Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Fastmail vs Runbox
Where Fastmail and Runbox differ
| Compare |  Fastmail | Runbox ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €4 | €1.66Lower |
| Free plan limits | No free plan; 30-day free trial | 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 | No end-to-end encryption in Fastmail's own apps; PGP or S/MIME only via third-party apps | 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 | AU | NO |
| Open source | No | YesHas it |
Same on both: Custom domains (Yes).
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Key differences
- Runbox scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Price from is lower at Runbox: €1.66 vs €4.
- Support channels: only Runbox offers Community.
- Open source: only Runbox.
- Founded is lower at Fastmail: 1999 vs 2000.
Our verdict on each
Fastmail
Fastmail suits readers who want a custom domain and a quick mailbox at a mid-range price, not a privacy-first service with end-to-end encryption in its apps. It ranks 15 on price from among the brands compared here, and its own apps 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 | Fastmail | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3 | 9.7HigherBudget plan entry of €1.66 against a median of €6.84 and a long term median of €3.97. |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.1Higher |
| Privacy | 8.9 | 9.3Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Fastmail | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia | Norway |
Also worth a look
Posteo has price from at €1, against €4 for Fastmail and €1.66 for Runbox.
Posteo reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Fastmail | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 37 of 280 | 68 of 280 |
| Secure email and messaging | 6 of 60 | 15 of 60 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fastmail | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Budget |
| Legal entity | Fastmail Pty Ltd | Runbox Solutions AS |
| Headquarters | Australia | Norway |
| Founded | 1999Lower | 2000 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Privacy tools
| Fact | Fastmail | Runbox |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Macos, LinuxCovers more |
| Logging policy | Logs technical data such as IP addresses and client identifiers for security, troubleshooting and auditing; IP logs retained for up to one year | 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 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fastmail | Runbox | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | €4below the median | €1.66lowest quarter | €5.30 |
Median across 15 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Fastmail
Pros
- Custom domains: yes, so mail runs on an address you own rather than a provider address.
- Platform coverage of web, ios and android means a single account works in a browser and on both mobile platforms.
- Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Australia, Fastmail Pty Ltd operates under AU terms.
Cons
- Technical data such as IP addresses and client identifiers is logged for security, troubleshooting and auditing, and IP logs are kept for a retention period.
- Phone support is not among its email and help centre.
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
Fastmail
Who it suits
- Readers who want mail on a domain they own, since custom domains are supported.
- People who want a single account on web, ios and android and a price to plan around at entry and again at renewal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who compare entry prices with addy.io at $1 or Apple Hide My Email at $0.99 and want the smaller starting figure.
- Anyone who needs a standing no-cost tier, since the free plan is no and the only introductory offer is a trial.
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
Fastmail
Current offer
Free trial
30-day free trial: 30 days free
Try free for up to 30 days; no refunds for unused subscriptions
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
Fastmail
How much does Fastmail cost to start?+
The entry plan starts at €4. The free plan is no, and the free plan limits read No free plan; 30-day free trial, so the trial is the only no-cost look. Budget for the paid plan at entry and again at renewal.
Is there a free plan or a free trial?+
The free plan is no, and the free plan limits read No free plan; 30-day free trial, which lists the trial as the only no-cost entry. Nothing carries into a standing account at no charge, so readers who compare services on a permanent no-cost tier should set this one aside.
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.