Tuta (Tutanota) vs Mailbox.org
Both are free/open-source alternatives to Gmail. Here's how they stack up — verified facts, no spin.
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.
Mailbox.org
German privacy-focused mail with a full office suite — standards-based.
Mailbox.org is a German, privacy-respecting email host for people who want a professional, standards-based inbox (IMAP/SMTP, custom domains) with an integrated office suite and calendar, powered by 100% renewable energy. It offers PGP encryption and an encrypted-mailbox option, but it's a commercial, closed service rather than open-source — the honest “privacy-friendly and full-featured, without encryption-first constraints” pick.
Side by side
| Tuta (Tutanota) | Mailbox.org | |
|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty Score | 80 | 50 |
| 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 €1/month (Light) up to office and business tiers; custom domains supported |
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
Mailbox.org
Strengths
- +Cheap, standards-based (IMAP/SMTP), custom domains
- +German/EU privacy law; PGP support and an encrypted-mailbox option
- +Integrated calendar, contacts, and office suite
Trade-offs
- −Closed-source, commercial service
- −Not end-to-end by default (PGP is opt-in)
- −Interface is more utilitarian than polished
Facts verified 2026-07-14. Licenses and pricing change — spotted something out of date? That's a correction we want.