Privacy email

Mailfence

Mailfence is the PGP-native alternative to Proton Mail for users who want IMAP/SMTP and openness over default encryption.

Website

mailfence.com

KYC

optional KYC — Free tier requires only a username; paid tiers require payment but no government ID.

Status

active

Fiat on-ramp

no

Payment

crypto, card, paypal, bank-transfer

Jurisdiction

Belgium (operator-disclosed)

Founded

2013

Open source

no

Custodial

yes

Last verified

Jan 1, 2026

Sources

2

Overview

Strengths

• PGP-native; integrates with OpenPGP keys directly.
• IMAP/SMTP supported.
• Belgian privacy law has historically protected smaller mail providers.

Caveats

• Belgian jurisdiction is subject to EU cooperation.
• PGP-only encryption — outside-mail metadata is visible.
• Facts need re-verification by operator (last seeded 2026-01).

Verdict

Mailfence is the PGP-native alternative to Proton Mail for users who want IMAP/SMTP and openness over default encryption. Belgian jurisdiction is the operator-side caveat.

FAQ

Does Mailfence require KYC?

Mailfence has optional KYC; you can use the service without it for the basic flow. Free tier requires only a username; paid tiers require payment but no government ID.

What payment methods does Mailfence accept?

Mailfence accepts: crypto, card, paypal, bank-transfer.

Where is Mailfence based?

Operating jurisdiction listed as Belgium (operator-disclosed). This is best-known information; corporate structure can be opaque.

Sources

1. Mailfence home · accessed Jan 1, 2026
2. Mailfence transparency · accessed Jan 1, 2026

Mentioned in

Alternatives to Mailfence

• addy.io optional kyc · United
• cock.li none kyc · Romania
• Disroot none kyc · Netherlands
• mailbox.org optional kyc · Germany
• Proton Mail optional kyc · Switzerland
• Posteo optional kyc · Germany

Entry last verified Jan 1, 2026. Notice an error? Send it via the contact form.