What are the best secure emails providers in 2025?
Choosing a trusted and secure email provider is particularly important in the business context. Even privacy-conscious individuals should choose email services that fully comply with data protection regulations.
Comparison of the 7 most secure email providers 2025
| Provider | Data Protection | Encryption | Virus/Spam Protection | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IONOS | Very Good | TLS, PGP manually possible | Very Good |
|
| STRATO | Very Good | TLS, PGP manually possible | Good |
|
| ProtonMail | Excellent | TLS, End-to-End PGP | Very Good |
|
| TutaMail | Excellent | Own End-to-End Solution | Very Good |
|
| Mailbox.org | Very Good | TLS, PGP | Very Good |
|
| Posteo | Very Good | TLS, PGP | Good |
|
| StartMail | Very Good | TLS, PGP | Good |
|
- Email protection on any device
- SSL/TLS email encryption
- Firewalls and spam filters offer first class virus protection
- Daily protection and backups
Why are secure email providers important?
Without the right protection, email content can easily be intercepted, manipulated, or misused. Secure email providers protect against hackers and phishing attacks, ensuring that personal data stays secure.
Under the GDPR, businesses are required to protect sensitive data accordingly. Encryption keeps messages private, while robust spam and virus protection helps reduce security risks. Secure encrypted email providers ensure this level of protection. Backup solutions are also essential to prevent the loss of important messages. Reputable and secure email providers also build trust with customers and business partner.
Criteria for choosing a secure email provider
Many secure encrypted email providers claim that they offer secure email delivery. But what specific criteria should you consider in order to choose a secure email provider? Key features include:
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Encryption technologies (TLS/SSL, PGP, End-to-End: Secure email communication should be protected by modern encryption standards like TLS during transmission and optionally by PGP or full end-to-end encryption to prevent unauthorised access to content.
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Data protection policies (GDPR compliance, server location): A reputable provider should follow the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and ideally have servers in Germany or the EU to maintain high data handling standards.
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Security features (Spam filters, virus protection, two-factor authentication): Powerful spam and virus filters, along with the possibility of two-factor authentication (2FA), provide extra protection against phishing, malware, and unauthorised access.
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Transparency and business model (Ad-free, financing without selling data): Providers that operate ad-free and are not financed through selling user data typically offer higher transparency and data protection.
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Additional features (Archiving, domain use, calendar, cloud storage): Useful features like compliant email archiving, custom domain integration, and calendar or cloud storage services are especially valuable for professionals.
The 7 most secure email providers 2025 at a glance
Here are seven of the most secure email providers for UK users, offering excellent data protection and security for both personal and business use.
IONOS
IONOS is one of Europe’s leading hosting and email providers, offering secure email solutions designed for professionals, especially those needing integrated business tools. The service features a GDPR-compliant infrastructure with servers in Germany and high security standards, including spam and virus protection, as well as TLS encryption. Noteworthy are the optional AI features that assist with composing or translating emails. A custom domain is also included, making it ideal for businesses or freelancers.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✓ Server located in Germany, GDPR-compliant | ✗ No free basic plan |
| ✓ AI-powered email organisation available | ✗ Business focus |
| ✓ Custom domain included | |
| ✓ Easy email migration tool included | |
| ✓ Ad-free and completely without data sales |
- Email protection on any device
- SSL/TLS email encryption
- Firewalls and spam filters offer first class virus protection
- Daily protection and backups
STRATO
STRATO is a well-established German provider of web hosting and email services, and like IONOS, it meets the highest data protection standards. With servers located exclusively in Germany and clear GDPR compliance, STRATO offers a reliable foundation for secure communication. This provider’s email solutions are ideal for small businesses and individuals, offering features like custom domains and ad-free mailboxes. The interface is functional, with a clear focus on stability and data security without an overly complicated design.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✓ Server located in Germany, GDPR-compliant | ✗ No free plan |
