In the age of hackers, surveillance, and unwanted third parties accessing your data, the need for cybersecurity is higher than ever. To keep your information secure, you’ll want to find a reliable email provider that’s easy to use, won’t log your data, and uses strong encryption protocols. Below, we’ve put together a list of the top 8 free secure email providers currently out there.
Top 8 Best Free Secure Email Providers
- Mailfence – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Versatility
- SecureMyEmail – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft Users
- Zoho Mail – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Businesses
- ProtonMail – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Security
- MsgSafe.io – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Voice & Video Encryption
- Yandex – Best Free Secure Email Provider for UI Design
- Tutanota – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Storage Space
- GMX – Best Free Secure Email Provider Overall
1. Mailfence – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Versatility
PRICING: Free, 500MB limit
Mailfence’s free version only includes 500MB of email storage space, but the many features and E2EE security measures make it a worthy choice when looking for a secure email provider. Included in their service are extra organizational features like a calendar, contact index, and up to 500MB of document storage. Note that Mailfence will log your IP address and metadata to comply with Belgian laws, but they also provide full transparency reports for you to view.
KEY FEATURES:
- Two-factor authentication
- Integrated calendar functionality
- OpenPGP compatibility
- Digital signatures
- Provides SSL/TLS encryption, PFS, and HSTS
REASONS TO USE:
- Provides full transparency reports
- Includes document and calendar storage space
- Accepts anonymous payment methods
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Log some user data
2. SecureMyEmail – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft Users
PRICING: Free (only for Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft users)
SecureMyEmail differs from most competitors in that it secures your existing email address instead of acting as a standalone email service. This is perfect for beginners or anyone who wants to keep their existing accounts without migrating to a new one. Moreover, their native encryption software means your emails are encrypted before leaving your device, so not even SecureMyEmail can decrypt your information.
KEY FEATURES:
- Generates 4096-bit key pair at setup
- Cryptographic verification
- Standards-based and PGP-compatible
REASONS TO USE:
- Uses native encryption software instead of webmail
- Can use your existing email address instead of a new one
- Beginner-friendly
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Only free for Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft users
- Sluggish features
3. Zoho Mail – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Businesses
PRICING: Free, 5GB limit
While Zoho Mail is geared more toward businesses than for personal use, this doesn’t mean you should look elsewhere for a secure email provider. They offer a plethora of features, including malware and spam protection, 2FA, and an attractive interface. Their Forever Free Plan allows up to 5 users, each with 5GB of storage space, but has a 25MB attachment limit.
KEY FEATURES:
- Integrated suite of apps
- Zapier integration
- DOS and DDOS control
- Two-factor authentication
REASONS TO USE:
- Allows up to 5 users
- Large 5GB storage allocation
- SOC 2 Type II certified
REASONS TO AVOID:
- 25MB attachment limit
- IMAP, POP, and Active Sync not included in free plan
- Some data centers are in the USA and China
4. ProtonMail – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Security
PRICING: Free, 500MB limit
ProtonMail is one of the leading secure email providers for good reason. Their service includes hardware-level security and a no-logs policy that has been audited and verified multiple times by independent third-parties. However, it’s important to know that the free version doesn’t include many features available in the paid versions and is only limited to 500MB of storage and 150 daily emails.
KEY FEATURES:
- SSL connections
- AES, RSA, and OpenPGP compatibility
- Self-destructing emails
- Two-factor authentication
REASONS TO USE:
- Open-source cryptography
- Verified no-logs policy
- Based in Switzerland, a more privacy-friendly country
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Free version is very limited
- No account recovery
- POP3 not supported
5. MsgSafe.io – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Voice & Video Encryption
PRICING: Free, 1GB limit
As an end-to-end encrypted email provider, MsgSafe.io lives up to its name by securing all of your data with top-tier encryption protocols. Their free version is quite generous in that it includes 10 free virtual email addresses, audio and video chat encryption, and more storage space than what most competitors offer. Unfortunately, you’ll be allowed only 25 daily outbound emails, but MsgSafe.io might appeal to you if you want to connect it with your own domain name.
KEY FEATURES:
- Secure 1:1 audio and video chat
- 4096-bit GPG and S/MIME encryption
- 10 virtual identities
REASONS TO USE:
- Free version includes 1GB of storage space
- Allows existing email accounts
- Based in Panama, a privacy-friendly country
- Lets you connect your own existing domain
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Free version limited to 25 daily outbound emails
6. Yandex – Best Free Secure Email Provider for UI Design
PRICING: Free, 10GB limit
Yandex is a great option if you’re looking for an easy-to-use, personalizable system. Their two-factor authentication is simplified so that all you need is your fingerprint and PIN number without compromising security. Yandex is also one of the few secure email providers that let you access up to 10GB of storage for free. Keep in mind, though, that this provider is based in Russia – a privacy-unfriendly country known for requesting sensitive user information from its service providers.
KEY FEATURES:
- Fingerprint identification and app-specific PIN numbers
- Built-in antivirus
- Timed messages
REASONS TO USE:
- Don’t need a phone number to sign up
- Customizable interface
- Large storage size
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Based in Russia, a surveillance country
7. Tutanota – Best Free Secure Email Provider for Storage Space
PRICING: Free, 1GB limit
While most competitors offer just 500MB of email storage space, Tutanota allows 1GB even when using their free version. Your mailbox, calendar, and contact list are symmetrically and asymmetrically encrypted, ensuring end-to-end security across all of your devices. While they don’t support PGP keys, this can be an advantage to beginners who want to secure their emails without taking on the learning curve of PGP encryption. Unfortunately, however, using the free version means you can only interact with other Tutanota domains.
KEY FEATURES:
- AES and PFS encryption
- Metadata encryption
- Self-destructing emails
- Supports TOTP and U2F
REASONS TO USE:
- Open-source code
- Available on all major operating systems
- Supports 20+ languages
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Free version can only interact with other Tutanota domains
- No aliases for free version
- No PGP compatibility
- Operates in a 14-eyes country
8. GMX – Best Free Secure Email Provider Overall
PRICING: Free, 65GB limit
Despite being lesser-known than other competitors, GMX takes the winning spot for best secure email provider. Not only is it completely free with no paid options, but it also boasts the largest storage space allowance and lets you send attachment files of up to 50MB. You can send messages with peace of mind knowing that your incoming and outgoing emails are secured by high-end encryption, filtered for spam, and passed through their antivirus system. You will also receive a suite of extra features including cloud storage, online calendar organization, browser extensions, and more – making GMX the most well-rounded, feature-rich free email provider currently out there.
KEY FEATURES:
- Online Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint compatibility)
- Extra cloud storage space
- Customizable filter rules
- OpenPGP encryption
- App-specific passwords
REASONS TO USE:
- Massive email storage space
- Supports sending large attachments
- Offers much more than just a secure email
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Uses ads for revenue
References & Links
- https://proprivacy.com/email/comparison/free-secure-email
- https://cybernews.com/secure-email-providers/
- https://clean.email/blog/email-security/most-secure-email-provider
- https://www.techradar.com/best/best-secure-email-providers
- https://www.securemyemail.com/
- https://clean.email/blog/email-security/free-private-email-providers
- https://mailfence.com/
- https://www.zoho.com/
- https://tutanota.com/
- https://protonmail.com/
- https://www.msgsafe.io/
- https://mail.yandex.com/
- https://www.gmx.com/mail/