Skiff vs Startmail Comparison (2025)

What are the differences between Skiff and Startmail?

Forward Email Team
Written by
Forward Email TeamVerified
Published
1/1/25
Time to read
Less than 5 minutes
We recommend Forward Email as the best alternative to Skiff.

Email Service Comparison

20 facts in comparison
Skiffvs.Startmail

Skiff

Privacy-first end-to-end encrypted email (NOTE: this company is no longer in business and shutting down service in August 2024)
"Privacy-first end-to-end encrypted email (NOTE: this company is no longer in business and shutting down service in August 2024)"
  • 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
$3/moPricing$7/mo
15 GBStorage20 GB
25 MBAttachments25 MB
❌ Skiff claims to be open-source, but their back-end is actually closed-sourceOpen-SourceNo
NoSandboxed Encryption ❌ Startmail claims to use a User Vault, but this statement has not been audited and their source code is closed-source
NoUnlimited DomainsNo
NoUnlimited AliasesNo
NoTTI No
❌ Skiff does not support SMTP and forces vendor lock-inSMTPYes
❌ Skiff does not support IMAP and forces vendor lock-inIMAPYes
❌ Skiff does not support POP3 and forces vendor lock-inPOP3Yes
NoAPINo
⚠️ Supported, but Skiff manages your private keys and is closed-sourceE2EE ⚠️ Supported if both sender and recipient are using OpenPGP
YesOpenPGP ⚠️ Supports OpenPGP, but does not support WKD
YesWKD No

Email Service Screenshots

Closed-source

Skiff

Skiff is a closed-source email service. Its description from its website is: Privacy-first end-to-end encrypted email (NOTE: this company is no longer in business and shutting down service in August 2024)

Skiff is a closed-source email service.
Photograph by Forward Email
Visit Website
Closed-source

Startmail

Startmail is a closed-source email service. Their website says: Private email you can trust

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

Compare Skiff with 79 email services