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Best Shutbox Alternatives in 2026

Freemium#39 of 41 in Encrypted Email ServicesPrivate Email Services

The top Shutbox alternatives are Tuta Mail, Proton Mail and Mailfence: 15 encrypted email services our editors would look at instead of Shutbox, in our ranking order.

4.1/10Editor score
Shutbox4.1 Visit Shutbox

Shutbox: A low-cost encrypted mail option with useful domains and API access, but limited encryption scope. Where it falls short: end-to-end encryption applies only between shutbox accounts.

Switching from Shutbox? For most encrypted email services buyers the best Shutbox alternative is Tuta Mail, built for privacy-focused users wanting encrypted calendar. Riseup Email offers the most mailbox storage (1 GB).

Why People Look for a Shutbox Alternative

  • End-to-end encryption applies only between Shutbox accounts
  • External mail uses a delivery bridge and is not end-to-end encrypted
  • Storage is not zero-access, and the service is currently in beta
  • No zero-access storage — 1 of the alternatives below has it

Quick Picks by What You Need

All 15 Shutbox Alternatives, Ranked

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.

  1. Tuta Mail

    Best forPrivacy-focused users wanting encrypted calendar

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 9.3 vs 4.1

    A privacy-focused email suite with encrypted calendar tools and a permanent free plan.

    • End-to-end encryption
    9.3/10★★★★★
    Visit Tuta Mail
  2. Best forMature all-platform encrypted email

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 9.2 vs 4.1

    A mature encrypted email service with broad platform support and a capable free plan.

    • End-to-end encryption
    9.2/10★★★★★
    Visit Proton Mail
  3. Mailfence

    Best forEstablished OpenPGP groupware

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 8.9 vs 4.1

    A mature OpenPGP email suite with groupware, mobile access, and broad protocol support.

    • End-to-end encryption
    8.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Mailfence
  4. mailbox

    Best forLow-cost encrypted mail with standard protocols

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 8.7 vs 4.1

    Low-cost encrypted email with standard protocols and broad client support.

    • End-to-end encryption
    30-day trial Our mailbox verdict → Visit mailbox
    8.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit mailbox
  5. Posteo

    Best forAnonymous OpenPGP mailbox users

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 8.3 vs 4.1

    A privacy-focused mailbox with OpenPGP, aliases, and calendar tools.

    • End-to-end encryption
    8.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit Posteo
  6. Best forFree privacy-oriented mailbox access

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Zero-access storage
    • Editor score 8.0 vs 4.1

    A free, privacy-oriented mailbox with strong client support and no default end-to-end encryption.

    • Zero-access storage
    • Custom domains
    8.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit Riseup Email
  7. Hushmail

    Best forSecure forms and signatures with email

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.9 vs 4.1

    A paid encrypted email service with forms, signatures, scheduling, and 15 GB personal storage.

    7.9/10★★★★☆
    Visit Hushmail
  8. Kolab Now

    Best forEncrypted-mail-adjacent groupware

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.8 vs 4.1

    A Swiss-hosted groupware suite with PGP email encryption, but not true end-to-end encryption.

    • End-to-end encryption
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Kolab Now
  9. StartMail

    Best forAlias-heavy private email users

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.7 vs 4.1

    A privacy-focused email service with strong alias support and flexible encryption.

    • End-to-end encryption
    7.7/10★★★★☆
    Visit StartMail
  10. RMail

    Best forBusinesses needing auditable secure email delivery

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.6 vs 4.1

    A business email security layer for encryption, delivery proof, tracking, and compliance.

    • End-to-end encryption
    Free plan Our RMail verdict → Visit RMail
    7.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit RMail
  11. Best forLow-cost OpenPGP with classic protocols

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.5 vs 4.1

    A low-cost encrypted email service with classic protocols and useful personal cloud tools.

    • End-to-end encryption
    7.5/10★★★★☆
    Visit eclipso Mail
  12. Best forFeature-rich encryption at a low price

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.4 vs 4.1

    Aster Mail combines broad privacy controls, custom domains, and low-cost paid plans.

    • End-to-end encryption
    7.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit Aster Mail
  13. Runbox

    Best forProtocol-friendly encrypted mailbox hosting

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.3 vs 4.1

    A protocol-friendly encrypted mailbox with flexible domains and generous alias support.

    30-day trial Our Runbox verdict → Visit Runbox
    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit Runbox
  14. Soverin

    Best forLarge mailbox with encrypted connections

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 7.2 vs 4.1

    A spacious private mailbox with aliases, domain support, and standard email protocols.

    7.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Soverin
  15. Cock.li

    Best forFree basic mail with user-managed encryption

    • Better than Shutbox:
    • Editor score 6.8 vs 4.1

    A free webmail account with standard mail protocols, but user-managed encryption is required.

    6.8/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Cock.li

Shutbox Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to Shutbox?

Tuta Mail: #1 in our Encrypted Email Services ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A privacy-focused email suite with encrypted calendar tools and a permanent free plan.

Is there a free alternative to Shutbox?

Yes. Tuta Mail, Proton Mail, Mailfence, Riseup Email and RMail have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).

What is the cheapest paid alternative to Shutbox?

Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Aster Mail starts lowest, at $2.42/mo.

Why do people look for Shutbox alternatives?

End-to-end encryption applies only between Shutbox accounts; External mail uses a delivery bridge and is not end-to-end encrypted; Storage is not zero-access, and the service is currently in beta.

Which Shutbox alternative has the most mailbox storage?

Riseup Email, with 1 GB.

How do I switch from Shutbox?

Export your data from Shutbox (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Shutbox.

How to Switch from Shutbox

  1. Export your data from Shutbox (most tools have an export in their settings).
  2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
  3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
  4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Shutbox.

Shutbox vs Each Alternative

#ToolFree planPaid fromEnd-to-end encryptionScore
39ShutboxYes$1.99/moYes4.1
1Tuta MailYes€3/user/moYes9.3
2Proton MailYes$3.99/user/moYes9.2
3MailfenceYes€2.50/moYes8.9
4mailboxNo€1/user/moYes8.7
5PosteoNo€1/user/moYes8.3
6Riseup EmailYesFreeNo8.0
7Hushmail$59.99/user/yrNo7.9
8Kolab NowNo5 CHF/user/moYes7.8
9StartMailNo$59.88/user/yrYes7.7
10RMailYesYes7.6
11eclipso Mail EuropeYes€1.49/moYes7.5
12Aster MailYes$2.42/moYes7.4
13RunboxNo€1.66/user/moNo7.3
14SoverinNo€3.25/user/mo7.2
15Cock.liYesFreeNo6.8

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update