We live in a time where email is part of almost everything we do. For many, Gmail from Google is the natural choice, but it also means that Google gets access to large parts of our lives. Maybe you, like me, have felt that it doesn’t always feel right. We share photos of our children, plan trips, send important documents – and deep down we want this to be ours, not in the hands of large American corporations, especially with the way the USA is being run right now.

Fortunately, there are many great alternatives to Gmail based in Europe or Scandinavia. They follow GDPR regulations, put privacy first, and are designed to be easy to use. I’ve dug around and asked ChatGPT for the best options – and honestly, there’s no good excuse not to switch, even if it takes a little time.

At the bottom, you’ll also find an overview of email services built on open-source software – for those who believe that programs and digital solutions should be available to everyone. Quite the opposite of the American attitude of “everything for me, and maybe a crumb for you when I’m done.”

Table of Contents

Secure Email Providers in Europe (and Nearby)

Mailbox.org (Germany)

A complete service with email, calendar, office tools, video, and tasks. Feels a bit like Google Workspace but without ads and tracking. Perfect if you want everything in one place.

Costs from about €1 per month (Light: 2 GB email),
Standard: €3 for the all-in-one package (10 GB email, 5 GB cloud storage),
and Premium: €9 with more space and priority support.

No clear public statement on minority-friendliness, but the service is run in Berlin with strong values around digital sovereignty and anonymity. Many users also see it as a safe and open place to be.

Proton Mail (Switzerland)

End-to-end encrypted email, calendar, cloud storage, and VPN. User-friendly and secure, with servers in Switzerland. Great for both personal use and secure communication while traveling.

Always has a free plan with 500 MB email, Proton Calendar, and VPN. Paid: about USD 5–30 per month depending on the plan.
Family plan is around USD 20–30 with up to 3 TB storage.

Proton is an inclusive workplace with staff from many nationalities and supports refugee integration projects.

Tuta (formerly Tutanota) (Germany)

Known for strong encryption and open-source code. Everything is end-to-end encrypted, and they’re working to future-proof the service against quantum computers.

A free version is available. Paid plans are usually a few euros per month for more storage and features (check their website for current prices).

No public information on minority-friendliness, but they are open-source and have a philosophy of accessibility for all.

Kolab Now (Switzerland)

A groupware solution offering email, calendar, contacts, notes, and file sharing. Fully hosted in Switzerland with strong privacy laws.

Base price is around CHF 6–9 per month (check website for current rates), includes email, calendar, contacts, documents, and file sharing.

No specific public statements on inclusivity or minority-friendly culture.

Posteo (Germany)

Email, calendar, and contacts — completely ad-free. You can sign up anonymously, and even payment can be made anonymously. Perfect if you want to be invisible in the data trail.

Costs about €1 per month. You pay anonymously under a pseudonym, and you can register without personal information. Ad- and tracker-free.

This anonymity can feel very safe for minorities and sensitive groups — a quiet, secure box in the middle of the world.

Infomaniak kMail (Switzerland)

Email, calendar, cloud storage, and online meetings. Focused on environmentally friendly operations and security.

Prices in Swiss francs, typically slightly above CHF 2–4 per month for personal use with email, calendar, storage, and meeting features.

No clear information on minority-friendliness, but they emphasize environmental responsibility and accessibility.

Soverin (Netherlands)

A simpler solution for those who want email with their own domain. No hidden fees, no tracking.

Price from about €4–5 per month, depending on domain and features. Fixed, simple pricing.

No details on diversity or inclusivity, but clear focus on personal security and control.

Hostpoint Email (Switzerland)

Based on Open-Xchange, with email and groupware. Safe European hosting for those who want a Google-like setup.

Price depends on the package and number of users — typically CHF 5–10 per month for a groupware package.

No public information on inclusivity or diversity.

Mailfence (Belgium)

Email with PGP signatures, calendar, and contacts. Also supports digitally signing messages.

Free version available but with limited storage. Paid plans typically €2–5 per month for email, calendar, and secure signatures.

No clear statements on diversity or minority-friendliness.

