Best Private Email Providers Curated by Github Users

Open Source and Always a Work in Progress (WIP)

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Abstract

This technical assessment provides an evidence-based analysis of private email providers. In contrast to commercial review sites, this framework prioritizes architectural privacy via zero-access encryption, public source code availability, independent security audits, and operational trustworthiness.

Simply the facts.

Methodology

Evaluation Criteria

Our evaluation considers:

1. Code Transparency: Public availability of source code

2. Independent Verification: Third party security audits

3. Architectural Verifiability: Zero-access encryption vs trust-based policies

4. Organizational Transparency: Public disclosure of ownership and jurisdiction

5. Privacy Architecture: Technical implementation of encryption and metadata handling

6. Operational Trust: Historical behavior when faced with legal requests and organizational affiliations

Ignore the marketing. Read the facts.

Email Provider Comparison

Rank Provider Source Available Proof Anonymous Signup Zero-Access E2EE Minimal Metadata
1 Self-Hosted Self-Hosted Email Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
2 Tutanota Tutanota Yes Yes Yes No (claimed) Yes Yes
3 Proton Mail Proton Mail Partial Yes Yes No (claimed) Yes Yes
4 AtomicMail AtomicMail No No Yes No (claimed) Yes Yes
5 Mailbox.org Mailbox.org Partial No No No No (PGP) Yes
6 Posteo Posteo Partial No Yes No No (PGP) Yes
7 Kolab Now Kolab Now Yes No No No No (PGP) Yes
8 Gmail Gmail No No No No No No
9 Fastmail Fastmail No No No No No No
10 HEY HEY No No No No No No

Critical Understanding: Architectural vs Policy Based Privacy

Class 1: Architectural Privacy (True Zero-Access)

Only self-hosted email provides verifiable zero-access where you control the entire stack.

  • Self-Hosted Email: Complete control over encryption, logs, and infrastructure. You audit your own servers and can cryptographically verify no backdoors exist. Only truly verifiable solution.

Class 2: Claimed Zero-Access (Requires Trust)

These providers claim zero-access architecture but require trusting that the client code served to you hasn't been compromised before encryption occurs. Historical actions under legal pressure should factor into trust assessments.

  • Tutanota: Claims end-to-end encryption for mail, contacts, and calendars. Entire client stack is open-source. Custom E2EE system. German jurisdiction. Requires trust in code delivery and execution environment.
  • Proton Mail: Claims zero-access mailbox with client-side encryption. Partially open-source clients and documented cryptographic architecture. Swiss jurisdiction. In 2021, logged and provided IP address of climate activist to authorities after legal order, leading to arrest. Initially marketed as not logging IPs. Received WEF Technology Pioneer award in 2022. Requires trust that served code matches published code.
  • AtomicMail: Claims zero-access architecture with AES-256 and ECIES. Newer provider with less public verification. Code not fully open. Higher trust requirement than Tuta/Proton.

Class 3: Privacy-Aware Traditional Hosts (PGP Required)

These providers can read your email by default, but support strong encryption when you configure PGP/S-MIME.

  • Mailbox.org: Strong PGP support and privacy policies. Without PGP, mail stored decrypted on servers. German jurisdiction with good privacy practices.
  • Posteo: Anonymous signup supported. PGP/S-MIME support. IP addresses stripped where possible. No custom domains by design. German jurisdiction with strong privacy laws.
  • Kolab Now: Built on open-source groupware stack. Supports PGP. Swiss jurisdiction. Not zero-access without user-managed encryption.

Class 4: Mainstream Email (Not Private)

These services provide minimal privacy and should not be used for private communications.

  • Gmail: Can read all email content. Enterprise CSE available but only for specific Workspace editions. Headers and metadata remain visible. High metadata collection.
  • Fastmail: Excellent IMAP/SMTP host with great UX. No zero-access design. Servers see message content. Australian jurisdiction.
  • HEY: Opinionated UX focused on workflow. No E2EE or zero-access architecture. Normal server-side content access.

Detailed Provider Analysis

1. Self-Hosted Email

Code transparency
Fully open source (Mailcow, Mail-in-a-Box, Postfix/Dovecot)
Verification
You audit yourself
Org transparency
You are the organization
Privacy architecture
Complete control over encryption, logs, storage, and jurisdiction
Signup & payment
Not applicable
What's logged (by policy)
Your choice
Can provider read email
No (if you implement E2EE)
Operational history
Various open-source projects with 10+ years
Trust considerations
Complete control means complete responsibility

2. Tutanota

Code transparency
Fully published
Verification
Public audits and research papers
Org transparency
Fully disclosed
Privacy architecture
End-to-end encryption for mail, contacts, calendars; custom E2EE system
Signup & payment
No email required; accepts conventional payment methods (card, bank transfer, PayPal). Bitcoin can be used indirectly via gift cards or donations, but is not supported for direct subscription billing as of 2025.
What's logged (by policy)
Minimal metadata
Can provider read email
No (claimed)
Operational history
~10 years, German jurisdiction
Trust considerations
Fully open-source codebase; no major controversies; German privacy laws

