Cock.li vs Tau Mail

Cock.li is a public email host from Cock.li, founded in 2013, offering email accounts and webmail through the web, Android, and iOS. Its services are free, with the Free plan listed at free. Mail access includes IMAP and POP at mail.cock.li, while XMPP is listed at xmpp.cock.li. Registration does not require personally identifiable information. New accounts cannot send mail until the user completes a browser proof-of-work challenge that uses a few minutes of CPU time. Cock-mail is described as an open-source, client-side webmail client connecting directly to the IMAP server over websockets, but its 0.0.1 alpha release lacks major features including SMTP. The privacy policy says registration details, stored mail, XMPP data, and 48–72 hours of IMAP and SMTP logs may be retained. Email is automatically scanned for spam. Account information is encrypted server-side, but mail may travel without encryption when TLS is unavailable or not attempted.

Tau Mail is an email service with webmail and native Android and iOS apps. It says messages are encrypted on the device before leaving, with only the sender and recipient holding keys, and advertises zero tracking rather than inbox scanning for advertising profiles. On-device spam detection and priority sorting are described as working without uploading message content. Users can bring their own domain with full DNS control. Webmail uses the same login as the mobile apps and needs no installation. Mobile apps include inbox synchronization, calendar, and contacts. The service offers a free plan with 1 GB encrypted storage and one custom alias. Pro costs $8 a month and includes 50 GB encrypted storage, five custom domains, priority routing, and advanced filters. Business costs $16 a month with unlimited storage, a team admin console, audit trail exports, and dedicated support. Tau Mail is identified as a Tau Technology Group service.