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Head-to-head · Secure Email Providers

Mailfence vs Runbox

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Mailfence #4 in Secure Email Providers 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Mailfence
Runbox #7 in Secure Email Providers 8.0/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Runbox

Mailfence leads on 2 checks, Runbox on 2, and 1 is even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMailfence · 8.6/10
  • Free planonly Mailfence
  • Free trialonly Runbox
  • Most featuresRunbox · 2 of 3

Mailfence scores higher on our rubric for secure email providers: 8.6 against 8.0 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #7.

Mailfence offers free plan; Runbox doesn't. Runbox offers custom domain; Mailfence doesn't. Mailfence leads on mailbox storage: 5 GB versus 2 GB. Runbox leads on email aliases: 100 aliases versus 10 aliases. On mail protocol support, Runbox gives you Imap_smtp where Mailfence offers None.

Mailfence is the better fit for secure email plus collaboration tools. Runbox is the better fit for custom-domain users wanting mature private hosting.

  • Mailfence fits best

    Secure email plus collaboration tools

  • Runbox fits best

    Custom-domain users wanting mature private hosting

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Mailfence 8.6/10 Visit ↗ Runbox 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.0
Ranking #4 in Secure Email Providers #7 in Secure Email Providers
Best for Secure email plus collaboration tools Custom-domain users wanting mature private hosting
Pricing model Free plan + paid Paid
Starting price €2.50/mo €1.66/user/mo
Free plan ✓ (best) —
Free trial — 30 days
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Integrations 9 integrations 9 integrations
Features Mailfence 1/3 · Runbox 2/3
End-to-end encryption ✓ ✓
Custom domain — ✓ (best)
Encrypted calendar Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Mailbox storage 5 GB (best) 2 GB
Email aliases 10 aliases 100 aliases (best)
Mail protocol support None Imap_smtp
Our review
Pros
  • OpenPGP encryption, digital signatures, and key management
  • Shared calendars, documents, contacts, mailboxes, and groups
  • IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, and ActiveSync support
  • Custom domains with unlimited aliases on your own domain
  • IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV and CardDAV support
  • Filtering, encryption, two-factor authentication and import tools
Cons
  • Free plan provides only 1 GB of total storage
  • Base excludes custom domains and mail-client access
  • Larger storage tiers become substantially more expensive
  • The Micro plan provides only 2 GB of email storage
  • There is no free plan
  • Listed plan prices require annual billing
Our verdict

Mailfence is a Belgium-based secure email service for privacy-conscious individuals, families, organizations, and universities. Its browser-based service combines email with OpenPGP end-to-end encryption, digital signatures, key…

Read the review →

Runbox is a Norway-based private email service for individuals, families and teams. It combines webmail with custom-domain hosting, aliases, spam and virus filtering, two-factor authentication, encrypted connections, and access through…

Read the review →
  1. MailfenceSecure Email Providers 8.6Free plan
  2. RunboxSecure Email Providers 8.030-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Mailfence — where it wins

    • OpenPGP encryption, digital signatures, and key management
    • Shared calendars, documents, contacts, mailboxes, and groups
    • IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV, and ActiveSync support

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan provides only 1 GB of total storage
    • Base excludes custom domains and mail-client access
    • Larger storage tiers become substantially more expensive

  • Runbox — where it wins

    • Custom domains with unlimited aliases on your own domain
    • IMAP, POP, SMTP, CalDAV and CardDAV support
    • Filtering, encryption, two-factor authentication and import tools

    Where it doesn't

    • The Micro plan provides only 2 GB of email storage
    • There is no free plan
    • Listed plan prices require annual billing

More comparisons

All secure email providers comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update