Overview:
Fastmail is an independent email service based in Australia, with a history of over 20 years in the business. It offers a clean, minimalistic interface, strong productivity features, and a clear focus on privacy and user control. Fastmail includes not just email but also integrated contacts, calendars, notes, and file storage, making it a comprehensive solution for individuals and small businesses.
Key Features
- Clean, User-Friendly Interface:
Fastmail’s web and mobile apps are intuitive and customizable, making it easy for users to manage multiple accounts and organize emails efficiently - Productivity Tools:
Includes integrated calendar, contacts, notes, file storage, and support for custom domains. Features like “send later,” spam filtering, masked email addresses, and full-text search enhance usability - Migration & Compatibility:
Supports IMAP, POP3, CalDAV, and CardDAV. Migrating from other providers is straightforward, and Fastmail works well with most email clients - Privacy & Security:
All data is encrypted in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest on Fastmail’s servers. Two-factor authentication (2FA) and passkey support are available. Masked email addresses help protect your identity when signing up for new services
Privacy and Security: The Details
- No End-to-End Encryption:
Unlike ProtonMail or Tutanota, Fastmail does not offer true end-to-end encryption by default. While your data is encrypted on their servers and during transmission, Fastmail can technically access the content of your emails. For users needing maximum confidentiality, this is a notable limitation - Data Jurisdiction:
Fastmail is based in Australia (a “Five Eyes” country) and stores data in Australia, the US, India, and the Netherlands. This means your data may be subject to multiple jurisdictions, which could be a concern for users seeking the highest privacy standards - Law Enforcement Requests:
Fastmail complies with legal requests from Australian authorities but does not provide dragnet access. All requests are reviewed for legal validity, and transparency reports are published8
Pros
- Minimal, fast, and intuitive interface
- Excellent support for custom domains and business use
- Integrated productivity tools (calendar, contacts, notes, files)
- Masked email addresses for privacy
- Responsive customer support
- Easy migration from other providers
Cons
- No free tier (only a 30-day trial)
- No end-to-end encryption by default
- Based in Australia (privacy implications)
- Requires a phone number to sign up
- Spam filtering can be less effective than some competitors
- Not all code is open source
Pricing
- Plans start at around $3/month for individuals, with higher tiers for more storage and advanced features. Business plans are also available.
Conclusion
Fastmail is a robust, privacy-conscious email solution that stands out for its speed, reliability, and productivity features. It’s ideal for users who value a clean interface, custom domains, and integrated tools, and who are comfortable with Fastmail’s privacy model. However, those seeking maximum privacy—especially end-to-end encryption or data stored exclusively in the EU—may prefer alternatives like ProtonMail or Tutanota.
In summary:
Fastmail is a strong Gmail/Outlook alternative for most users, but not the best fit for those with the highest privacy demands.