# Best EU based mail provider? **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/best-eu-based-mail-provider/24284 **Category:** Questions **Created:** 2025-01-22T16:05:17Z **Posts:** 17 ## Post 1 by @tpkee — 2025-01-22T16:05:17Z Hi everyone! I’d like too switch from iCloud to a new provider but I’m unsure which one to use. - ProtonMail: used it in the past, quite expensive but it seems they improved the app. The naive opinions of the CEO put me off, though - [Mailbox.org](http://Mailbox.org): it seems decent enough from online reviews but their UI is trash. I read their custom domain support is meh, but I know nothing about that so idk - Mailfence: no opinion at all here --- ## Post 2 by @jonah — 2025-01-22T16:13:03Z > **[Encrypted Private Email Recommendations - Privacy Guides](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/email/)** > > These email providers offer a great place to store your emails securely, and many offer interoperable OpenPGP encryption with other providers. You’re probably best off just signing up for one or more and seeing what UI/UX you prefer if that is a consideration, since that is a subjective opinion. --- ## Post 3 by @tpkee — 2025-01-22T16:15:05Z I plan to use a third party client so, unless they require to use their first party apps (like proton), I don’t really care about UI/UX. I’m more interested in the service reliability (so no disappearing mails), the security and the privacy laws of the country --- ## Post 4 by @anon36940904 — 2025-01-22T16:23:54Z You can use Proton Bridge with a third party app with paid Proton subscriptions. ProtonMail is great! But you can also use Posteo via IMAP and CalDAV in an encrypted form. Check it out! --- ## Post 5 by @anon42475305 — 2025-01-22T16:28:58Z In the title you wrote EU-based which would disqualify Proton. The other two options recommend by Privacy Guides are based in Germany. Do you have any specific reason for wanting a provider in the EU? --- ## Post 6 by @anon36940904 — 2025-01-22T16:30:03Z I don’t think OP meant that pedantically. EU is short for Europe based than strictly European Union. --- ## Post 7 by @tpkee — 2025-01-22T16:31:37Z Posteo doesn’t allow custom domains unfortunately. Proton is… okay I guess. I would like to know if Mailbox (or mailfence) is a valid alternative > [@anon42475305](#): > > Do you have any specific reason for wanting a provider in the EU? Just to support local companies > [@anon36940904](#): > > I don’t think OP meant that pedantically. EU is short for Europe based than strictly European Union. I meant it as “either the EU or Proton” but right now I’m dead tired so it came out as confusing gibberrish, sorry --- ## Post 8 by @anon36940904 — 2025-01-22T16:32:55Z Then [Mailbox.org](http://Mailbox.org) is the best way to go ahead. But Proton is still better if you ask me. --- ## Post 9 by @tpkee — 2025-01-22T16:37:30Z UI aside, why is it better? --- ## Post 10 by @anon36940904 — 2025-01-22T16:39:36Z Proton is better for me compared to Mailbox because it has dedicated apps, better usability and functionality, and fully open source. --- ## Post 11 by @anon42475305 — 2025-01-22T17:05:19Z > [@anon36940904](#): > > better usability and functionality These are subjective opinions. Mailbox also has functionality that Proton doesn’t. > [@anon36940904](#): > > fully open source. Proton is not fully open-source, their server is completely proprietary. If you use an open-source client like Thunderbird with [mailbox.org](http://mailbox.org) the end result is practically the same. > [@tpkee](#): > > Just to support local companies Welcome to the forum! :tada: I think [mailbox.org](http://mailbox.org) would be a suitable choice for you. It wouldn’t be recommended here if it weren’t a good service, and they have a very positive [mission](https://mailbox.org/en/company#our-mission) which you might value. You can also take a look at Privacy Guides’ recommended [email clients](https://www.privacyguides.org/en/email-clients/) which should resolve some of the UI concerns you have. --- ## Post 12 by @TrashPanda — 2025-01-22T17:12:03Z I currently have two subscriptions - Tuta and [Mailbox.org](http://Mailbox.org). I like Tuta as it has proper 2FA, which is not supported by any standard IMAP providers due to how email is designed. [Mailbox.org](http://Mailbox.org) is no exception - it only allows you to set 2FA on webapp. There’s no way around that. From my point of view, email is the most important 2FA one can set, therefore I lean into leaving [Mailbox.org](http://Mailbox.org) for Tuta. Also, Tuta is improving their product, recently implemented labels (finally) and releasing their calendar app. If you don’t agree with me on 2FA on email, [Mailbox.org](http://Mailbox.org) offers flexibility with external email apps such as Thunderbird. I miss that. Also they do support CalDav and other \*Davs, which is indeed very cool and convenient. --- ## Post 13 by @anon36940904 — 2025-01-22T17:30:36Z > [@anon42475305](#): > > These are subjective opinions. Yes, I know. I meant it as such. Read my comments again. Never claimed it was an objective statement. --- ## Post 14 by @tpkee — 2025-01-22T19:40:51Z Yeah I never use 2FA on mail because if I lose my phone and Bitwarden, I’m doomed. I have a quite strong password only for mail [and one for bitwarden] which is enough. I don’t like Tuta tbf. I think I will go with [mailbox.org](http://mailbox.org) for now, if I don’t like it (no mail reception etc) I will switch to proton mail in a month. Hopefully [Mailbox.org](http://Mailbox.org) will update their UI soon though, subscribing is a chore --- ## Post 15 by @anon36940904 — 2025-01-22T19:43:45Z > [@tpkee](#): > > Yeah I never use 2FA on mail because if I lose my phone and Bitwarden, I’m doomed. You can use Ente Auth and still access it via the web version if you lose all your devices. You can sign into any (new) computer and get all you want back with your 2FAs. --- ## Post 16 by @tpkee — 2025-01-22T19:58:08Z What’s the point though? I would be bartering a password for a password --- ## Post 17 by @anon36940904 — 2025-01-22T20:00:11Z You can store your email/other password(s) in the notes section of Ente Auth. It is still all E2EE. So, really, you will only need to remember your Ente Auth username and password.