mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs OrdoGrid

Compare mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) and OrdoGrid on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.

Both listed as alternatives to: Microsoft 365

Logo: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)

mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)

Germany· Office Productivity Suite

Needs review

Shortlist mailbox when you need a German-operated email-plus-collaboration suite (Mail, Drive, Office, Meet, Admin/API) on dual Berlin sites with published BSI C5 Type 1 and ISO 27001 claims. Skip when you require free forever mail or default zero-knowledge for all messages—consider Proton Mail or Tuta instead.

German-operatedBerlin dual-site hostingPGP + S/MIMEBSI C5 Type 1 (claimed)ISO 27001 (claimed)Mail + Drive + Meet + Office
Logo: OrdoGrid

OrdoGrid

Belgium· Office Productivity Suite

Needs review

Shortlist OrdoGrid when you need Belgian Peppol send/receive plus quotes and customers in one browser product, especially if unlimited Peppol inbox on a free tier matters. Skip when you need a full accounting ledger, multi-country e-invoicing regimes, self-hosting, or a direct contract with a Peppol access-point operator. Consider DELKARO HANDWERK for German craft workflows or a dedicated Peppol access-point vendor when network control is the purchase filter.

EU-operatedPeppol e-invoicingFree Peppol receive tierPublic API (Business)EN / FR / NL / DE
mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs OrdoGrid: Snapshot
FeatureLogo: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)Logo: OrdoGridOrdoGrid
Country of originGermanyBelgium
CategoryOffice Productivity SuiteOffice Productivity Suite
Open sourceNoNo
Self-hostedNoNo
HeadquartersGermanyBelgium
Legal entityHeinlein Hosting GmbH (Berlin; CEO Peer Heinlein)OrdoGrid (Belgian contracting entity per Terms; formal company form and BCE number not published on site)
US parent / controlNo known US parentNo known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)LowMedium
EU-hosted statusNot listedPartial
Hosting / residencyCore mailbox, Drive, and Meet on Heinlein-operated servers in German data centres in Berlin (two independent locations). Website analytics: self-hosted Matomo. Marketing site may embed Vimeo/YouTube. No public AWS/GCP/Azure product hosting region found for customer mail data.Vendor claims EU hosting. Core app/marketing DNS resolved to Hetzner (DE) in Helsinki, FI. Privacy lists Google, Microsoft, Stripe, SendGrid (US) and OpenAI (US) as processors.
Summary

German paid digital workplace from Heinlein Hosting GmbH: secure email with PGP/S/MIME, Drive, browser Office, Meet, and business Admin on dual Berlin data centres.

Belgian browser SaaS for Peppol e-invoicing, quotes, customers and optional project/time workflows for freelancers and small businesses.

Tags
At a glance: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs OrdoGrid
At a glanceLogo: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)Logo: OrdoGridOrdoGrid
HQBerlin, GermanyNot listed
Legal entityHeinlein Hosting GmbHNot listed
HostingOwn servers, dual independent Berlin sitesNot listed
ModelPaid subscription SaaS; trial available; no permanent free tierNot listed
Self-hostNo (managed SaaS)Not listed
Open standardsIMAP/SMTP, CalDAV/CardDAV, WebDAV, PGP, S/MIMENot listed
HQ / governing lawNot listedBelgium (Terms: Belgian law, Brussels courts)
Legal entity (public)Not listedOrdoGrid (trade name; BCE number not published on site)
DeploymentNot listedCloud SaaS (browser); not self-hosted
PeppolNot listedSend/receive via certified access point (vendor claim)
Commercial modelNot listedFree forever tier + monthly paid plans (14-day paid trials)
LanguagesNot listedEnglish, French, Dutch, German
Key capabilities: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs OrdoGrid
Key capabilitiesLogo: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)Logo: OrdoGridOrdoGrid
German-operatedYesYes
Berlin dual-site hostingYesNot listed
PGP + S/MIMEYesNot listed
BSI C5 Type 1 (claimed)YesNot listed
ISO 27001 (claimed)YesNot listed
Mail + Drive + Meet + OfficeYesNot listed
Peppol e-invoicingNot listedYes
Free Peppol receive tierNot listedYes
Public API (Business)Not listedYes
EN / FR / NL / DENot listedYes

mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)

  • PGP Guard, S/MIME, and hardened mail transport

    Webmail Guard for PGP without extra software (or Mailvelope with local keys), S/MIME for sign/encrypt, 2FA and app passwords, multi-stage spam/virus rejection, plus public transport controls (DNSSEC, DANE, MTA-STS, DMARC/DKIM/SPF, TLS checker, @secure.mailbox.org aliases). Benefits security-minded teams that still need interoperable IMAP/SMTP; content is not zero-knowledge by default unless you encrypt.

  • Drive on dual independent Berlin sites

    Cloud files on the provider's own German infrastructure with two independent Berlin locations, WebDAV, mobile apps, guest share links, expandable quota, and optional client-side OpenPGP encryption of stored files. Fits teams replacing consumer cloud drives while keeping residency claims concrete; confirm plan quotas on the official site.

