The Mailfence Insider’s Guide

Everything we know about Mailfence in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.

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ToolGPAOctober 2026

Mailfence

The Insider’s Guide

Private email from Belgium with built-in OpenPGP encryption

Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email apps, read from Mailfence’s own pages.

Made by ContactOffice Group SA · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com

2.6GPA

01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from Mailfence’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Mailfence’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.

Part 01 · Overview

Welcome

What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first

2.6

GPA, above 28 of the 51 other email apps we grade

Mailfence is an email service from Brussels-based ContactOffice Group that pairs a mailbox with a calendar, document storage and contact groups. Its OpenPGP encryption runs in the browser, with a keystore for creating and importing keys, and messages can also be protected with a shared password or signed digitally. A free plan offers 1 GB, and paid plans, billed in euros, add storage, aliases, custom domains and access from other mail apps.

To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Mailfence, taken from its own pages and our grades.

1
Best for PGP email without the plug-ins
Mailfence is private email from Brussels with OpenPGP encryption that runs in your browser, with no plug-in needed, and you can send a password-locked message to someone without PGP.
2
Paid plans start at about $2.80 a month
As its pricing page puts it: €2.50 per month, billed yearly (Base).
3
There is a free plan
1 GB in total (500 MB of email, 500 MB of documents) with encryption and the iOS and Android apps. Support is the knowledge base only, and inactive free accounts are suspended after 7 months.
4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
5
OpenPGP end-to-end encryption
Messages are encrypted in the browser with OpenPGP, so they work with any other OpenPGP service and need no plug-in or add-on. You choose which emails to encrypt.
6
Integrated keystore
Generate, import, publish and export OpenPGP keys inside the account, including several key pairs, and take your keys with you if you move to another service.
7
Password-encrypted messages
A password agreed with the recipient encrypts the message, so people who do not use PGP keys can still read it through a link to Mailfence's servers.
8
A 2.6 GPA, above 28 of 51
That is against the other email apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
9
Keep it
To replace Mailfence you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

Mailfence at a glance

Pricing: Free plan, from €2.50 per month, billed yearly (Base)
Free plan: Yes
Free trial: None stated
Runs on: Web, iOS, Android
Made by: ContactOffice Group SA, since 1999
Category: Email Apps
Our grade: 2.6 GPA, good

The report card

Best for PGP email without the plug-ins

Mailfence is private email from Brussels with OpenPGP encryption that runs in your browser, with no plug-in needed, and you can send a password-locked message to someone without PGP. The free plan is 1 GB and idle accounts are suspended after 7 months. Your own domain and other mail apps need Entry at €3.50 a month, encryption is message by message, billing is in euros and there are no refunds.

ToolGPA report cardMailfenceGraded Oct 10, 2026

Subject	Grade	Comment
Value for money	B	Base is €2.50 a month billed yearly for 11 GB and 10 aliases, and Entry is €3.50 with 40 GB, 2 custom domains and IMAP access. Both sit inside the lowest-priced quarter of this category, where the middle is $8. Billing is in euros and subscriptions aren't refunded.
Free plan and trial	C	There is a free plan, with encryption and both phone apps, but the caps bite: 1 GB in total, split into 500 MB of email and 500 MB of documents, support through the knowledge base only, and suspension after 7 months idle.
Features	B	OpenPGP in the browser with a keystore to generate, import and export keys, password-locked messages for people without PGP, digital signatures, a shareable calendar, document storage with editing and contact groups. The private-mail job is covered without a plug-in.
Ease of use	C	No rating on record. Encryption needs no plug-in, but you're still managing keys in a keystore and deciding message by message what gets encrypted, since none of it is automatic.
Platforms and integrations	B	Web, iPhone and Android, with no desktop app of its own. From the Entry plan up it opens in Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail and eM Client over POP, IMAP, SMTP and ActiveSync; Base has none of that access, and the API comes with Mailfence for Business.

Grade point averageGood, out of 4.02.6

An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.

