Tuta (Tutanota) vs Fastmail
Both are alternatives to Gmail. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
Also searched as Fastmail vs Tuta (Tutanota) — same comparison, one verdict.
Tuta (Tutanota)
The cheapest end-to-end encrypted mail — quantum-safe by default.
Tuta (formerly Tutanota) is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted email provider based in Germany under GDPR. It's the budget privacy pick: a free tier with full E2E encryption, and it uniquely encrypts the subject line too. In 2026 it became the first major provider to ship quantum-safe encryption (TutaCrypt, Kyber-1024) to all users by default. The trade-off versus Proton is that it doesn't support OpenPGP, so encrypted mail to outside contacts uses password-protected messages instead.
Fastmail
Fast, reliable, standards-based mail — the productivity pick.
Fastmail is a long-running independent email host (Australian) built for speed, reliability, and standards support rather than encryption. It doesn't offer end-to-end encryption, but it doesn't scan your mail, sell your data, or show ads — you're the paying customer, not the product. Excellent custom-domain support, great apps, and best-in-class deliverability make it the honest pick when you want to leave Gmail for independence and quality without the constraints E2E encryption imposes.
Side by side
| Tuta (Tutanota) | Fastmail | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 80 | 45 |
| Open source | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Local-first | No | No |
| License | GPL-3.0 | Proprietary |
| Pricing | Free (1GB, E2E encrypted); Revolutionary ~€3/mo; Legend ~€8/mo | From about $5/user/month; 30-day free trial; custom domains included |
Tuta (Tutanota) edges it on the Sovereignty Score, but the right pick depends on the trade-offs below.
Tuta (Tutanota)
Strengths
- +Open-source, E2E encrypted — including subject lines
- +Quantum-safe encryption for all users by default
- +Cheapest encrypted-mail paid tiers; German/EU privacy law
- +Free tier includes an encrypted calendar
Trade-offs
- −No OpenPGP or IMAP (uses its own encrypted protocol)
- −Fewer ecosystem extras than Proton
- −Search is client-side by design — an encryption trade-off
Fastmail
Strengths
- +Fast and reliable, with excellent IMAP/JMAP standards support
- +No ads and no data selling — you're the customer
- +Superb custom-domain and multi-identity handling
Trade-offs
- −No end-to-end encryption
- −Closed-source, commercial service
- −Australian jurisdiction (Five Eyes) may matter to some
Related alternative guides
Facts verified 2026-07-14. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.