  • Browser Office with CalDAV and CardDAV

    Edit common office formats in the browser, share calendars and contacts via open CalDAV/CardDAV standards, plus tasks, notes, polls, and TLS-secured XMPP chat. Aimed at SMEs and schools that want collaboration without a full Microsoft desktop stack; advanced Excel macros and deep Office add-ins are not the target.

  • Meet video hosted in German data centres

    Browser-based conferencing integrated with calendar and mail: link invites for external guests, breakout rooms, screen share, chat, surveys, and moderator controls. Privacy documentation references the OpenTalk stack; sessions run through mailbox's German data centres. Evaluate E2EE defaults and recording policies against your meeting compliance needs.

  • Business Admin console and automation API

    Central management of domains, mailboxes, quotas, spam/virus settings, IP allowlists, and backups, with an HTTP API for larger orgs and resellers (api.mailbox.org). Supports onboarding help and partner-assisted migration. Better for multi-seat German operations than pure consumer inboxes; not a full IdP replacement without SSO design work.

OrdoGrid

  • Peppol send, receive and delivery statuses

    Prepare UBL invoices aligned with EN 16931, send through a certified Peppol access point, receive supplier invoices in an inbox, and track delivery plus IMR-style acceptance, rejection or dispute responses. Free plan: unlimited receiving and one outgoing Peppol invoice per month.

  • Quote-to-invoice document chain

    Create quotes and invoices with automatic numbering and Belgian legal mentions, convert accepted quotes to invoices, look up VAT via CBE and VIES, and export PDFs. Receipts, credit notes and email sending with read receipts are on paid plans per the public pricing page.

  • Customers, projects, time and payments (paid)

    Customer directory sits beside documents. Business features advertised include Kanban boards, tasks, time tracking, calendar sync (Google, Outlook, Apple ICS), Stripe payment links, bank statement import with payment matching, multi-location branding and team roles.

  • Public API on Business

    Company-scoped API keys with documented OpenAPI for invoicing, Peppol and loyalty integrations. Useful when an accountant tool or custom workflow must create or fetch documents without living only in the UI.

  • Multilingual Belgian SME UI

    Product and marketing surfaces are available in English, French, Dutch and German, with knowledge guides aimed at the Belgian 2026 B2B structured invoicing mandate and Peppol registration steps.

Assurance & compliance: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs OrdoGrid
Assurance & complianceLogo: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)Logo: OrdoGridOrdoGrid
Independent security / no-logs audit
Not found

No public independent no-logs audit PDF found; operational transparency reports and BSI/ISO artefacts instead

Not found

No public independent audit report found on official site.

ISO 27001
Vendor claimed

Vendor states ISO/IEC 27001:2022 on certified-quality and press pages; request current certificate in diligence

Not found

No ISO 27001 claim or certificate located on official pages researched.

SOC 2 / SOC 3
Not found

No SOC 2/3 claim found on primary security/cert pages

Not found

No SOC 2/3 report found on official site.

BSI C5
Vendor claimed

Vendor press (7 Jan 2026): BSI C5 Type 1 attestation for mailbox; confirm type, scope, and period

Not listed
GDPR / EU data protection
Vendor claimed

German controller Heinlein Hosting GmbH; DE hosting; detailed privacy notice; DPO privacy@mailbox.org

Vendor claimed

Privacy policy commits to GDPR and Belgian data protection law; Belgian DPA complaint link published.

US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)
Partial

EU/German entity, no known US parent, self-operated Berlin hosting for core data—no AWS/GCP/Azure product region found. Residual: marketing embeds (Vimeo/YouTube) and possible external payment services. Indicative assessment only, not legal advice.

Partial

Belgian contracting entity and Hetzner FI core path, but privacy lists US-group processors (SendGrid, OpenAI, Stripe, Google, Microsoft). Indicative only, not legal advice.

Data processing agreement (B2B)
Vendor claimed

Business knowledge base: customers can conclude a DPA online; historic AVV portal for business accounts

Not found

No public DPA download found; confirm under contract.

EU AI Act
Not applicable

Email/collaboration suite, not an AI product core

Partial

Not an AI-first product, but privacy discloses OpenAI processing of PDF invoices for data extraction. Confirm role under AI Act with vendor if relevant.

Considerations & known limitations: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs OrdoGrid
Considerations & known limitationsLogo: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)Logo: OrdoGridOrdoGrid
Mail is not zero-knowledge by default
Medium

Without PGP/S/MIME, stored message content remains operator-accessible under legal process. Practical impact: train users or mandate Guard/S/MIME for confidential traffic.

Not listed
C5 Type 1 is point-in-time
Low

Type 1 attestations describe design/implementation at a point in time. Re-check type (1 vs 2), scope, and renewal dates for public-sector RFPs.

Not listed
Payment and edge processors need confirmation
Low

Core hosting is self-operated DE, but privacy text references external payment services; marketing embeds US video hosts. Ask for the current processor list with the DPA.