3. Proton Mail

Code transparency
Open-source clients; server-side code closed-source
Verification
Public audits and cryptographic reviews
Org transparency
Fully disclosed
Privacy architecture
Zero-access mailbox with client-side encryption; encrypted search indexes
Signup & payment
No email required; accepts conventional payment methods (card, bank transfer, PayPal). Bitcoin can be used indirectly via gift cards or donations, but is not supported for direct subscription billing as of 2025.
What's logged (by policy)
Metadata; can log IP addresses under legal order
Can provider read email
No (claimed)
Operational history
~10 years, Swiss jurisdiction
Trust considerations
2021 climate activist IP logging case; initially claimed no IP logging; WEF Technology Pioneer 2022; partially open source

4. AtomicMail

Code transparency
Closed-source platform (no public source code yet); public security whitepaper available
Verification
Claims of audits; limited public reports
Org transparency
Disclosed
Privacy architecture
Claimed AES-256 and ECIES with zero-access architecture
Signup & payment
No email or phone required; current service tier is free (no payment required).
What's logged (by policy)
Minimal metadata (claimed)
Can provider read email
No (claimed)
Operational history
New provider (less than 5 years)
Trust considerations
Limited track record; less code transparency

5. Mailbox.org

Code transparency
Uses open-source stack and components
Verification
Good privacy policies; limited formal audits
Org transparency
Fully disclosed
Privacy architecture
Strong PGP support; server-side storage without PGP
Signup & payment
Email required; accepts various payment methods
What's logged (by policy)
Low metadata
Can provider read email
Yes (without PGP)
Operational history
~10 years, German jurisdiction
Trust considerations
Traditional provider with good reputation; requires user PGP setup

6. Posteo

Code transparency
Uses open-source tools
Verification
Good policies; limited formal audits
Org transparency
Fully disclosed
Privacy architecture
PGP/S-MIME support; IP stripping where possible
Signup & payment
Anonymous signup supported; accepts bank transfer, card, PayPal, and cash by mail. Does not accept Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
What's logged (by policy)
Low metadata
Can provider read email
Yes (without PGP)
Operational history
~12 years, German jurisdiction
Trust considerations
Strong privacy stance; no custom domains; good for anonymity

7. Kolab Now

Code transparency
Built on open-source Kolab stack
Verification
Limited published audits
Org transparency
Disclosed
Privacy architecture
PGP support; groupware suite
Signup & payment
Email required; accepts card, etc.
What's logged (by policy)
Low metadata
Can provider read email
Yes (without PGP)
Operational history
~10 years, Swiss jurisdiction
Trust considerations
Open-source foundation; groupware features

8. Gmail

Code transparency
Proprietary
Verification
Independent security and compliance audits (for Google Workspace, e.g., ISO 27001 and SOC 2) but no zero-access / end-to-end encryption privacy audit because Gmail can access message content
Org transparency
Google/Alphabet
Privacy architecture
Client-Side Encryption available for enterprise only; headers visible
Signup & payment
Email/phone required; free with ads or paid Workspace
What's logged (by policy)
High metadata; content scanned for features
Can provider read email
Yes (consumer), Partially (enterprise CSE)
Operational history
~20 years
Trust considerations
Surveillance capitalism business model; extensive data collection

9. Fastmail

Code transparency
Some components open; mostly proprietary
Verification
Independent security and compliance audits (for Google Workspace, e.g., ISO 27001 and SOC 2) but no zero-access / end-to-end encryption privacy audit because Gmail can access message content
Org transparency
Fully disclosed
Privacy architecture
No E2EE; excellent IMAP/SMTP implementation
Signup & payment
Email required; accepts card
What's logged (by policy)
Normal email provider logs
Can provider read email
Yes
Operational history
~20 years, Australian jurisdiction
Trust considerations
Reliable service; no E2EE; Five Eyes jurisdiction

10. HEY

Code transparency
Proprietary
Verification
No privacy audits
Org transparency
Basecamp/37signals
Privacy architecture
No E2EE; opinionated workflow features
Signup & payment
Email required; paid subscription
What's logged (by policy)
Normal email provider logs
Can provider read email
Yes
Operational history
~5 years
Trust considerations
Focus on UX over privacy; no encryption

Conclusion

Self-hosting with E2EE is the only truly verifiable zero-access email solution where you control keys, servers, and logs without requiring trust in any third party.

Tutanota offers a fully open-source implementation with end-to-end encryption and no major trust controversies. Its complete code transparency and clean operational history make it the strongest hosted E2EE option.

Proton Mail provides strong technical architecture with partial open-source code and security audits. However, the 2021 case of logging and providing a climate activist's IP address to authorities (after initially marketing that IPs weren't logged), combined with WEF affiliations, raises trust considerations. Users with heightened threat models should use Tor access.

AtomicMail shows promise with similar E2EE claims but requires more independent verification and trust due to less code transparency and limited operational history.

Traditional providers like Mailbox.org, Posteo, and Kolab Now offer good privacy practices when combined with user-managed PGP encryption. They are honest about their limitations and don't claim zero-access.

Mainstream services like Gmail, Fastmail, and HEY should not be considered private email providers as they can read message contents by design.