Who Mailfence is for

Fits if you want OpenPGP encryption in the browser without installing a plug-in
Works for people who already have PGP keys and want to import and manage them themselves

Who it is not for

Tight if you stay free, with 1 GB in all, 500 MB of it for email, and knowledge-base support only
Skip it if you want every email encrypted without thinking, as you choose message by message
Not for you if you're on Base and want your own domain or IMAP, which start at Entry
Watch out: subscriptions aren't refunded, and billing is in euros
Watch out: free accounts idle for 7 months are suspended and then deleted 5 months later

Good to know

Good for

People who want OpenPGP encryption without installing a plug-in
PGP users who want to import and manage their own keys
Trying a private mailbox on a free plan before paying

Worth knowing

The free plan stops at 1 GB, and free accounts are suspended after 7 months of inactivity and deleted 5 months later.
Custom domains and POP, IMAP, SMTP and ActiveSync access start at the Entry plan; the Base plan has neither.
End-to-end encryption is applied message by message: you choose which emails to encrypt.
Mailfence bills in euros, the dollar figures its pricing table can show are a conversion, and subscriptions are not refunded.

Part 02 · Pricing

What it costs

Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved

~$2.80

A month to start. There is a free plan too

Mailfence has a free plan. Paid plans start at €2.50 per month, billed yearly (Base).

Billing is in euros and subscriptions aren't refunded.

From our grade for value for money

Free
€0
1 GB: 500 MB of email and 500 MB of documents, with encryption and the mobile apps. Support through the knowledge base only.
Base
€2.50
per month, billed yearly
11 GB: 5 GB of email and 6 GB of documents, 10 aliases and support by email.
Entry
€3.50
per month, billed yearly
40 GB: 10 GB of email and 30 GB of documents, 50 aliases, 2 custom domains, POP, IMAP, SMTP and ActiveSync access, and user management.
Pro
€9.50
per month, billed half-yearly
78 GB: 30 GB of email and 48 GB of documents, 100 aliases, 7 custom domains and priority support by email and phone.
Ultra
€29
per month, billed monthly
225 GB: 60 GB of email and 165 GB of documents, 200 aliases, 10 custom domains and priority support by email and phone.
Mailfence for Business
Custom
A customized version with your own domains and branding, a control panel and API, and single sign-on, hosted by Mailfence or on your own servers.

The free plan

1 GB in total (500 MB of email, 500 MB of documents) with encryption and the iOS and Android apps. Support is the knowledge base only, and inactive free accounts are suspended after 7 months.

Read from mailfence.com on Oct 6, 2026.

Ways to pay less

Other savings
Discounts for multi-year subscriptions
The knowledge base lists 15% off for a 3-year subscription, 20% for 5 years and 35% for 10 years, arranged by emailing support after upgrading for a single period.
Stated on kb.mailfence.com
Nonprofit
Discount for non-profit organizations
Non-profits and organizations that fight for a cause can ask support for a discount. Its size depends on the number of accounts requested and is not published.
Stated on kb.mailfence.com

Part 03 · Features

What it does

Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it

Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android

Private email from Belgium with built-in OpenPGP encryption. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: end-to-end encrypted, calendar, email client, documents.

The private-mail job is covered without a plug-in.

From our grade for features

OpenPGP end-to-end encryption: Messages are encrypted in the browser with OpenPGP, so they work with any other OpenPGP service and need no plug-in or add-on. You choose which emails to encrypt.
Integrated keystore: Generate, import, publish and export OpenPGP keys inside the account, including several key pairs, and take your keys with you if you move to another service.
Password-encrypted messages: A password agreed with the recipient encrypts the message, so people who do not use PGP keys can still read it through a link to Mailfence's servers.
Digital signatures: Emails can be signed digitally so the recipient can check that a message really came from you and was not altered on the way.
Calendar, documents and groups: The suite adds a calendar that can be shared, document storage with online editing and one-click sharing, and groups for sharing contacts and data.
Aliases, domains and mail apps: Paid plans include 10 to 200 aliases. Custom domains with DKIM, SPF and DMARC, and POP, IMAP, SMTP and ActiveSync access, start at the Entry plan.

Where it runs

Web
iOS
Android

What it works with

Thunderbird
Outlook
Apple Mail
eM Client

Mailfence is made by ContactOffice Group SA, and has been around since 1999.

Part 04 · Standing

Where it stands

Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own

28/51

Other email apps it is graded above

Mailfence's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 28 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 7.

It stands best on features (B, above 30 of 51) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).

Its paid plans start at about $2.80 a month, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 7 of the 45 others that charge start lower.

On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 2 tools score higher and cost less.

Each grade against the category

Every bar is all 52 email apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Mailfence’s own letter is outlined.

