Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Apple Hide My Email vs Runbox
Where Apple Hide My Email and Runbox differ
| Compare | Apple Hide My Email ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Runbox ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.99 | €1.66 |
| Free plan limits | Free 5GB iCloud plan excludes Hide My Email; it is included only with iCloud+ | Free trial only (30 days): 1 GB email storage, 100 MB file storage, 20 recipients per day; no permanent free plan |
| End-to-end encryption | None of the mail is end-to-end encrypted: aliases are relayed and forwarded by Apple, which states it does not read or process message content except spam filtering | No default end-to-end encryption; email is encrypted in transit only, and true E2EE is opt-in per message via S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient |
| Jurisdiction | US | NO |
| Custom domains | No | YesHas it |
| Open source | Not confirmed | Yes |
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Key differences
- Custom domains: only Runbox.
- Support channels: only Apple Hide My Email offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Runbox offers Email.
- Founded is lower at Apple Hide My Email: 1976 vs 2000.
- Pricing model: only Apple Hide My Email offers Free.
- Pricing model: only Runbox offers Budget.
Our verdict on each
Apple Hide My Email
Apple Hide My Email suits Apple users already inside iCloud+ who want an alias per shop or newsletter and will accept a free tier that excludes the feature. At $0.99 it is the cheapest paid entry in this group, though the relayed aliases carry no end to end encryption.
Runbox
Runbox suits readers who want a full inbox with a custom domain, open source code and apps across every major platform, and who can accept that mail is encrypted in transit rather than end to end by default. The budget plan starts at €1.66, and there is no permanent free tier.
Score breakdown
| Area | Apple Hide My Email | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0HigherEntry price of $0.99 sits under the category median of €4.38, and free keeps the base tier free. | 9.7Budget plan entry of €1.66 against a median of €6.84 and a long term median of €3.97. |
| Offer | 8.5 | 9.1Higher |
| Privacy | 10.0Higher | 9.3 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Apple Hide My Email | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 65 of 280 | 68 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 14 of 60 | 15 of 60 |
Pick Apple Hide My Email if, pick Runbox if
Pick Apple Hide My Email if cost and privacy matter most.
Pick Runbox if offer and custom domains matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
Apple Hide My Email
- apple.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.apple.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Runbox
- runbox.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.runbox.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Apple Hide My Email | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Budget |
| Legal entity | Apple Inc. | Runbox Solutions AS |
| Headquarters | United States | Norway |
| Founded | 1976Lower | 2000 |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre, Community |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Apple Hide My Email | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | YesHas it | No |
| Platforms | iOS, IPadOS, MacOS, VisionOS, TvOS, WatchOS, Web | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Macos, Linux |
| Logging policy | Apple does not read or process relayed message content except standard spam filtering; messages deleted from relay servers after delivery, usually within seconds | Server logs for system administration only; email delivery logs kept 10 days, web interface usage logs 1 month; no third-party tracking, no web beacons |
Pros and cons
Apple Hide My Email
Pros
- Entry price of $0.99 undercuts addy.io at $1 and Session at $2.99
- A free plan is listed and free marks the base tier as free
- Support covers phone, help centre and community, including phone and community
Cons
- Apple relays and forwards every alias, and states it processes content only for spam filtering, so the protection sits at the address level rather than the message level
- The free plan limits put Hide My Email beyond the free iCloud plan, with the feature reserved for iCloud+ subscribers
- Custom domains are not supported, so every alias sits on a domain Apple controls
Runbox
Pros
- Custom domains are supported, so the mailbox can run on an address on a domain the reader owns.
- The web interface is open source, so the client side can be read rather than taken on trust.
- Apps cover web, ios and android, so one mailbox works in a browser and on phones and desktops.
Cons
- End-to-end encryption is a per message setting: email is encrypted in transit, and true end-to-end encryption is opt-in per message via S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient, so key handling falls to the reader on the budget plan at €1.66.
- Free plan: no, so the cheapest way in is a time-limited trial with a fixed allowance of mail and file storage and a cap on recipients per day, rather than a mailbox that stays free.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, so there is no live chat or phone line for anything urgent.
Who each suits
Apple Hide My Email
Who it suits
- Apple households already paying for iCloud+ who want an alias per store or newsletter
- Readers who want alias forwarding with no separate account to set up
- People who keep most browsing inside Apple platforms and want a native app
Who should look elsewhere
- Non-Apple households, where addy.io is a separate option at $1 and iOS, iPadOS and macOS centres on Apple devices and the web
- Readers who want a standalone alias subscription rather than a bundle, where Posteo sits at €1
- Teams needing end-to-end encrypted mail, since this relay forwards through Apple and keeps the message body on that path
Runbox
Who it suits
- Readers who want a full mailbox on a domain they own, with apps on web, ios and android and support on email, help centre and community.
- People who treat transport encryption as enough and will set up S/MIME or PGP for the conversations that need more.
- Long-standing account holders who value that the web interface is open source and that logs are kept for system administration only.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs end-to-end encryption switched on by default, since here it is opt-in per message through S/MIME or PGP between sender and recipient.
- Price-first readers who can live with something simpler: addy.io lists $1 and Apple Hide My Email lists $0.99, both under the budget plan at €1.66.
- Readers unwilling to start on a trial, since the free plan is no and the budget plan at €1.66 is the entry.
Current offers
Apple Hide My Email
Current offer
Free trial
3 months of Apple One free: 3 months Apple One free
New and qualified returning subscribers only; offer good for three months after eligible device activation; plan automatically renews until cancelled; not available if previously accepted an Apple One three-months-free offer
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Runbox
Current offer
Free trial
30-day free trial of all plans: 30 days free, no credit card required
Every new Runbox account starts with a free 30-day trial so you can try the service before committing. No payment details are required to start.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
First month free when subscribing during the trial: 1 month free
You can skip the trial and pay for your selected plan right after signing up, and still receive your first month free.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
60-day full money back guarantee: 60 days
We also offer a 60-day full refund policy, so if you subscribe and change your mind you can request a full refund within 60 days.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
Apple Hide My Email
How much does Apple Hide My Email cost?+
Entry sits at $0.99 through iCloud+, and that subscription is the route to the alias feature. A free plan is listed, but the free plan limits keep Hide My Email outside the free iCloud plan, with the feature reserved for iCloud+ subscribers. Treat it as a paid add-on inside an Apple bundle rather than a standalone subscription.
Is Apple Hide My Email end to end encrypted?+
End-to-end encryption sits outside this product. Apple relays and forwards every alias, and states it processes content only for spam filtering, so the guarantee covers the address you publish rather than the body travelling through the relay. Aliases mask identity; they do not create a private mailbox.
Runbox
How much is Runbox at the start of a subscription?+
The budget plan starts at €1.66, and that is the entry figure used when comparing providers. Custom domains are supported on the plan, so the mailbox can run on an address the reader owns. For orientation, the median entry price across the brands compared is €6.84, which places Runbox below the middle of the group.
What happens to the price at renewal?+
The published figure is an entry price of €1.66 for the budget plan, with no separate renewal rate stated alongside it. Across the brands compared, the median long term price is €3.97 and the median first year price is €49.95. Check the plan terms before the first bill rather than assuming the entry figure carries over.