Not listed
Not a full Microsoft 365 ecosystem substitute
Medium

Browser Office and Meet cover common collaboration; deep desktop macros, Graph automations, and third-party M365 marketplaces will not map 1:1.

Not listed
No customer self-host option
Low

Organisations that must operate mail on their own iron need another stack; mailbox is multi-tenant SaaS.

Not listed
No published BCE / legal-form imprintNot listed
Medium

Terms and privacy identify OrdoGrid under Belgian law, and RDAP shows BE registrant country, but the public site does not show an enterprise number or SRL/BV line. Procurement teams may need registry confirmation before contracting.

US SaaS subprocessors on email, AI OCR and paymentsNot listed
Medium

SendGrid, OpenAI, Stripe and Google appear in the privacy processor table. Orgs with strict no-US-processor policies need a written exception or alternative tooling for those paths.

No public security certification packNot listed
Medium

ISO 27001, SOC 2 and independent audit artefacts were not found publicly. Security questionnaires will need vendor follow-up.

Peppol via third-party access pointNot listed
Low

Network reach depends on the certified access point OrdoGrid uses. Switching access points or troubleshooting delivery may involve that provider as well as OrdoGrid support.

Not a full accounting suiteNot listed
Low

Document and Peppol workflows are the centre. Buyers needing statutory ledgers still need an accountant tool or ERP alongside OrdoGrid.

Fit

mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)

Best fit when

  • German or EU orgs replacing Gmail/Microsoft 365 for mail and light collaboration under German law
  • Teams that need IMAP/SMTP plus CalDAV/CardDAV and optional custom domains
  • Buyers that will use PGP Guard or S/MIME deliberately for sensitive mail
  • SMEs and schools wanting Drive, browser Office, and Meet without a US hyperscaler
  • Organisations that need multi-seat Admin, DPA, and an automation API

Poor fit when

  • Users who need a permanent free tier
  • Buyers requiring default zero-knowledge mail for every user without crypto setup
  • Teams that must self-host the full stack on their own infrastructure
  • Enterprises whose workflows depend on deep Microsoft Graph or Google Workspace add-ons

Consider instead when

  • When: You need default end-to-end encrypted mail as the primary product

    Consider: Proton Mail or Tuta

    Stronger E2EE-first posture; lighter full workplace suite than mailbox

  • When: You want minimal German privacy email without Drive/Office/Meet

    Consider: Posteo

    Leaner mailbox; fewer collaboration modules

  • When: You need full desktop Office parity and global SaaS integrations

    Consider: Microsoft 365 (incumbent) with separate residency controls

    Different risk and ecosystem tradeoff—not an EU peer

OrdoGrid

Best fit when

  • Belgian freelancers and SMEs exchanging Peppol invoices for in-scope domestic B2B work
  • Teams that want quotes, invoices and customer records in the same browser workspace as Peppol statuses
  • Buyers who need unlimited Peppol receiving with only occasional outgoing send on a free plan
  • Organisations that may later add projects, time tracking, bank import, Stripe links or API access on paid plans
  • Users who need the product UI in English, French, Dutch or German

Poor fit when

  • Companies that must contract a Peppol certified access point operator directly rather than via a SaaS intermediary
  • Teams needing full statutory bookkeeping, multi-entity consolidation or non-Belgian e-invoicing regimes as the core product
  • Buyers requiring published ISO 27001/SOC 2 or an on-site DPA download before first contact
  • Organisations that refuse US-group subprocessors for email, payments, analytics or AI document extraction
  • Self-host or open-source mandate environments

Consider instead when

  • When: You need German craft-business job, quote and invoice workflows with a field app rather than Belgian Peppol

    Consider: DELKARO HANDWERK

    Different country focus and no Peppol-first positioning in the catalog entry.

  • When: You want a French-hosted general office suite (files, email, docs) without Peppol invoicing

    Consider: ArkiaSuite

    Office productivity peer, not an e-invoicing network product.

  • When: You need a broad productivity suite already used company-wide and will bolt Peppol on elsewhere

    Consider: Microsoft 365 or a dedicated Peppol access-point provider

    Suite covers docs/email; Peppol still needs a network path.

Open questions for due diligence

mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)

  • What is the exact current BSI C5 scope, type, and validity period on the attestation document?
  • Which payment processors and any other subprocessors appear in the live AVV annex?
  • What is the default Meet encryption mode (TLS-only vs optional E2EE) for your plan, and is recording available?
  • Which SSO/IdP integrations are supported for your business tier beyond generic SSO mentions?

OrdoGrid

  • What is the registered Belgian legal name and BCE/KBO enterprise number for the contracting entity?
  • Which Peppol certified access point provider is used, and can that chain be named in the DPA?
  • Will OrdoGrid sign a B2B DPA and provide a current subprocessor list under contract?
  • Is OpenAI processing of invoice PDFs optional, and can it be disabled for a tenant?
  • Are backups and database storage also on Hetzner EU regions, or on another cloud?