Mailo vs web.de

Compare Mailo and web.de on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.

Both listed as alternatives to: Gmail, Outlook.com

Logo: Mailo

Mailo

France· Email Services

Needs review

Shortlist Mailo when you want French-entity freemium webmail with classic IMAP/EAS clients, integrated calendar/cloud, supervised Mailo Junior for kids, or Pro custom domains for SMEs—without US Big Tech accounts. Skip when you need default zero-knowledge E2EE, open-source/self-host, or a full Workspace-class suite; consider Tuta, Proton Mail, or Infomaniak kMail instead.

France-hosted (claimed)Freemium webmailMailo JuniorIMAP / ActiveSyncPro custom domainsOptional PGP (server-side)
Logo: web.de

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
Mailo vs web.de: Snapshot
FeatureLogo: MailoMailoLogo: web.deweb.de
Country of originFranceGermany
CategoryEmail ServicesEmail Services
Open sourceNoNo
Self-hostedNoNo
HeadquartersFranceGermany
Legal entityMAILO SAS (capital €75,000; RCS Créteil 851585547; VAT FR44851585547)1&1 Mail & Media GmbH (United Internet AG group)
Governing lawFrench law (terms of use)Germany / EU GDPR
US parent / controlNo known US parentNo known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)MediumLow
Hosting / residencyVendor states user personal data and content are stored/processed on servers in France; specialised French host centre (who-we-are); website hosted by Ecritel, Arradon, France. Named third parties: Verifone/Paybox (payment email), PayPal option, Gandi/Netim (domains), Sirdata + ad agencies (free-tier ads), optional Rainbow video and OnlyOffice. Full mail DC/backup subprocessor list not published.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

French freemium webmail and Mail&Cloud suite (MAILO SAS): email, calendar, cloud disk, Mailo Junior for children, and Pro custom domains—hosted in France, proprietary SaaS.

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
At a glance: Mailo vs web.de
At a glanceLogo: MailoMailoLogo: web.deweb.de
HQ / entityMAILO SAS, France (RCS Créteil 851585547)Not listed
Hosting (claimed)Servers in France; website host Ecritel (FR)Not listed
ModelFreemium SaaS (Free / Premium / Pro / Junior / Edu)Not listed
Open sourceNo (proprietary MailObject®)No
Self-hostNoNo
Encryption defaultTLS + optional server-side PGP (not ZK E2EE)Not listed
HQ / operatorNot listed1&1 Mail & Media GmbH, Montabaur/Karlsruhe, Germany
Parent groupNot listedUnited Internet AG (Germany)
Product typeNot listedConsumer freemail + portal + cloud (SaaS)
Hosting (vendor claim)Not listedCompany-owned data centers in Germany
Commercial modelNot listedAd-supported FreeMail; paid mailbox/cloud upgrades; Consent or Pay
Key capabilities: Mailo vs web.de
Key capabilitiesLogo: MailoMailoLogo: web.deweb.de
France-hosted (claimed)YesNot listed
Freemium webmailYesNot listed
Mailo JuniorYesNot listed
IMAP / ActiveSyncYesNot listed
Pro custom domainsYesNot listed
Optional PGP (server-side)YesNot listed
DE-operated freemailNot listedYes
E-Mail made in GermanyNot listedYes
Germany data centers (claimed)Not listedYes
Optional PGPNot listedYes
FreeMail + paid upgradesNot listedYes
SaaS onlyNot listedYes

Mailo

  • French-hosted webmail with IMAP, EAS, and classic protocols

    Webmail plus IMAP4 for clients, Exchange ActiveSync for mobile sync, and POP3 on paid tiers; SMTP relay with account credentials. Vendor states mail and content stay on servers in France. Free tier is ad-supported with lower quotas; Premium unlocks POP3, more aliases, and larger mail/cloud caps. Suits teams that need standard desktop/mobile clients rather than a closed proprietary app only.

  • Mailo Junior supervised email for children

    Child accounts (about ages 6–14) only exchange mail with contacts a parent or teacher validates. Age-adapted mini/junior UIs, no ads on Junior, optional promotion to a standard account while keeping the address. Separate Junior mobile apps. Unique fit for families and schools versus generic consumer mail.

  • Calendar, virtual disk, and open sync protocols

    Shared calendars and tasks, address book, photo albums, and a virtual disk for files with WebDAV/FTP access. CalDAV and CardDAV for external clients. Premium+ can unlock OnlyOffice in-browser editing. Better as an all-in-one Mail&Cloud for SMEs/families than bare IMAP-only privacy mail.

  • Mailo Pro spaces: custom domains and mutualised storage

    Pro Start/5/Modulo style plans share mail+cloud quota across accounts, support custom domains (register, transfer, or declare external), distribution lists, mailbox sharing, resource calendars, and manager tooling. Priority Pro hotline with documented acknowledgement and restoration targets for Pro subscriptions. Aimed at TPE/PME, associations, and municipalities—not a full Google Workspace clone.

