StartMail BV review
Updated September 28, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
StartMail BV suits businesses that want encrypted email on their own domain from a Dutch operator, and the entry rate of $4.99 a month sits below the category median. The catch is renewal at $59.88, with no free plan beyond a trial and no live chat support.
Key facts
- Best for
- A business email service with PGP encryption and custom domains on one Dutch plan.
- Monthly price
- $4.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Long-term plan price
- $4.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Renewal price
- $59.88 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- NL (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Protocols
- TLS, IMAP, SMTP, PGP (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, Webmail, IMAP (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Owner
- Robert E.G. Beens (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Longest plan (months)
- 12 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- StartMail B.V. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Netherlands (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2013 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- No logs
- Audience
- Business
- Official website
- startmail.com
Secure email
- Price from
- $4.99 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Free plan limits
- No free plan; 7-day free trial (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- End-to-end encryption
- PGP/OpenPGP encrypted email in webmail and via IMAP clients, plus password-protected messages for recipients without encryption (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Jurisdiction
- NL (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Custom domains
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- StartMail B.V. (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- Netherlands (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2013 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Apps and profiles
- Get the app
- Google Play
- Elsewhere
- WikidataLinkedInXmastodon.social
Pros and cons
Pros
- Email is encrypted with PGP and OpenPGP in webmail and via IMAP clients, with password-protected messages for recipients without encryption
- Custom domains are supported, and the service is aimed at the business audience
- Entry pricing of $4.99 a month over 12 months sits under the €7.02 median monthly figure
- Support is offered through email and help centre
Cons
- Renewal sits at $59.88, well above the entry rate of $4.99 a month
- There is no permanent free tier; No free plan; 7-day free trial
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no live chat or phone line
Who it suits
- Business teams that need business email with PGP encryption as standard
- Anyone who wants a mailbox on their own domain
- Readers who compare on jurisdiction, since StartMail B.V. lists NL
Who should look elsewhere
- Apple Inc., whose monthly price of $0.99 is lower if you only need inexpensive protection
- Mega, at $3.99 a month, if a free option matters more than encryption
- Sinew Software Systems, at $1.99 a month, for password storage rather than email
Pricing
The Business plan is listed at $4.99 a month, and billing over 12 months brings that to $4.99 a month. Renewal is listed separately at $59.88, so the lower headline rate does not carry into later terms. The advertised starting price is $4.99, and the median long-term rate across the ranking is €3.97.
How StartMail BV compares
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 8.5
8.8 vs 9.5
8.8 vs 9.4
8.8 vs 9.1
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 9.4
8.8 vs 9.2
8.8 vs 8.8
8.8 vs 9.3
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.0
8.8 vs 9.4
Frequently asked questions
What does StartMail BV cost at entry?+
The Business plan lists $4.99 a month and $4.99 when billed over 12 months, and $4.99 is the advertised starting price. For comparison, the median monthly figure across the ranking for this category is €7.02.
What happens to the price at renewal?+
Renewal is listed at $59.88, so the commitment rate of $4.99 a month is not the figure you pay once the term ends. Worth budgeting for the higher figure before signing up.
Is there a free tier to try?+
There is no permanent free plan. As the plan details put it, No free plan; 7-day free trial, so the only way to test the service is a short trial rather than a free account.
How is the email encrypted?+
Messages are protected with PGP and OpenPGP in webmail and through IMAP clients, plus password-protected messages for recipients who do not use encryption. Supported platforms are iOS, Android and Webmail.
Can I use my own domain?+
Custom domains are supported, so a business can run mail on its own domain rather than a generic address. The audience this service targets is business.
Where is the company based?+
The service is operated by StartMail B.V. and is headquartered in the Netherlands, with NL listed as the jurisdiction. The provider is owned by Robert E.G. Beens and was founded in 2013.
How do I get help?+
Support runs on email and help centre, so a help centre and email replies are the routes in. Among the brands compared, 94% is the most common channel and 35.7% the least.
What clients and protocols are offered?+
The listed protocols are TLS, IMAP and SMTP, and no-logs handling is among the advertised features, no logs. Clients run on iOS, Android and Webmail.
Sources
- startmail.com/about-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters, Owner
“StartMail was officially launched in 2013 as a dedicated private email service”
- startmail.com/en/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Features, Long-term plan price, Longest plan (months), Platforms, Monthly price, Protocols, Renewal price
“Secure, encrypted email with your own domains. Perfect for teams, entrepreneurs, and freelancers.”
- startmail.com/features checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Custom domains, End-to-end encryption
“For the personal plan, add 1 custom domain (e.g., yourname@example.com). For business subscriptions, enjoy unlimited domains.”
- startmail.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Free plan limits, Price from
“Why isn't StartMail free?”
- startmail.com/terms-of-service checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Jurisdiction, Legal entity, Support channels
“The Agreement shall be governed by Dutch law... The court of the Hague, the Netherlands, shall have exclusive jurisdiction”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Devices, Server countries, No-logs audit.
Related by the facts
StartMail BV
A business email service with PGP encryption and custom domains on one Dutch plan.