Fastmail
Fastmail
Secure, ad-free email service with integrated calendars and contacts, offering custom domains, AI-driven productivity tools, and robust privacy controls.
Key Features
- Unlimited Aliases & Custom Domains
- Ad-Free Email Interface
- AI-Powered Search & Smart Folders
- Scheduled Send & Undo Send
- Masked Email (Disposable Addresses)
- Snooze & Reminders
- VIP Contacts & Priority Notifications
- Rules & Filters Automation
- Advanced Spam Protection
- CardDAV Contacts
- CalDAV Calendars
- File Storage & WebDAV Access
- End-to-End Encryption (Optional)
- Two-Factor Authentication & App Passwords
What is Fastmail?
Fastmail is an independent, Australian-founded email provider that emphasizes user privacy, data ownership, and productivity. Unlike ad-supported services, Fastmail is funded by subscriptions, guaranteeing an ad-free interface without data mining. It combines email, calendars, and contacts in one unified, web-based platform and supports open standards—IMAP, SMTP, JMAP, CalDAV, and CardDAV—so users can choose any compatible client.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Robust privacy: no ads, no tracking, data owned by you
- Seamless integration of mail, calendars, and contacts
- Feature-rich web interface with AI search, scheduled send, and undo send
- Flexible aliases and masked email for protecting real addresses
- Global IMAP/SMTP and modern JMAP support for any client
- Generous family and business multi-user plans with shareable resources
Cons
- No free tier; subscription required for all accounts
- Lacks built-in PGP end-to-end encryption; manual setup needed
- Limited native integrations beyond core protocols; relies on third-party tools
- Mobile apps have fewer advanced mail-client features than desktop web
Who It’s For
- Privacy-conscious individuals seeking ad-free, tracker-free email
- Small teams & families needing shared calendars, contacts, and domains
- Professionals requiring reliable IMAP/SMTP service with advanced web tools
- Power users who value aliases, rules automation, and AI-enhanced search
Unlimited Aliases & Custom Domains
Fastmail lets you create unlimited email aliases under your domain or Fastmail domains. Masked Email generates disposable addresses for sign-ups, preventing spam and preserving your real address.
Ad-Free Email Interface
The web client is fully ad-free, with a clean, responsive design. Features include drag-and-drop folder management, conversation threading, and real-time notifications.
AI-Powered Search & Smart Folders
Leverage AI-driven search that finds text in messages, attachments, and contacts instantly. Smart folders automatically group messages by VIP status, unread, or custom criteria.
Scheduled Send & Undo Send
Compose an email and schedule it for later delivery. Undo Send holds outgoing messages for 15 seconds, allowing quick corrections of typos or recipients.
Snooze & Reminders
Snooze messages to reappear in your inbox at a chosen time. Set reminders on important emails to ensure follow-up.
Rules & Filters Automation
Create powerful server-side rules to tag, move, forward, or archive messages automatically based on sender, subject, or content.
Advanced Spam Protection
Fastmail’s proprietary spam filters, combined with open-source SpamAssassin, ensure unwanted mail lands in quarantine. Review and release or permanently delete at will.
CardDAV Contacts
Manage your address book with full CardDAV support. VIP contacts highlight messages and trigger custom notifications for priority senders.
CalDAV Calendars
Host multiple calendars via CalDAV with sharing permissions. Invite others, schedule events, and view combined calendars in month, week, and agenda views.
File Storage & WebDAV Access
Store files in Fastmail’s secure cloud and access via WebDAV. Attach large files without email size limits.
End-to-End Encryption (Optional)
Use S/MIME or PGP manually for secure messaging. Fastmail supports importing your encryption keys for encrypted email workflows.
Two-Factor Authentication & App Passwords
Protect your account with TOTP two-factor authentication. Generate app passwords for third-party clients and services.
Pricing
Fastmail’s plans (billed annually, per user/month):
- Basic: $4 — 5 GB mail, web access only
- Individual: $6 — 50 GB mail, IMAP/SMTP, rules, aliases
- Duo: $10 — 2 users, 50 GB each, shared calendars/contacts
- Family: $14 — Up to 6 users, 50 GB each, share folders & domains
- Business Basic: $4 — 5 GB business mail per user
- Business Standard: $6 — 50 GB, rules, snooze, scheduling
- Business Professional: $10 — 100 GB, retention & advanced security
Verdict
Fastmail is the premier choice for users prioritizing privacy, reliability, and modern productivity features without ads or data mining. Its open-standards support and versatile multi-user plans make it suitable for individuals, families, and small businesses alike. While lacking built-in encryption and extensive third-party integrations, Fastmail’s core offerings deliver a fast, secure, and focused email experience.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fastmail
What is Fastmail?
