps. Try search and attachments on your phone before moving important mail.

02An address at your domain

Check domain eligibility, aliases and DNS setup. Test sending and receiving before changing the address on your other accounts.

03Keep a desktop app

Confirm whether your app connects directly, needs a local bridge, or must be replaced. Test folders, sent mail and calendar separately.

Build your shortlist

Browse the category

A focused selection, ordered by documented guide criteria. Features may depend on the plan; open the evidence for scope. Missing data is a research gap, not a missing feature.

Tutao GmbH

Tuta Mail

Custom email domain
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Custom domains are available on paid subscriptions. Check the domain count for the selected plan.

Email client connection
Provider apps; no IMAP/POP3/SMTP Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Tuta documents its own desktop, web and mobile apps rather than standard mail protocols. The mentioned Thunderbird add-ons do not add IMAP support.

Data export
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Mailbox export is available in the Tuta desktop client. Choose the mailbox and destination folder in Email Export settings.

3 more documented criteria
Free tier
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

A continuing Free personal plan is listed separately from the paid Revolutionary and Legend plans.

Free mailbox storage, up to
1 GB Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

The Free personal plan lists 1 GB of storage. Paid plans have different allowances.

Mobile app (iOS or Android)
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Tuta documents its own apps for Android and iOS, alongside its web and desktop clients.

All documented facts

Proton AG

Proton Mail

Custom email domain
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Custom domains require a paid Proton Mail plan and DNS configuration. They are not included in Proton Free.

Email client connection
IMAP/SMTP through desktop Bridge Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

A paid Proton Mail plan and the local Bridge app are required. Bridge connects supported desktop email clients; it is not a mobile IMAP service.

Data export
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

The Export Tool is available to all users on Windows, macOS and Linux. It exports decrypted mail; it does not export Calendar, Drive or Pass data.

1 more documented criteria
Free tier
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Proton Free is a continuing free plan for one user. Paid plans add mailbox capacity and custom domains.

All documented facts

Fastmail

Fastmail

Custom email domain
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Fastmail hosts mail for a domain you own. Domain registration and the Fastmail subscription are separate requirements.

Email client connection
IMAP/POP/SMTP Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Supported plans use encrypted connections and an app password. The documented legacy Basic plan excludes these protocols.

Data export
Yes Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

Settings provide exports for mail, contacts and calendars. Mail folders are downloaded separately; check nested folders when backing up.

1 more documented criteria
Free trial length
30 days Verified Source · Checked
Scope and evidence

The pricing page offers a trial of up to 30 days. This is a trial, not a continuing free plan.

All documented facts

See more products in this category

Your buying checklist

Four checks before you commit

Use this as a working checklist. Checkmarks are not saved.

Common questions

Can I keep my existing email address?

If you own its domain, check the provider’s custom-domain setup and plan requirements. An address owned by another mailbox provider generally remains with that provider; plan forwarding or account updates separately.

Does an export contain everything?

Check email, attachments, contacts, calendars and rules separately. An email export may omit the other parts, and some providers require a desktop app.

Does encryption work the same with every recipient?

Check the provider’s documented sending modes for internal and external recipients. A feature name alone does not establish which messages, metadata or devices it covers.

Work through the trade-offs

Decision guide

Software security review checklist

What evidence do you need before trusting a new service?

Read the guideDecision guide

How to compare software alternatives

Would a different tool solve the problem that made you look?

Read the guide

Ready to evaluate your shortlist?

Test the same tasks in each product, then compare the full cost.

Build your evaluation scorecardCompare software costs

Keep exploring

All guides
Buying guide

Password managers

Who needs to share access?

Build your shortlist
Buying guide

Laptops

Where will you use it most?

Build your shortlist
Buying guide

Cloud storage

What needs a home in the cloud?

Build your shortlist