Privacy focused eMail

TL,DR: eMail is a shitty protocol, even encrypted mail sucks. Depending on the usecase, go use briar, signal or [[matrix]].
If you have to use eMail, be careful: even "secure" providers like protonmail may be legally forced to corrupt your security.

--> Look for a local tech collective like systemli or riseup.

Basic terms

You should know what those are:

• e2ee -> end to end encryption
• ZKA -> zero-knowledge-architecture
• IMAP/SMTP -> protocols used to recieve and send mail with mail clients
• mail client (eg: thunderbird, Postbox, FairEmail) -> email program
• prices are per month with a monthly billing cycle

Classic Freemail

e.g.: Google Mail, Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCloud, yahoo-mail

DO NOT USE ANY OF THOSE! There are many explanaitions online why you shouldnt.

Selfhosted

Own server, own domain

• A fucking PAIN in the ass to maintain
• usually a security nightmare
• domain can be easily linked to you
• will be IP blocked by most spam filters

--> DONT DO IT, unless you know 200% what you are doing

Included with webhosting

• hosting websites =/= hosting mail -> still not very secure
• domain is still tied to you
• pgp is always possible
• imap is always possible

but overall still better than freemail

Posteo

No free tier. Paid tier: 1€

• Storage: 2gb (more: 0.25€/GB)
• Security: 2FA,
• Additions: Calendar, Contacts
• uses green energy

Domains: posteo.[lots of tlds]

Notes:

• payment info is not linked to your mail (!!!)
• optional: encryption at rest (but the keys are generated and stored on the posteo server)

Payment Methods: Bank transfer, Credit Card, PayPal, CASH!

Tech Collectives

Systemli, riseup, etc

• payment is not linked to you
• no logs and full disk encryption
• IMAP and PGP works
• not always 2FA

BUT:

• no zero knowledge architechture
• very limited space
• may be IP blocked by some spam filters

Mailfence

Free tier:

• Storage: 500mb,
• Security: 2FA,
• Additions: Calendar, Contacts

Paid tier:

• More Storage,
• aliases,
• IMAP/SMTP, ActiveSync,
• Own Domains

Notes:

• no true zero knowledge architecture!

Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Bitcoin, Litecoin

Tutanota

Free tier:

• Storage: 1gb,
• Security: 2FA,
• Additions: 1 Calendar,
• Add. restrictions: search only past 4 weeks

Paid tiers:

• More Storage,
• aliases,
• Own Domains
• multiple users: 12€ each

Available domains:

• tutanota.com
• tutanota.de
• tutamail.com
• tuta.io
• keemail.me

Notes:

• NO IMAP because of its zero-knowledge-architecture
• NO PGP built in! You have to use something like mailvelope
• uses green energy

Payment Methods: Credit Card, PayPal, (soon: monero)

Protonmail

Free tier:

• Storage: 500mb,
• Security: 2FA,
• Additions: Calendar, Contacts
• Add. Restrictions:
  • 150 Messages per day,
  • only 3 Folders / Labels
  • no autoresponder
  • no custom filters

Paid tiers:

• more messages per day
• More Storage,
• more aliases,
• Own Domains
• IMAP/SMTP
• multiple users: 8€ each

Available domains:

• protonmail.com
• protonmail.ch
• pm.me

Notes:

• IMAP/SMTP is possible with a bridge (linux, macOS, windows), maintaining the zero-knowledge-architecture

Payment Methods: Credit Card, PayPal, Bitcoin, CASH!