Vivaldi Mail (Norway/Iceland)

Free, ad-free email made by the creators of the Vivaldi browser. Integrated calendar and support for IMAP and POP3. Servers are located in Norway and Iceland, with everything designed around European privacy principles.

Completely free to use — no ads. No paid version. Servers in Norway and Iceland.

Vivaldi has an open, user-driven philosophy. While there’s no official diversity policy, they are known for allowing room for individual needs and openness.

Table Overview – Price and Inclusivity Assessment:

Service	Price (approx.)	Suitable for minorities?
Mailbox.org	€1–3–9/month	Not explicit, but anonymous operation provides safety
Proton Mail	Free + USD 5–30/month	Yes – diverse team and support for integration
Tuta	Free + low monthly fee	Open source provides equal access for everyone
Kolab Now	CHF 6–9/month	Not marked, but Swiss privacy laws offer a safe base
Posteo	€1/month	Yes – anonymous registration, highly protective
Infomaniak	CHF 2–4/month	Environmental and user focus, but not explicitly inclusive
Soverin	€4–5/month	Private and simple, but unclear on inclusivity level
Hostpoint	CHF 5–10/month	Secure European hosting – but not publicly stated
Mailfence	Free + €2–5/month	PGP and security – unclear on inclusivity
Vivaldi Mail	Free	Open and user-driven, but not explicitly diversity-focused

Overview Table – All-in-One vs. Pure Email Services:

All-in-One (Google-like)	Pure Email Services
Mailbox.org	Proton Mail
Kolab Now	Tuta
Infomaniak kMail	Posteo
Hostpoint Email	Soverin
Mailfence	Vivaldi Mail

The great thing about these alternatives — for those who see all people as human regardless of skin color (even if they don’t choose them as partners) — is that you can choose exactly how much functionality you want. Some of them, like Mailbox.org, Kolab Now, and Infomaniak, give you a complete package with email, calendar, documents, and storage. Others, like Proton Mail, Tuta, and Vivaldi, focus mainly on secure email with a few extra features.

When choosing an email provider, it’s not just about technology — it’s also about the feeling of security. Think of it as having your own little mailbox at home in the hallway — no one else can open it without your key. And in a life full of appointments, children’s activities, studies, and maybe a bit of wanderlust, it’s nice to know your digital home is safe.

As the philosopher Seneca once said: “He who is content with little is rich.” The same goes for the digital world. We don’t need the biggest and most glittering systems — just the ones that let us live, work, and dream in peace.

All-in-One (Google-like) – Open Source

Service / Platform	Country	What it offers
Kolab Now	Switzerland	Email, calendar, contacts, tasks, documents – built on Kolab, which is open source.
Nextcloud + Mail plugin	Germany (self-hosted)	Full cloud solution with files, calendar, contacts, chat, and integrated email via Rainloop, Roundcube, or Snappymail.
Open-Xchange	Germany	Groupware with email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and documents – open source, used by several European providers.
Zimbra Collaboration Suite (ZCS)	USA/EU providers	Email, calendar, contacts, and tasks – open-source version available.
SOGo Groupware	Canada	Web-based email, calendar, and contacts – often used together with IMAP servers like Dovecot and Postfix.

Pure Email Services – Open Source

Service	Country	What it offers
Tuta (Tutanota)	Germany	End-to-end encrypted email and calendar – fully open source.
Proton Mail	Switzerland	Email and calendar – client code is open source, but the server side is proprietary.
Roundcube	Global	Web-based email client – fully open source, used by many web hosting providers.
Rainloop / Snappymail	Global	Modern web-based email client, easy to integrate with your own server.
K-9 Mail (now part of Thunderbird)	Global	Open source Android app for email, soon to be integrated into Thunderbird Mobile.
Claws Mail	Global	Lightweight, open source desktop email client.
Sylpheed	Global	Simple and fast open source email client.

💡 Tip:
If you want an all-in-one and open-source solution, Nextcloud with an email plugin or Kolab Now are among the most user-friendly options.
If you only need email but want open source, Tuta or Roundcube are great choices.