How we rank: Email Providers
The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of the factors below. Each factor is the weighted average of its metrics; each metric is calculated from one published fact. Missing facts score zero, and a service is ranked only when enough of its Score is backed by facts.
A service is ranked only when at least 70% of its Score is backed by verified facts.
Privacy & security 35%
Whether the company states built-in end-to-end encryption (including OpenPGP in its own webmail or apps), whether it names a completed independent security audit or certification (pentest report, ISO 27001, SOC 2, BSI C5), whether its own mail apps are open source, and whether the account can be protected with a hardware security key (FIDO2/U2F or YubiKey).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Built-in end-to-end encryption | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Independent audit or security certification | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Open source apps | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Hardware key sign-in (FIDO2/U2F/YubiKey) | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Price 25%
The monthly price of the cheapest paid plan in US dollars with monthly billing, as shown as text on the official pricing page ($0 scores 100, $10 or more scores 0; prices only in other currencies, or only with annual billing, are left empty), whether there is a permanent free plan (trials don't count) and how much mail storage it includes (15 GB or more scores full).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan per month (monthly billing) | Linear from 0 (100) to 10 (0) — lower is better |
| Free plan | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Mail storage on the free plan (GB) | Unlimited = 100; linear from 0 to 15 |
Features 25%
Whether you can use your own domain on a personal or small-business plan, how much mail storage the cheapest paid plan includes (50 GB or more scores full, unlimited counts as full), whether standard mail apps can connect via IMAP/SMTP, and whether you can create extra addresses or aliases.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Your own domain | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Mail storage on the cheapest paid plan (GB) | Unlimited = 100; linear from 0 to 50 |
| IMAP/SMTP access | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Aliases and extra addresses | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Transparency & track record 15%
The age of the company (20+ years scores full) and whether it publishes a transparency report on requests from authorities.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Founded | Full score at 20+ years |
| Transparency report | Yes = 100, No = 0 |