Fastmail

Fastmail is a privacy-focused email service that has been operating since 1999, making it one of the longest-running independent email providers in the world. Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Fastmail has built a reputation for reliability, speed, and respect for user privacy. While not a European company, Fastmail offers the option to store your data in their Amsterdam data center, making it an attractive option for privacy-conscious European users.

Privacy-First Business Model

Unlike Gmail and other free email services, Fastmail operates on a subscription-only model with no free tier. This means the company's revenue comes entirely from customers, not from advertising or selling data. Fastmail has no ads, does not scan your emails for marketing purposes, and does not sell your information to third parties. This clean business model aligns their interests with yours: they succeed when they provide a service worth paying for.

Fastmail's privacy policy is refreshingly straightforward. They collect only the data necessary to provide their service and are transparent about what they do with it. The company has been vocal in opposing government overreach and has published transparency reports detailing the legal requests they receive.

EU Data Center Option

For European users concerned about data sovereignty, Fastmail offers the option to store your data in their Amsterdam data center. This means your emails, contacts, and calendar data can remain within the EU, subject to European data protection laws. When you sign up or in your account settings, you can choose your preferred data region, giving you control over where your data resides.

This EU data option is particularly valuable for businesses that need to ensure GDPR compliance or individuals who prefer their data to be stored under European jurisdiction. While Fastmail is an Australian company, having data physically stored in the EU provides an additional layer of legal protection under GDPR.

Speed and Performance

As the name suggests, Fastmail is known for its speed. The web interface is remarkably responsive, and email search is nearly instantaneous even across large mailboxes. This performance is achieved through careful engineering and investment in infrastructure. For users migrating from Gmail, the speed difference may not be immediately apparent, but those coming from other email providers often notice a significant improvement.

Fastmail's mobile apps for iOS and Android are equally well-optimized, providing a native experience that syncs quickly and reliably. The apps support push notifications, so you receive emails as soon as they arrive without constantly polling the server and draining your battery.

Features for Power Users

Fastmail offers a rich set of features that appeal to power users. Custom domain support is included in all plans, allowing you to use your own domain for a professional email address. The service supports unlimited aliases, so you can create unique email addresses for different services or purposes.

One standout feature is Masked Email integration with 1Password. When signing up for a new service, you can generate a unique, random email address that forwards to your main inbox. If that address starts receiving spam, you can simply disable it without affecting your primary email.

The calendar and contacts features are fully integrated and support standard protocols like CalDAV and CardDAV. This means you can sync with third-party apps on any platform. Fastmail also supports IMAP and SMTP, so you can use traditional email clients like Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird.

JMAP: The Future of Email

Fastmail has been instrumental in developing JMAP (JSON Meta Application Protocol), a modern replacement for IMAP. JMAP is faster, more efficient, and easier to implement than the aging IMAP protocol. While IMAP dates back to 1986 and was designed for a very different internet, JMAP is built for modern use cases including mobile devices and web applications.

Fastmail uses JMAP internally and has open-sourced the specification, contributing it to the IETF as an open standard. This commitment to open protocols means that Fastmail users benefit from cutting-edge technology while not being locked into a proprietary system.

Security Measures

While Fastmail does not offer end-to-end encryption like Proton Mail, it implements strong security measures. All data is encrypted at rest and in transit. The service supports two-factor authentication using TOTP apps or security keys like YubiKey. App passwords allow you to grant limited access to third-party apps without exposing your main password.

Fastmail's infrastructure is designed with security in mind. The company runs its own data centers and does not rely on major cloud providers, giving them full control over their security stack. Regular security audits and bug bounty programs help identify and address vulnerabilities.

Migration from Gmail

Fastmail provides comprehensive tools for migrating from Gmail and other email providers. The import wizard can pull in your emails, contacts, and calendar events automatically. For Gmail users, the migration process uses OAuth, so you don't need to share your Google password with Fastmail.

The migration typically completes within a few hours to a few days, depending on the size of your mailbox. During and after the migration, you can set up forwarding from your old address to ensure you don't miss any emails while you transition.

Pricing and Plans

Fastmail offers three pricing tiers to suit different needs:

The Basic plan at $3/month provides 2GB of storage and is suitable for light email users who want a simple, ad-free experience.

The Standard plan at $5/month increases storage to 30GB and adds features like calendar, contacts, and website hosting. This is the most popular plan for individual users.

The Professional plan at $9/month includes 100GB of storage, priority support, and features designed for business use including extended email retention and advanced filtering.

All plans include custom domain support, spam filtering, and access to the full web interface and mobile apps. Pricing is per user, and family or team discounts are available for multiple accounts.

Limitations to Consider

The most significant limitation of Fastmail compared to some competitors is the lack of end-to-end encryption. While your emails are encrypted at rest on Fastmail's servers, Fastmail has the technical ability to access them if required by law. For users who need mathematical certainty that no one can read their emails, services like Proton Mail may be more suitable.

Fastmail also does not offer a free plan. While this supports their privacy-focused business model, it means you cannot try the service extensively before committing. The 30-day money-back guarantee helps mitigate this, but some users may prefer to try before they buy.

As an Australian company, Fastmail is subject to Australian law, which includes some concerning surveillance legislation. However, storing data in the EU data center provides some protection, and Fastmail has been transparent about challenging overreaching requests.

Customer Support

Fastmail offers email-based support for all users, with faster response times for Professional plan subscribers. The company also maintains an extensive knowledge base with guides for common tasks like migration, setup, and troubleshooting. Community forums provide peer support and feature discussions.

Who Should Use Fastmail

Fastmail is an excellent choice for users who want a fast, reliable, and privacy-respecting email service without the complexity of end-to-end encryption. It's particularly well-suited for professionals who need custom domain support, power users who appreciate advanced features, and anyone who wants an ad-free email experience backed by a sustainable business model.

European users can take advantage of the EU data center option for additional peace of mind regarding data sovereignty. While not a European company, Fastmail's commitment to privacy and GDPR compliance makes it a viable alternative to US-based services like Gmail.

Conclusion

Fastmail represents the best of what a paid email service can offer: speed, reliability, features, and privacy, all backed by a sustainable business model that doesn't rely on monetizing your data. While it may not offer the end-to-end encryption of some competitors, its combination of usability, features, and privacy practices makes it one of the top alternatives to Gmail for users who value their digital privacy.