Mailfence

What is Mailfence?

Mailfence is a privacy-focused email service developed in Belgium that provides end-to-end encrypted communication for individuals and businesses prioritizing digital security. Launched with the principle that privacy is a fundamental right, Mailfence offers a comprehensive suite of productivity tools beyond email, including calendars, contacts, documents, and group management, all protected by strong encryption protocols.

Built on the foundation of Belgian privacy laws, which are among the strongest in Europe, Mailfence operates outside the jurisdiction of US surveillance programs and maintains a strict commitment to user privacy. The service implements OpenPGP encryption for emails, allowing users to send messages that can only be read by intended recipients, even if intercepted during transmission.

Mailfence differentiates itself from other secure email providers through its integrated collaboration tools and support for custom domains, making it suitable for both personal use and small business environments. The platform offers a free tier with essential features, while paid plans unlock additional storage, custom domains, and advanced functionality, providing flexible options for different privacy and communication needs.

Key Features

• End-to-End Encryption: OpenPGP-based encryption ensures only you and your intended recipient can read email contents, with encryption happening directly in your browser.
• Digital Signatures: Cryptographically sign emails to prove authenticity and ensure recipients can verify messages genuinely originated from you.
• No Tracking Policy: Mailfence never tracks user activity, scans emails for advertising, or shares data with third parties for marketing purposes.
• Belgian Privacy Laws: Headquartered in Belgium with strict EU data protection regulations, outside US and other surveillance jurisdiction.
• Integrated Calendar: Full-featured calendar with event scheduling, invitations, reminders, and sharing capabilities protected by the same privacy standards.
• Contact Management: Securely store and organize contacts with import/export functionality supporting various formats including vCard.
• Document Storage: Cloud storage for files with sharing options and collaborative editing capabilities for documents and spreadsheets.
• Groups Functionality: Create collaborative workspaces for teams with shared calendars, documents, and contact lists.
• Custom Domains: Use your own domain name for professional email addresses while maintaining Mailfence’s privacy protections.
• Two-Factor Authentication: Additional account security through TOTP-based second factor authentication for login protection.
• IMAP/POP/SMTP Access: Connect using standard email protocols for use with desktop clients like Thunderbird, Outlook, and Apple Mail.
• Spam Filtering: Intelligent spam detection that respects privacy by analyzing patterns rather than reading email content.

What’s New in 2026

• Enhanced Mobile Apps: Redesigned iOS and Android applications with improved encryption handling and offline access to encrypted messages.
• WKD Key Discovery: Web Key Directory implementation for automatic PGP key discovery, simplifying encrypted communication with other users.
• Improved Collaboration: Enhanced document editing with real-time collaboration features while maintaining end-to-end encryption.
• Calendar Encryption: Extended end-to-end encryption to calendar events, ensuring meeting details remain private.
• Advanced Filtering: More sophisticated email filtering rules with conditions based on headers, size, and encryption status.
• BIMI Support: Brand Indicators for Message Identification showing verified sender logos for enhanced email authentication.
• Migration Tools: Improved import utilities for seamlessly transferring email and contacts from other providers while preserving encryption.

System Requirements

Web Access

Mobile Applications

Desktop Email Clients

How to Get Started with Mailfence

1. Create Account: Visit mailfence.com and sign up for a free account using only a username and recovery email – no personal information required.
2. Generate Encryption Keys: Create your OpenPGP key pair directly in the browser, with the private key stored encrypted and accessible only to you.
3. Configure Two-Factor: Enable 2FA for enhanced account security using an authenticator app on your mobile device.
4. Import Existing Email: Use the migration tools to transfer emails, contacts, and calendar data from your previous provider.
5. Set Up Desktop Client: Configure your preferred email application using IMAP/SMTP settings if you prefer desktop access.
6. Share Public Key: Distribute your public key to contacts who should be able to send you encrypted messages.
7. Start Communicating: Send encrypted emails to recipients who have shared their public keys, or password-protected messages to anyone.

Mailfence vs Other Secure Email Services

Who Should Use Mailfence?

• Privacy-Conscious Individuals: Users concerned about email surveillance, data mining, and corporate tracking benefit from Mailfence’s strong encryption and no-tracking policy.
• Journalists and Activists: Those communicating sensitive information requiring protection from interception and surveillance.
• Small Businesses: Organizations needing secure email with custom domains and collaborative tools without enterprise-level complexity.
• Legal and Medical Professionals: Practitioners handling confidential client communications requiring encryption compliance.
• Desktop Email Users: Those preferring traditional email clients appreciate Mailfence’s native IMAP support without requiring additional bridge software.
• EU-Based Users: Europeans seeking email service under strong EU privacy regulations and GDPR protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mailfence truly private?

Mailfence implements OpenPGP encryption where your private key never leaves your browser unencrypted. The company cannot read your encrypted emails. Operating under Belgian law, Mailfence can only comply with valid Belgian court orders and has published transparency reports documenting requests received.

Can I send encrypted emails to non-Mailfence users?

Yes, you can send encrypted emails to anyone using OpenPGP by importing their public key. For recipients without PGP, you can send password-protected messages that they access via a secure link, entering a password you share through another channel.

Does Mailfence support aliases?

Paid plans include email aliases allowing you to create additional addresses that forward to your main inbox. This helps organize incoming mail and protect your primary address from spam.

Can I use Mailfence with my own domain?

Yes, paid plans support custom domains. You configure DNS records to point your domain to Mailfence servers, allowing professional email addresses like you@yourdomain.com with full encryption capabilities.

What happens if I forget my encryption passphrase?

Your encryption passphrase protects your private key. If forgotten, previously encrypted emails cannot be recovered. Mailfence recommends securely storing your passphrase and keeping encrypted backups of your key pair.

Final Verdict

Mailfence delivers a comprehensive secure email solution that combines strong OpenPGP encryption with practical productivity tools. The inclusion of calendars, contacts, documents, and group collaboration features creates an integrated workspace that competitors like ProtonMail have only recently begun matching. Native IMAP support without requiring bridge software makes Mailfence particularly appealing for users preferring traditional desktop email clients.

Operating from Belgium under strict EU privacy laws provides meaningful legal protection beyond what many competitors offer. While the interface may feel less polished than some alternatives, Mailfence compensates with functionality, competitive pricing, and a commitment to privacy that has remained consistent since the service launched. For users seeking secure email with genuine collaboration capabilities and standard protocol support, Mailfence represents an excellent value-focused choice in the encrypted email landscape.