| ✓ Good basic security | ✗ No end-to-end encryption |
| ✓ Own domain included | ✗ Fewer additional features than other providers |
| ✓ Affordable |
ProtonMail
ProtonMail is a Swiss-based provider, fully specialising in privacy and data protection. This secure email provider offers default end-to-end encryption as well as zero-access encryption. This means that even the provider cannot read the content of messages. As well as being open source, ProtonMail does not store IP addresses and offers anonymous registration. As well as this, it operates its infrastructure under the strictest Swiss data protection laws. With its strong focus on security, this provider is ideal for privacy-sensitive users.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✓ End-to-end encryption | ✗ Limited storage in free plans |
| ✓ Servers located in Switzerland | ✗ Not well suited for businesses with their own domain |
| ✓ No IP logs, anonymous use possible | ✗ Somewhat limited integration with email clients |
| ✓ Mobile apps |
TutaMail
TutaMail “TutaMail Website”) is a German email provider known for its consistent security and ease of use. Tuta uses end-to-end encryption with RSA and AES, which is automatically applied to communications between TutaMail users, without the need for external plugins. All data, including subject lines and attachments, are encrypted. This open-source provider is particularly well-suited for privacy enthusiasts due to its advanced encryption.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✓ Own, automatic end-to-end encryption | ✗ No IMAP/SMTP |
| ✓ Server located in Germany, GDPR-compliant | ✗ Limited storage in free plan |
| ✓ No IP logs, anonymous registration possible | |
| ✓ Ad-free |
Mailbox.org
Mailbox.org is a secure email provider from Germany designed for businesses. Educational institutions also benefit from the service, which includes a complete online office suite with tools for calendar management, tasks, word processing, and spreadsheets. Emails can be encrypted with PGP, and a user-friendly key assistant is integrated. Mailbox.org is completely ad-free, operates in full compliance with the GDPR, and has its servers located exclusively in Germany.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✓ Comprehensive groupware functions | ✗ Interface is somewhat less intuitive |
| ✓ Server located in Germany, GDPR-compliant | ✗ No free plan |
| ✓ Anonymous payment available | |
| ✓ Ad-free |
Posteo
Posteo is a highly sustainable provider. This German email service is entirely funded by user contributions and consistently avoids ads and selling user data. Posteo offers optional PGP encryption as well as sender identification via DANE/DMARC. It does not store IP addresses either and the infrastructure is fully GDPR-compliant, with servers located in Germany. For displaying photo attachments, Posteo includes an integrated attachment browser with a photo stream.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✓ Anonymous registration and payment possible | ✗ No custom domains |
| ✓ Server located in Germany, GDPR-compliant | ✗ No free plan |
| ✓ Anonymous payment available | |
| ✓ Various color designs for the web app |
StartMail
StartMail is a Dutch email provider developed by the creators of the search engine Startpage, focusing on privacy and user-friendliness. This secure email provider offers PGP encryption but is also easy to use, even without technical expertise. StartMail places great emphasis on privacy, does not store tracking data, and is completely ad-free. A special feature is the ability to create as many temporary alias addresses as desired to avoid spam and protect identities, which is particularly useful for private users.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| ✓ User-friendly PGP encryption | ✗ Very simple interface |
| ✓ Server located in the Netherlands | ✗ Relatively expensive |
| ✓ Unlimited one-time addresses | |
| ✓ Ad-free |
Conclusion
Choosing the right secure email provider in the UK depends on your specific needs. If you value security, reliability, and a professional appearance, IONOS offers a compelling complete solution. With features like AI-powered organisation, a custom domain, and ad-free use, IONOS is especially suitable for businesses, freelancers, and organisations that want to combine professionalism and data protection.
For those with high privacy needs, specialised services like ProtonMail or TutaMail are ideal. These providers offer end-to-end encryption and avoid tracking or data analysis, but often come with functional limitations compared to traditional business solution.
Secure email providers like STRATO, Mailbox.org, and Posteo strike a great balance between privacy, convenience, and value, making them ideal for security-conscious individuals and small businesses.