Sustainable Substitutes for Gmail

A free email service developed by Google, utilised for harvesting and analysing user information.

Reasons to avoid Gmail

Avoid Gmail due to privacy risks—your emails are scanned for ads and AI training, and end-to-end encryption is missing for most users. Recent breaches and phishing attacks further expose user data. Opt for privacy-focused, sustainable email alternatives like ProtonMail or Tutanota.

Sustainable Alternatives

Here are some sustainable alternatives for Gmail

Proton Mail

Proton Mail is an encrypted email service based in Switzerland.

Proton Mail clients are open-source, allowing for community audits and transparency.
Proton Mail offers self-hosting options for enterprises, giving full control over data.
Proton Mail does not track users or display personalised ads, ensuring a private email experience.
Proton Mail is based in Switzerland, it's relocating its infrastructure to other more privacy-friendly European countries.
Proton Mail does not show ads to their users apart from upgrade suggestions for their own services.
Proton Mail offers one email address with 1GB of storage free of charge.
Website

Tuta

Tuta Mail is a German email provider with encryption by default powered by green energy.

All Tuta clients are open-source, allowing for transparency and community contributions.
Tuta uses green energy to power its servers, reducing its environmental impact.
Tuta does not track users or display personalised ads, it offers end-to-end, quantum-safe encryption, ensuring a private email experience.
Tuta is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong privacy laws and ISO/IEC 27001-certified data centers.
Tuta offers one email address with 1GB of storage free of charge and promises that this will not change.
Tuta is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free email experience.
Website

Mailbox

Mailbox is a German email provider with optional encryption running on renewable energy.

Mailbox uses renewable energy to power its servers, reducing its carbon footprint.
Mailbox offers self-hosting options for enterprises, giving full control over data.
Mailbox does not track users or display personalised ads. It offers optional PGP Email encryption.
Mailbox is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong privacy laws.
Mailbox is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free email experience.
Website

Posteo

Posteo is a German eco-friendly email provider with optional encryption.

Posteo is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Posteo is completely ad free.
Posteo uses renewable energy to power its servers, reducing its carbon footprint.
Posteo does not track users or display personalised ads. It offers encrypted mailboxes and allows anonymous registration.
Posteo supports open-source standards and transparency, allowing independent audits.
Website

Soverin

Soverin is an ISO-certified Dutch email provider with optional encryption.

Soverin is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free email experience.
Soverin is ISO 14001 certified. No evidence could be found that its servers are powered by renewable energy though.
Soverin does not track users or display personalised ads and allows encryption via PGP.
Soverin supports open-source standards and transparency, allowing independent audits.
Soverin is based in the Netherlands, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Website

The 4 main issues with Gmail

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

Gmail is developed and owned by Google, one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation and exploitative data practices. Source: EFF: Google Search Monopoly and Privacy Concerns (2025)

Privacy Concerns - User data is likely to be stored and used against users' best interest.

Gmail collects and analyzes user emails, raising significant privacy concerns. Source: Forbes: Gmail Lacks End-to-End Encryption for Most Users (2024)

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Google lacks transparency in how user data from Gmail is used and shared. Source: FTC: Google’s Data Transparency and Privacy Violations (2025)

Data Monopolies - Control of vast amounts of user data, creating risks for privacy and potential misuse.

Gmail contributes to Google's vast data monopolies, creating risks for user privacy. Source: FTC: Gmail’s Privacy Policy Violations (2023)