mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs web.de

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

Both listed as alternatives to: Gmail

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

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web.de

Germany· Email Services

Needs review

Shortlist web.de when you need mass-market German freemail with DE-sited mail/cloud, E-Mail made in Germany TLS alliance markers, optional PGP/2FA, and a familiar DACH portal. Skip when you need default E2EE, no advertising data path, self-host, or enterprise admin—consider Posteo, mailbox.org, Tuta, or Proton Mail instead.

DE-operated freemailE-Mail made in GermanyGermany data centers (claimed)Optional PGPFreeMail + paid upgradesSaaS only

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Highlighted rows differ between the two products.

mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs web.de: Snapshot
Feature	mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)	web.de
Country of origin	Germany	Germany
Category	Office Productivity Suite	Email Services
Open source	No	No
Self-hosted	No	No
Headquarters	Germany	Germany
Legal entity	Heinlein Hosting GmbH (Berlin; CEO Peer Heinlein)	1&1 Mail & Media GmbH (United Internet AG group)
Governing law	Not listed	Germany / EU GDPR
US parent / control	No known US parent	No known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)	Low	Low
Hosting / residency	Core 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 email and Online-Speicher stored exclusively in Germany in company-owned data centers (E-Mail/Cloud made in Germany). FreeMail monetized via advertising and IAB TCF consent partners; privacy notice allows EEA third-country transfers with Chapter V safeguards. Portal/optional features use additional processors (e.g. search partners, embeds, homepage builder DUDA Inc., ID vendors). No exhaustive public mail-stack subprocessor list found.
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.	German freemail and portal from United Internet’s 1&1 Mail & Media GmbH: FreeMail with DE-sited mail and cloud, E-Mail made in Germany TLS alliance, optional PGP—consumer SaaS, not default-E2EE privacy mail.
Tags	email gdpr productivity privacy german-hosting bsi-c5 iso-27001 collaboration	email gdpr freemail germany cloud-storage consumer saas

At a glance: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs web.de
At a glance	mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)	web.de
HQ	Berlin, Germany	Not listed
Legal entity	Heinlein Hosting GmbH	Not listed
Hosting	Own servers, dual independent Berlin sites	Not listed
Model	Paid subscription SaaS; trial available; no permanent free tier	Not listed
Self-host	No (managed SaaS)	No
Open standards	IMAP/SMTP, CalDAV/CardDAV, WebDAV, PGP, S/MIME	Not listed
HQ / operator	Not listed	1&1 Mail & Media GmbH, Montabaur/Karlsruhe, Germany
Parent group	Not listed	United Internet AG (Germany)
Product type	Not listed	Consumer freemail + portal + cloud (SaaS)
Hosting (vendor claim)	Not listed	Company-owned data centers in Germany
Open source	Not listed	No
Commercial model	Not listed	Ad-supported FreeMail; paid mailbox/cloud upgrades; Consent or Pay

Key capabilities: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs web.de
Key capabilities	mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)	web.de
German-operated	Yes	Yes
Berlin dual-site hosting	Yes	Yes
PGP + S/MIME	Yes	Not listed
BSI C5 Type 1 (claimed)	Yes	Not listed
ISO 27001 (claimed)	Yes	Not listed
Mail + Drive + Meet + Office	Yes	Not listed
E-Mail made in Germany	Not listed	Yes
Optional PGP	Not listed	Yes
FreeMail + paid upgrades	Not listed	Yes
SaaS only	Not listed	Yes

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.

web.de

E-Mail made in Germany alliance transport
Founding member of the German provider alliance (WEB.DE, GMX, 1&1, STRATO, T-Online, freenet). TLS on paths inside the alliance, mail stored in Germany, and green checkmarks on alliance addresses in the compose UI. Does not encrypt content to non-alliance or non-PGP recipients end-to-end by default.
FreeMail + paid upgrades with intelligent inbox
Ad-supported FreeMail with integrated calendar, contacts, and Online-Speicher. Intelligent inbox categorizes newsletters, orders, social, and contracts/subscriptions without duplicating messages; optional package tracking via DHL, DPD, and GLS when consented. Paid tiers expand quotas and reduce ad/tracking friction under Consent or Pay.
Optional PGP and free 2FA
Optional PGP end-to-end encryption for sensitive mail (both parties need keys/compatible clients). Optional free two-factor authentication for account login. Baseline mailbox protection relies on account credentials, spam/virus filters, and TLS—not default E2EE for every message.
Cloud made in Germany Online-Speicher
Mailbox-integrated cloud with browser, app, and desktop access; link sharing and Online Office for documents. Vendor claims exclusive German data-center storage and TLS in transit under Cloud made in Germany. Free tier includes a starter cloud quota; larger capacities are paid add-ons. Not a full Google Drive/OneDrive collab suite.
German consumer portal on the same identity
News, services, WEB.Cent cashback, and optional Deutsche Post letter preview sit beside mail. Useful for personal DACH users; increases advertising and partner surface versus a pure mailbox product. Portal embeds and partners are consent-gated where required.

