Mailfence
Secure encrypted email with OpenPGP, digital signatures, and integrated productivity tools - Belgian privacy since 1999
Quick Overview
| Company | ContactOffice Group SA |
|---|---|
| Category | Email Provider |
| Headquarters | Belgium |
| EU Presence | Yes - EU Member State |
| Data Centers | Belgium |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| End-to-End Encryption | Yes (OpenPGP) |
| Main Features | E2E encryption, digital signatures, calendar, contacts, documents, groups |
| Pricing | Free tier / From 2.50/month |
| Best For | Users wanting secure email with integrated productivity suite |
| Replaces | Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail |
Detailed Review
Mailfence is a secure email service operated by ContactOffice Group SA, a Belgian company with roots stretching back to 1999. As one of the longest-running privacy-focused email providers in Europe, Mailfence combines proven reliability with modern security features, offering not just encrypted email but a complete productivity suite including calendar, contacts, and document storage.
A Quarter Century of Privacy Expertise
ContactOffice Group has been providing collaboration and communication tools since 1999, giving them over 25 years of experience in the field. This longevity is significant in the privacy-focused email market, where newer providers may lack the track record to prove their commitment and capability. Mailfence launched as a dedicated secure email service building on this foundation of experience.
Being headquartered in Belgium provides strong legal protection. Belgian privacy laws are among the strictest in the world, and as an EU member state, Belgium fully enforces GDPR. Belgian authorities cannot compel Mailfence to share data with foreign governments, and access requires a Belgian court order.
OpenPGP Encryption
Mailfence implements OpenPGP, the open standard for email encryption that has been trusted by security professionals for decades. Unlike proprietary encryption schemes, OpenPGP is well-understood and has been thoroughly audited by the security community. Your encryption keys are generated and stored in your browser, providing true end-to-end encryption.
The implementation is designed to be accessible to regular users. You can encrypt emails with a single click when composing messages. Mailfence also integrates with existing PGP key infrastructure, allowing you to import keys and communicate with anyone using OpenPGP-compatible email clients.
Digital Signatures
Beyond encryption, Mailfence supports digital signatures using OpenPGP. Digital signatures verify that an email truly came from you and hasn't been tampered with in transit. This feature is particularly valuable for business communications where authenticity matters, such as contracts, legal correspondence, or financial transactions.
Recipients can verify your signature using standard OpenPGP tools, even if they don't use Mailfence. This interoperability is a key advantage of using open standards rather than proprietary encryption.
Integrated Productivity Suite
What distinguishes Mailfence from many privacy-focused email providers is its comprehensive productivity suite. Beyond email, you get access to a full-featured calendar, contact manager, document storage, and even collaborative tools for groups.
The calendar supports event scheduling, reminders, and sharing with other Mailfence users or via standard CalDAV protocol. Contacts can be organized, tagged, and synced across devices. Document storage allows you to keep files in the same secure environment as your email, with the ability to create and edit documents directly in the browser.
For teams and organizations, Mailfence offers group features including shared calendars, shared documents, and collaborative workspaces. This makes it suitable as a complete replacement for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for privacy-conscious organizations.
Password-Protected Messages
When communicating with people who don't use encryption-capable email, Mailfence offers password-protected messages. The recipient receives a notification with a link to view the message on Mailfence's secure servers after entering the password you've shared with them through a separate channel.
This ensures that sensitive communications can be protected even when the recipient doesn't have PGP set up, making Mailfence practical for everyday use where not all your contacts are privacy-focused.
Standard Protocol Support
Mailfence fully supports standard email protocols including IMAP, POP3, and SMTP. This means you can use Mailfence with any email client you prefer, from Outlook and Apple Mail to Thunderbird and mobile apps. CalDAV and CardDAV support allows calendar and contact synchronization with standard apps.
For users who prefer working in their familiar email client, this flexibility is essential. You can maintain your existing workflow while gaining the benefits of Mailfence's privacy features and European data storage.
Pricing and Plans
Mailfence offers a free tier with 500MB of storage and limited features, allowing you to try the service before committing. Paid plans start at just 2.50 per month for the Entry plan, which includes 5GB of storage, your own domain, and 10 aliases.