BValue for money
Above 29 of 51
CFree plan and trial
Above 4 of 51
BFeatures
Above 30 of 51
CEase of use
Above 0 of 51
BPlatforms and integrations
Above 15 of 51

Price against what you get

Each dot is one of 50 email apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Mailfence is the marked dot.

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

Keep it, or make your own?

Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.

Keep it

To replace Mailfence you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.

It costs $33.62 a year.

What you could make

Calendar and documents: an app builder makes these well.

What you could not

An email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.
A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
End-to-end encryption done properly.
The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.

What this rests on. Mailfence’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.

Part 05 · Alternatives

The alternatives

The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side

Proton Mail, Tuta Mail, Posteo, mailbox and StartMail

The 5 tools Mailfence is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.

3.0GPA
Proton Mail
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
End-to-end encrypted email service based in Switzerland.
- Only Proton Mail lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Proton Mail is open source, according to its own site.
- Mailfence also covers documents.
Mailfence and Proton Mail compared in full
2.8GPA
Tuta Mail
Free plan · from €3/mo
End-to-end encrypted email and calendar from Germany.
- Only Tuta Mail lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Tuta Mail is open source, according to its own site.
- Mailfence also covers documents.
Mailfence and Tuta Mail compared in full
2.0GPA
Posteo
From €1/mo
Ad-free, green-powered email from Berlin for €1 a month.
- Mailfence has a free plan. Posteo does not.
- Only Mailfence lists iOS and Android apps.
- Posteo is open source, according to its own site.
Mailfence and Posteo compared in full
2.6GPA
mailbox
Free trial · from €1/mo
Paid, ad-free email with cloud storage and office tools from Germany.
- Mailfence has a free plan. mailbox does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Mailfence lists iOS and Android apps.
- mailbox also covers tasks, video calls and file sync.
Mailfence and mailbox compared in full
1.8GPA
StartMail
Free trial · from $4.99/mo
Paid private email from the Netherlands with unlimited aliases.
- Mailfence has a free plan. StartMail does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Mailfence lists an iOS app.
- Mailfence is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Mailfence and StartMail compared in full

Part 06 · Questions

Quick answers

The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two

Questions, each answered in a line or two

The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.

Is Mailfence free?

Mailfence has a free plan. 1 GB in total (500 MB of email, 500 MB of documents) with encryption and the iOS and Android apps.

How much does Mailfence cost?

Mailfence lists 6 plans. Free: €0.

What platforms does Mailfence work on?

Mailfence is available on Web, iOS and Android.

Does Mailfence offer any discounts?

Mailfence publicly lists the following: Discounts for multi-year subscriptions; Discount for non-profit organizations.

Does Mailfence have a Windows app?

No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Mailfence is listed for Web, iOS and Android.

Does Mailfence have a macOS app?

No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Mailfence is listed for Web, iOS and Android.

Is Mailfence open source?

Mailfence is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.

Is Mailfence end-to-end encrypted?

Mailfence describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.

What does Mailfence integrate with?

Mailfence's listing names Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail and eM Client.

Who makes Mailfence?

Mailfence is made by ContactOffice Group SA. It dates from 1999.

What are the alternatives to Mailfence?

The closest alternatives to Mailfence in our directory are Proton Mail, Tuta Mail, Posteo, mailbox and StartMail.

How does Mailfence compare with other email apps?

Mailfence's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 28 of the 51 other email apps we grade, and level with 7.

Is Mailfence good value for money?

ToolGPA grades Mailfence B for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $2.80 a month, against a middle price of $4.99 for the category: 7 of the 45 others that charge start lower.

Could I make my own version of Mailfence?

To replace Mailfence you would be making an email client: sending, receiving, threading and searching years of mail.

Where this guide comes from

The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Mailfence’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Mailfence's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-10.

Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ContactOffice Group SA. Prices change, so check mailfence.com before you buy.

Part 07 · About

About ToolGPA

Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

3,189

Tools graded, in 94 categories

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries

What else is on toolgpa.com

Scan for the live page

Prices and grades as they are today

Quoting this guide?

Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:

ToolGPA, "Mailfence: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/mailfence

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The best-graded email apps after Mailfence, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.

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Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Mailfence’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Mailfence is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ContactOffice Group SA. Prices and plans change: check mailfence.com before you buy.