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MessageBird vs Startmail Comparison (2026)

Compare MessageBird vs Startmail email services. In-depth analysis of features, pricing, security, privacy, and storage to find the best email provider for your needs.

  • Written byForward Email Team
  • Published10/1/26
  • Time to readLess than 5 minutes
We recommend Forward Email as the best alternative to MessageBird. We also support webmail: https://mail.forwardemail.net

Email Service Comparison

20 facts in comparison
MessageBirdvs.Startmail

MessageBird

Omnichannel automation platform for APIs, service & marketing
"Omnichannel automation platform for APIs, service & marketing"
  • Hardenize Test
  • Internet.nl Site Test
  • Internet.nl Mail Test
  • Mozilla HTTP Observatory Grade
  • Qualys SSL Labs SSL Server Test
vs.

Startmail

Private email you can trust
"Private email you can trust"
  • Hardenize Test
  • Internet.nl Site Test
  • Internet.nl Mail Test
  • Mozilla HTTP Observatory Grade
  • Qualys SSL Labs SSL Server Test
$20/moPricing$7/mo
❌ MessageBird does not support storageStorage20 GB
100 MBAttachments25 MB
❌Open-Source❌
❌Sandboxed Encryption ❌ Startmail claims to use a User Vault, but this statement has not been audited and their source code is closed-source
❌Unlimited Domains❌
❌Unlimited Aliases❌
❌TTI ❌
✅SMTP✅
❌IMAP✅
❌POP3✅
✅API❌
❌E2EE ⚠️ Supported if both sender and recipient are using OpenPGP
❌OpenPGP ⚠️ Supports OpenPGP, but does not support WKD
❌WKD ❌

Email Service Screenshots

Closed-source

MessageBird

MessageBird is a closed-source email service. The official description from its website says, "Omnichannel automation platform for APIs, service & marketing".

MessageBird is a closed-source email service.
Screenshot by Forward Email
Visit Website
Closed-source

Startmail

Startmail is a closed-source email service. The official description from its website says, "Private email you can trust".

Startmail is a closed-source email service.
Screenshot by Forward Email
Visit Website
Data inaccurate? All of our data used to curate these pages is open-source and maintained in our GitHub repository. Please submit a pull request if you see outdated or inaccurate data. Note that the Hardenize test is only considered passing if all checkboxes are green (and not greyed out).
Notice of Non-Affiliation and Disclaimer: We are not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with MessageBird and Startmail, or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates. The name MessageBird and Startmail as well as related names, marks, emblems, and images are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Custom domain email hosting

Free email forwarding and custom domain hosting that works everywhere.

  • Custom Domain Email Address

    Establish credibility with professional email addresses like you@yourdomain.com.

  • Unlimited Email Accounts

    Create as many domain names and email addresses as your team needs, without extra costs.

  • Generous 10 GB Email Storage

    Ample space for all your important communications and attachments. Pay as you go.

  • Compatibility & Deliverability

    Works with Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and adheres to all 2026 email standards for optimal deliverability.

Any device

Access your email anywhere

Our email service works with any device and email client, so you can read your mail from anywhere.

  • iPhone & macOS
  • Android
  • Windows
  • Any Email Client
DownloadEmail client setup

All-inclusive features

No additional fees for must-have features.

  • 100% Open-Source Software
  • Quantum-Resistant Encryption
  • Advanced Email Security
  • Reliable Email Sending & Receiving
  • Email Archiving & Download
  • Integrated Calendars & Contacts
  • Bounce & Web Alert Notifications
  • Developer-Friendly Email API
  • Email Encryption & Message Signing
  • Encrypted PGP Forwarding
  • Intelligent Spam & Phishing Protection
  • Email Standards Compliance
  • Forwarding & Secure Delivery
  • Safe Web Lookups & Data Protection
  • Sandboxed Mailboxes
  • Self-Hosted Docker Email
  • Zero-Knowledge Architecture
  • 99.99% Uptime

Simple pricing

Unlimited domains at every tier.

Start with forwarding, upgrade to real mailboxes, then add team controls. Every tier includes unlimited domains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about plans.

  • What's the difference between Enhanced Protection and Team plans?

    Enhanced Protection ($3/month) is perfect for individuals who need professional email with sending/receiving capabilities, 10GB storage, and API access. Team plan ($9/month) adds collaborative features like team member management, shared organizational access, and priority support - ideal for families, groups, and businesses.

  • Can I send and receive emails with the Free plan?

    No, the Free plan only supports email forwarding. You can receive emails at your custom domain and forward them to your existing email address, but you cannot send emails directly from your custom domain or store emails on our servers.

  • Who should choose the Team plan?

    The Team plan is perfect for families sharing a domain (like @smithfamily.com), small businesses with multiple employees, organizations needing shared email management, or any group that requires collaborative access to email accounts with proper permission controls.

  • What does 'unlimited domains' mean?

    All plans include unlimited domains at no extra cost. Whether you have 1 domain or 100 domains, you pay the same price. This makes our service cost-effective for users managing multiple websites or businesses.

  • Do you charge per user/alias like other services?

    No! Unlike other email services that charge per user or alias, we include unlimited aliases in our Enhanced Protection and Team plans. Create as many email addresses as you need (info@, sales@, support@, etc.) without additional fees.

  • Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan anytime?

    Yes, you can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. When upgrading, you'll get immediate access to new features. When downgrading, changes take effect at your next billing cycle, and you'll retain access to paid features until then.

Frequently Asked Questions

Trusted by millions

Leading organizations and businesses worldwide rely on our secure and reliable email service.

  • Government

    US Naval Academy, Government of South Australia, Government of Dominican Republic

  • Enterprise

    Netflix Games, Disney Ad Sales, Fox News Radio, RCD Hotels

  • Open-source

    The Linux Foundation, jQuery, Ubuntu, LineageOS, Canonical

  • Education

    Carnegie Mellon, Cambridge, UMD, UW, Tufts, Swarthmore

Ready to join these organizations?

Quick Start

Why people switch

Trusted for the reasons that matter.

The claims this page makes, backed by people with no reason to flatter us, and a receipt you can check yourself.

Private by architecture

Congrats for fully launching Forward Email – a forwarding service for email that doesn't keep logs or store emails, and which works with ARC to ensure signed forwards don't trip email filters 👏. I'm a happy user! ❤️
DHH
DHH@dhh · Creator of Ruby on Rails, Founder & CTO at Basecamp & HEY
Read the security audit

Migration is a DNS change

Have now switched email forwarding from MailGun to ForwardEmail.net . Simple and painless (and free!). Just some DNS changes, and it just works. Thanks
abhi nemani
abhi nemani@abhinemani · Government Technology Advisor, Sacramento and Los Angeles
Browse the setup guides

One inbox for every address

So they made this cool app that forwards email from your own domain to your Gmail inbox. There is even a catch all option, so sales@, support@, etc all goes to your own inbox. Check it out! It's free! forwardemail.net
Andre Goncalves
Andre Goncalves@andregce · Computer Engineer, Software Developer
How catch-alls work