Higher tiers offer more storage (up to 50GB), more aliases, and additional group features. The pricing is competitive with other privacy-focused email providers while offering more integrated features than most.
User Interface
The Mailfence interface is functional and straightforward. The webmail provides a familiar inbox experience with folders, labels, and search. The integrated apps (calendar, contacts, documents) are accessible from the main navigation, creating a cohesive workspace.
While the interface may not be as polished as Gmail, it provides everything needed for daily email use. The encryption controls are clearly visible, making it easy to ensure your messages are protected.
Limitations and Considerations
Mailfence is not open source, which means users must trust the company's implementation rather than verify it independently. While the use of OpenPGP provides some assurance (the standard itself is well-audited), the complete implementation cannot be reviewed by the community.
The free tier's 500MB storage limit is modest, and most regular users will likely need to upgrade. The interface, while functional, may feel dated compared to more modern email services.
Mobile apps are not provided by Mailfence; instead, users configure their preferred email apps using IMAP/SMTP. While this works well, some users prefer dedicated apps.
Who Should Use Mailfence
Mailfence is ideal for users who want more than just email. The integrated productivity suite makes it suitable as a complete Google Workspace alternative, with the added benefit of European jurisdiction and encryption.
It's particularly well-suited for small businesses and professionals who need calendar sharing, document collaboration, and encrypted email in one package. The digital signature feature is valuable for anyone whose communications require proof of authenticity.
Users who value the track record of an established company will appreciate Mailfence's quarter-century of operation. The Belgian jurisdiction provides excellent privacy protection, and the OpenPGP implementation ensures interoperability with the broader encrypted email ecosystem.
Conclusion
Mailfence offers a compelling combination of security, productivity, and experience. The integrated suite of tools sets it apart from competitors who focus solely on email, while the OpenPGP encryption and digital signatures provide strong privacy protection. For users seeking a complete, secure productivity platform under European law, Mailfence is an excellent choice.
Alternatives to Mailfence
Looking for other European email providers? Here are some alternatives worth considering:
Frequently Asked Questions
Mailfence is operated by ContactOffice Group SA, which was founded in 1999 and has over 25 years of experience in providing communication and collaboration tools. This makes them one of the most established providers in the secure email space.
Mailfence uses OpenPGP, an open encryption standard that has been trusted by security professionals for decades. Your encryption keys are generated and stored in your browser, ensuring true end-to-end encryption. The use of an open standard means anyone with PGP-compatible software can securely communicate with you.
Digital signatures prove that an email truly came from you and wasn't modified in transit. They're valuable for business communications where authenticity matters, such as contracts, legal documents, or financial correspondence. Recipients can verify your signature using standard OpenPGP tools.
Yes, Mailfence offers a free tier with 500MB of storage and limited features. This allows you to try the service before committing to a paid plan. Paid plans start at 2.50/month for 5GB storage and additional features including custom domains and aliases.
Beyond email, Mailfence includes a calendar with scheduling and sharing, a contact manager, document storage with online editing, and collaborative group features. This makes it a comprehensive alternative to Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.
Yes, Mailfence supports IMAP, POP3, and SMTP protocols, so you can use it with any standard email client. CalDAV and CardDAV support allows calendar and contact synchronization with external apps. You can maintain your preferred workflow while benefiting from Mailfence's security.
All Mailfence data is stored in Belgium, protected by Belgian and EU privacy laws. Belgium has some of the strictest privacy protections in the world, and as an EU member state, GDPR is fully enforced. Belgian authorities cannot share your data with foreign governments without a Belgian court order.
Yes, you have two options. If the recipient uses PGP, you can encrypt to their public key and they'll decrypt with their own tools. For recipients without PGP, you can send password-protected messages that they view through a secure link after entering the password you've shared separately.
Yes, Mailfence offers features specifically for business use including custom domains, group collaboration, shared calendars and documents, and digital signatures. The comprehensive productivity suite makes it suitable as a complete Google Workspace replacement for privacy-conscious organizations.
No, Mailfence is not open source. However, they use OpenPGP, which is an open, well-audited encryption standard. While the complete implementation cannot be independently verified, the underlying cryptographic protocols are trusted by the security community.