  • Optional server-side PGP and account security controls

    Built-in PGP/MIME encrypt and sign in the webmail as a trusted third party (keys managed on Mailo for multi-device convenience). Two-factor authentication, application passwords, connection history, and guardianship-style access options. Not zero-knowledge E2EE by default—use external client crypto if the provider must never hold keys.

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: Mailo vs web.de
Assurance & complianceLogo: MailoMailoLogo: web.deweb.de
Independent security / no-logs audit
Not found

Charter claims no commercial reading of messages; automated AV/spam scanning on servers. No public third-party audit PDF found.

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
Not found

No ISO 27001 claim found on legal/security/primary pages researched.

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 report referenced on public product pages.

Not found

No public SOC 2/3 report found for web.de FreeMail.

GDPR / EU data protection
Vendor claimed

French controller; privacy rules cite GDPR and French correspondence secrecy; DPO at dpo@mailo.com; France storage claim.

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 entity / no known US parent / France-claimed mail hosting, but Verifone and PayPal (US-group) on payment path; full infra subprocessors unpublished. 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)
Not found

Privacy rules and terms cover processing; no standalone public B2B DPA download found—request via DPO or Pro channel.

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

Traditional email/cloud suite; not marketed as an AI system product.

Not applicable

Consumer mail/portal with limited in-product assistants; not an AI-centric product for this checklist.

Considerations & known limitations: Mailo vs web.de
Considerations & known limitationsLogo: MailoMailoLogo: web.deweb.de
PGP is server-side trusted third party
Medium

Webmail PGP holds keys on Mailo for multi-device use. Provider-access risk differs from zero-knowledge E2EE defaults at Tuta/Proton. Use external crypto if that is a hard requirement.

Not listed
Incomplete public subprocessor inventory
Medium

Privacy rules name payments, domains, and free-tier ads, but not a full list of mail storage, backup, or anti-spam infrastructure vendors. Request annex for B2B risk review.

Not listed
US-group payment processors
Low

Checkout shares email with Verifone/Paybox; PayPal is also offered. Limited to billing path per privacy rules, but relevant to CLOUD Act diligence.

Not listed
Free tier third-party advertising
Low

Mailo Free shows ad banners via agencies under IAB TCF consent (Sirdata CMP). Premium removes ads. Ad cookies stated as not tied to Mailo profile.

Not listed
No public ISO/SOC or independent security audit
Medium

Security posture relies on first-party statements and internal measures. Procurement teams may need questionnaires or NDA evidence.

Not listed
Free accounts deleted after inactivity
Low

Mailo Free unused for 365 days can be deleted with content loss. Premium/Pro have different retention rules—plan backups and renewals.

Not listed
Ad-financed FreeMail and consent surfaceNot 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 encryptionNot 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 artifactsNot 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 partnersNot 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 deletionNot 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

Mailo

Best fit when

  • EU individuals and families wanting French-hosted mail with calendar and cloud disk in one account
  • Parents/schools needing supervised child email (Mailo Junior) with contact allow-lists
  • French SMEs, associations, and municipalities needing custom domains and mutualised Pro storage
  • Teams that depend on IMAP, EAS, CalDAV, CardDAV, or WebDAV rather than a locked-in app
  • Buyers who accept freemium ads on free tier or low-cost Premium rather than pure prepaid anonymity mail

Poor fit when

  • Orgs that require default end-to-end encryption with zero-access provider architecture
  • Buyers that need open-source server code or official self-hosting
  • Enterprises needing SOC 2 / ISO 27001 evidence already published on a trust centre
  • Heavy Google Workspace / Microsoft 365 collaboration suites (docs/drive ecosystem depth)

Consider instead when

  • When: You need zero-knowledge / default E2EE webmail

    Consider: Tuta or Proton Mail

    Mailo PGP is optional and server-side trusted third party

  • When: You want German privacy mail with different encryption/product posture

    Consider: Posteo or mailbox.org

    Compare protocols, storage bundles, and business features side by side

  • When: You need Swiss multi-product cloud with mail plus broader suite

    Consider: Infomaniak kMail

    Different country stack and product breadth

  • When: You need US Big Tech ecosystem integration at any cost

    Consider: Gmail or Microsoft 365 / Outlook.com

    Trade EU entity and France residency claims for ecosystem depth

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

Mailo

  • Will Mailo sign a GDPR Article 28 DPA with a full subprocessor and transfer annex for Pro customers?
  • What is the named primary data-centre operator and backup/DR location beyond the France and Ecritel website-host statements?
  • Is there an independent penetration test, ISO 27001 roadmap, or customer-available security whitepaper?
  • Where is Rainbow (video) and OnlyOffice data processed relative to the France mail claim?
  • Current UGAP / public procurement listing status for French public buyers?

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.