Fastmail is an independent, Australian-founded email provider that emphasizes user privacy, data ownership, and productivity. Unlike ad-supported services, Fastmail is funded by subscriptions, guaranteeing an ad-free interface without data mining. It combines email, calendars, and contacts in one unified, web-based platform and supports open standards—IMAP, SMTP, JMAP, CalDAV, and CardDAV—so users can choose any compatible client.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Robust privacy: no ads, no tracking, data owned by you
- Seamless integration of mail, calendars, and contacts
- Feature-rich web interface with AI search, scheduled send, and undo send
- Flexible aliases and masked email for protecting real addresses
- Global IMAP/SMTP and modern JMAP support for any client
- Generous family and business multi-user plans with shareable resources
Cons
- No free tier; subscription required for all accounts
- Lacks built-in PGP end-to-end encryption; manual setup needed
- Limited native integrations beyond core protocols; relies on third-party tools
- Mobile apps have fewer advanced mail-client features than desktop web
Who It’s For
- Privacy-conscious individuals seeking ad-free, tracker-free email
- Small teams & families needing shared calendars, contacts, and domains
- Professionals requiring reliable IMAP/SMTP service with advanced web tools
- Power users who value aliases, rules automation, and AI-enhanced search
Unlimited Aliases & Custom Domains
Fastmail lets you create unlimited email aliases under your domain or Fastmail domains. Masked Email generates disposable addresses for sign-ups, preventing spam and preserving your real address.
Ad-Free Email Interface
The web client is fully ad-free, with a clean, responsive design. Features include drag-and-drop folder management, conversation threading, and real-time notifications.
AI-Powered Search & Smart Folders
Leverage AI-driven search that finds text in messages, attachments, and contacts instantly. Smart folders automatically group messages by VIP status, unread, or custom criteria.
Scheduled Send & Undo Send
Compose an email and schedule it for later delivery. Undo Send holds outgoing messages for 15 seconds, allowing quick corrections of typos or recipients.
Snooze & Reminders
Snooze messages to reappear in your inbox at a chosen time. Set reminders on important emails to ensure follow-up.
Rules & Filters Automation
Create powerful server-side rules to tag, move, forward, or archive messages automatically based on sender, subject, or content.
Advanced Spam Protection
Fastmail’s proprietary spam filters, combined with open-source SpamAssassin, ensure unwanted mail lands in quarantine. Review and release or permanently delete at will.
CardDAV Contacts
Manage your address book with full CardDAV support. VIP contacts highlight messages and trigger custom notifications for priority senders.
CalDAV Calendars
Host multiple calendars via CalDAV with sharing permissions. Invite others, schedule events, and view combined calendars in month, week, and agenda views.
File Storage & WebDAV Access
Store files in Fastmail’s secure cloud and access via WebDAV. Attach large files without email size limits.
End-to-End Encryption (Optional)
Use S/MIME or PGP manually for secure messaging. Fastmail supports importing your encryption keys for encrypted email workflows.
Two-Factor Authentication & App Passwords
Protect your account with TOTP two-factor authentication. Generate app passwords for third-party clients and services.
Pricing
Fastmail’s plans (billed annually, per user/month):
- Basic: $4 — 5 GB mail, web access only
- Individual: $6 — 50 GB mail, IMAP/SMTP, rules, aliases
- Duo: $10 — 2 users, 50 GB each, shared calendars/contacts
- Family: $14 — Up to 6 users, 50 GB each, share folders & domains
- Business Basic: $4 — 5 GB business mail per user
- Business Standard: $6 — 50 GB, rules, snooze, scheduling
- Business Professional: $10 — 100 GB, retention & advanced security
Verdict
Fastmail is the premier choice for users prioritizing privacy, reliability, and modern productivity features without ads or data mining. Its open-standards support and versatile multi-user plans make it suitable for individuals, families, and small businesses alike. While lacking built-in encryption and extensive third-party integrations, Fastmail’s core offerings deliver a fast, secure, and focused email experience.