Mailfence vs Gmail
Mailfence by ContactOffice Group SA in Brussels offers end-to-end encryption, digital signatures, calendar, contacts, and document storage. A privacy-first Belgian alternative to Gmail with a free tier included.
Why Switch from Gmail to Mailfence?
Gmail is not a free email service — it is an advertising platform that happens to send emails. Google processes every message to build detailed profiles for ad targeting, and all your data sits on US servers subject to American surveillance law. The CLOUD Act gives US authorities the power to demand your data without your knowledge, and Google has complied with hundreds of thousands of government data requests.
Mailfence, operated by ContactOffice Group SA in Brussels, Belgium, was founded on a different principle: email is private communication that should be encrypted, not monetized. Launched in 2013 in response to the Snowden revelations, Mailfence provides end-to-end encrypted email with OpenPGP and S/MIME support, digital signatures for verifying sender identity, plus an integrated suite of calendar, contacts, document storage, and group collaboration tools. Belgian privacy law, among the strongest in Europe, governs all data processing, and Mailfence cannot be compelled to hand over data to non-EU governments.
ContactOffice Group SA has been building collaboration tools since 1999, giving them over two decades of experience in secure communications infrastructure. Mailfence’s servers are located exclusively in Belgium, and the company has never served advertising or profiled a single user.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mailfence | Gmail |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | OpenPGP + S/MIME | No (requires third-party tools) |
| Digital signatures | Yes (OpenPGP + S/MIME) | No |
| Ad-free | Yes | No (ads in inbox) |
| Email scanning | Never | Yes (for ads and features) |
| Calendar | Included | Included |
| Document storage | Included | Google Drive (shared 15 GB) |
| Group collaboration | Yes | Via Google Groups |
| Custom domain | Yes (paid plans) | Requires Google Workspace ($) |
| Data location | Belgium | United States |
| GDPR compliant | Full (Belgian company) | Partial (US-based, complex DPA) |
| Free tier | 500 MB email + 500 MB docs | 15 GB shared storage |
| Two-factor auth | Yes (TOTP) | Yes |
| IMAP/POP3/SMTP | Full support | Limited IMAP |
Pricing
Mailfence offers straightforward pricing with a usable free tier:
- Free: 500 MB email storage, 500 MB document storage, calendar, contacts — no ads, no tracking
- Entry: EUR 2.50/month — 5 GB email, 12 GB documents, custom domain, aliases, IMAP/POP/SMTP
- Pro: EUR 7.50/month — 20 GB email, 24 GB documents, full mobile sync, priority support
- Ultra: EUR 25/month — 50 GB email, 70 GB documents, premium features
- Gmail: Free with 15 GB, but Google mines your data for advertising
- Google Workspace: From $6/user/month for business features
At EUR 2.50/month, Mailfence’s Entry plan delivers encrypted email, custom domain support, and EU data sovereignty for less than half the price of Google Workspace. The free tier, while storage-limited, provides a fully functional encrypted email account with no strings attached.
Who Should Switch?
Mailfence is ideal for:
- Privacy-conscious professionals who need encrypted email with digital signature capabilities for client communications
- Small businesses and freelancers wanting affordable custom-domain email with EU data sovereignty and no Google dependency
- Legal and healthcare professionals who require verifiable email authenticity through digital signatures
- EU citizens and organizations needing GDPR-native email that never processes data outside European jurisdiction
- Anyone transitioning away from Gmail who wants a collaborative suite (email, calendar, docs) rather than just an email account
It may not suit users who require 15+ GB of free storage, depend on Google Workspace integrations, or need a highly polished mobile-first interface.
The European Advantage
Gmail processes your data under US law. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework provides some protections, but it has been struck down twice before by the European Court of Justice (Safe Harbor in 2015, Privacy Shield in 2020), and its durability remains uncertain. Every email you send through Gmail is stored on US servers where it can be accessed under FISA Section 702 and the CLOUD Act.
Mailfence operates under Belgian law — one of the strictest privacy jurisdictions in the EU. Belgium was among the first European countries to establish a dedicated data protection authority, and Belgian courts have consistently upheld strong privacy protections. ContactOffice Group SA’s servers are located exclusively in Belgium, meaning your data is fully protected by GDPR without any cross-border transfer concerns.
The combination of end-to-end OpenPGP encryption, S/MIME digital signatures, and Belgian jurisdiction creates a level of email security and legal protection that Gmail structurally cannot offer. Your encrypted emails cannot be read by Mailfence, cannot be demanded by US authorities, and can be cryptographically verified as authentic by recipients. For European users who believe email privacy is a fundamental right, Mailfence delivers encryption and data sovereignty in a single, affordable package.
Looking for more European email providers? See also: Mailbox.org and Proton Mail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Mailfence's encryption work?
Mailfence supports OpenPGP end-to-end encryption directly in the webmail interface. You can generate key pairs, import existing keys, and send encrypted emails without installing any plugins. Recipients with PGP-compatible email can decrypt messages seamlessly. Mailfence also supports S/MIME for users in corporate environments that use certificate-based encryption.
Can I use my own domain with Mailfence?
Yes. Custom domain support is available on paid plans starting from the Entry plan at EUR 2.50/month. You can configure your own domain with full DNS management including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records for email authentication.
Can I migrate my emails from Gmail to Mailfence?
Yes. Mailfence supports IMAP import, allowing you to transfer all your Gmail messages, folders, and labels. You can also manually export Gmail contacts and calendar entries and import them into Mailfence using standard formats (vCard for contacts, ICS for calendars).
Does Mailfence work with email clients like Thunderbird?
Yes. Mailfence supports IMAP, POP3, and SMTP protocols and works with any standard email client including Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail, and mobile apps. CalDAV and CardDAV are supported for calendar and contact synchronization.
What makes Mailfence different from ProtonMail?
Both offer encrypted email, but Mailfence provides an integrated productivity suite (calendar, documents, groups) within the same platform. Mailfence is based in Belgium rather than Switzerland, and it supports both OpenPGP and S/MIME encryption standards. ProtonMail has a more modern interface, while Mailfence offers broader protocol compatibility and a free tier with document storage.
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