Assurance & compliance: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs web.de
Assurance & compliance	mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)	web.de
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 no-logs or full security audit package found for FreeMail; alliance pages claim oversight by data-protection function and independent Prüfstellen at a high level only.
ISO 27001	Vendor claimed Vendor states ISO/IEC 27001:2022 on certified-quality and press pages; request current certificate in diligence	Not found No public ISO 27001 certificate page located for the web.de freemail product during research.
SOC 2 / SOC 3	Not found No SOC 2/3 claim found on primary security/cert pages	Not found No public SOC 2/3 report found for web.de FreeMail.
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 German controller (1&1 Mail & Media GmbH); detailed GDPR privacy notice; DE storage claims for mail/cloud. Not a legal certification.
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 EU/German entity and parent; no known US parent; mail/cloud claimed on company-owned DE data centers. Partial because privacy notice allows third-country transfers with safeguards, FreeMail uses ad/TCF partners, and no exhaustive public subprocessor inventory. 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 Consumer freemail focus; no clear self-serve public B2B DPA for FreeMail found. Request under contract if treating as processor for an organization.
EU AI Act	Not applicable Email/collaboration suite, not an AI product core	Not applicable Consumer mail/portal with limited in-product assistants; not an AI-centric product for this checklist.

Considerations & known limitations: mailbox (formerly mailbox.org) vs web.de
Considerations & known limitations	mailbox (formerly mailbox.org)	web.de
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
Ad-financed FreeMail and consent surface	Not listed	Medium FreeMail uses advertising and Consent or Pay. With consent, content may feed interest profiles; FreeMail users cannot drop WEB.DE informiert like paid tiers. Unsuitable where ad-tech processors are banned.
No default end-to-end encryption	Not listed	Medium TLS and alliance transport protection are not content E2EE. Optional PGP only covers willing counterparties. Operator can process plaintext for spam, intelligent inbox, and consented ad analysis.
Limited public audit/cert artifacts	Not listed	Medium ISO 27001, SOC 2, and independent no-logs audits not found on public product pages. Trust rests on German entity, DE hosting claims, and first-party security copy.
Third-country transfers and portal partners	Not listed	Low Privacy notice contemplates non-EEA recipients under Chapter V safeguards. Portal/search/ID/ad features introduce extra processors beyond the mailbox DC story—review consent layer and purpose before sensitive use.
FreeMail inactivity content deletion	Not listed	Low Privacy notice: FreeMail email content may be deleted after more than 180 days without login. Not a durable archive without activity or export.

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

web.de

Best fit when

German consumers who want a familiar .de freemail address with portal news and everyday cloud storage
Secondary personal or family mail where DE operator and DE storage matter more than default E2EE
Users who value intelligent inbox sorting, package tracking, and mobile/desktop access over privacy-maximalist design
Teams comparing Gmail/Outlook.com alternatives on jurisdiction while accepting consumer freemail trade-offs
Buyers already in the United Internet ecosystem (WEB.DE / GMX) who need a consistent DACH brand

Poor fit when

Organizations needing primary business mail with admin console, SSO, and signed B2B DPA as standard
Hard requirements for default end-to-end encryption or zero advertising/tracking surface
Self-hosted or open-source mail stacks you operate yourself
Long-term cold archives on FreeMail (inactivity deletion policy)
Procurement policies that forbid ad-tech partners or third-country transfer language without contract exhibits

Consider instead when

When: You need default E2EE and a privacy-first paid mailbox
Consider: Tuta or Proton Mail
web.de PGP is optional and counterpart-dependent; FreeMail is ad-financed.
When: You want ad-free German/EU mail with strong consumer privacy posture and paid model only
Consider: Posteo or mailbox.org
Less portal monetization; clearer privacy-first product framing than mass freemail.
When: You prefer the same United Internet Mail & Media stack under another brand
Consider: GMX Mail
Nearly aligned trust and capability story; brand and portal mix differ.
When: You need Google/Microsoft-class workspace collab and enterprise compliance packs
Consider: Gmail (Google Workspace) or Outlook.com / Microsoft 365
Trade DE freemail residency story for US-group platforms and deeper admin tooling.

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?

web.de

Will 1&1 Mail & Media sign a B2B DPA and provide a current subprocessor list for mailbox and cloud processing?
Are there ISO 27001, C5, or independent penetration-test summaries available under NDA for Mail & Media freemail infrastructure?
For your use case, is FreeMail with ads acceptable, or must you force paid TrackFree/premium paths and refuse intelligent-inbox/ad consents?
Confirm whether any non-DE backup, support, or analytics processors touch mailbox content beyond the public privacy notice.