Fastmail Email vs Gmail
Fastmail Email
fastmail.comGmail
mail.google.comSide by side
| Figure | Fastmail Email | Gmail |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4/mo | $1.99/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 6 | 11 |
| Spec score · Personal Email Services | 9.1 (#6) | 9.3 (#2) |
| Ad-free inbox | Yes | No |
| Email aliases | Yes | Yes |
| Attachment limit | 50 | Personal Gmail accounts have a 25 MB attachment limit, and larger attachments are automatically replaced with a Google Drive link. |
| Custom domain | No | No |
| Encryption | Fastmail says customer data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and supports TLS 1.3 and Perfect Forward Secrecy. | All Gmail messages use TLS automatically, while client-side encryption adds protection for eligible Google Workspace editions. |
| Founded | 1999 | 1998 |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | Mountain View, California, United States |
| Mailbox storage | 5 | 100 |
| Platform access | web_mobile_desktop | web_mobile_desktop |
Plans
Fastmail Email
- Basic$4 a month
- Individual$6 a month
- Standard$6 a month
- Duo$10 a month
- Professional$10 a month
- Family$14 a month
Gmail
- FreeFree
- Google One Basic$1.99 a month
- No costFree
- Business Starter$7 a month
- Business Standard$14 a month
- Business Plus$22 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
- BasicPrice not published
- Free Google AccountFree
- Google AI ProPrice not published
In their own words
Fastmail Email
Fastmail Email provides email, calendars, contacts, and file storage for individuals, families, and businesses. Mail tools include search, pinning, snooze, scheduled sending, offline support, and private memos on messages. Fastmail says its paid service has no ads, personal-data mining, or third-party sharing. It says customer data is encrypted in transit and at rest, supports TLS 1.3 and Perfect Forward Secrecy, and offers two-step verification and passkeys. Customers can choose the EU or US as their primary data residency. Fastmail offers apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, plus a browser app. Access protocols include JMAP, IMAP, POP, SMTP, CardDAV, CalDAV, and WebDAV; OAuth is documented for third-party clients. Fastmail does not provide end-to-end encryption in its own apps, though PGP or S/MIME can be used through supported third-party apps. Plans range from Basic at $4 a month to Family at $14 a month, with different storage and account allowances. The service is paid, has no free plan, and offers a 30-day trial. Every plan includes 24/7 expert support from real people.
Gmail
Gmail is an email service available on the web, Android, and iOS. A Google Account is required to sign in. Free accounts include up to 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Google Photos; Google One Basic costs $1.99 a month for 100 GB, shareable with up to five others. Gmail supports aliases, and business plans can provide email addresses on a customer's own domain. Gemini in Gmail can help draft or reply to messages, find information in Gmail or Drive, and summarize long threads. Smart Reply, Smart Compose, and Nudges offer writing and follow-up assistance. Gmail connects with Meet, Calendar, Tasks, and Chat, while mail merge can use up to 1,500 recipients from a linked spreadsheet. Google says Gmail automatically blocks 99.9% of spam, phishing attempts, and malware. Messages use TLS, and content is encrypted in transit and at rest. Business Starter costs $7 a month per user and includes 30 GB pooled storage per user and custom business email; higher business plans list additional storage and features. Some Google One plans allow storage sharing with up to five others.