Migadu vs Soverin

Compare Migadu and Soverin on capabilities, jurisdiction, assurance, and fit for European buyers.

Both listed as alternatives to: Gmail, Microsoft 365

Logo: Migadu

Migadu

Switzerland· Email Services

Needs review

Shortlist Migadu when you need Swiss-operated, standards IMAP/SMTP hosting with unlimited addresses across many domains under flat account quotas—especially agencies and multi-domain SMEs. Skip when you need provider E2EE defaults, contractual SLA on the default offer, mailbox 2FA, or bulk/transactional sending; consider Proton Mail/Tuta for E2EE, or mailbox.org/Mailfence/Posteo/Runbox for other European professional-mail tradeoffs.

Swiss operatorUsage-priced multi-domainSMTP/IMAP/POP3Mail hosted in FranceMulti-admin + APINo ads / no tracking
Logo: Soverin

Soverin

Netherlands· Email Services

Needs review

Shortlist Soverin when you want Dutch-operated, paid IMAP email with custom domains, unlimited aliases, and strong mail-auth standards without Google/Microsoft ads. Skip when you need zero-knowledge E2EE—consider Proton Mail or Tuta instead—or a full productivity suite (mailbox.org / Microsoft 365).

NL / EU operatedCustom domainsIMAP / CalDAVNo ads / no trackingISO 27001 (claimed)DANE / DNSSEC
Migadu vs Soverin: Snapshot
FeatureLogo: MigaduMigaduLogo: SoverinSoverin
Country of originSwitzerlandNetherlands
CategoryEmail ServicesEmail Services
Open sourceNoNo
Self-hostedNoNo
HeadquartersSwitzerlandNetherlands
Legal entityMigadu-Mail GmbHSoverin B.V. (Amsterdam); owned by The Sharing Group / TSG Online (Dutch) as of September 2025 acquisition announcement
Governing lawCanton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Swiss Confederation (terms)Not listed
US parent / controlNo known US parentNo known US parent
CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)MediumLow
Hosting / residencyMail servers stated in France (EU). Payment subprocessors Stripe and PayPal (US) for billing data. Full mail infrastructure/backup subprocessor list not published by name on primary pages.Vendor: EU-only processing; data in NL; self-operated Dutch DCs, no hyperscaler. TechRadar: 3 NL DCs. Core mail hosts on Soverin B.V. AS211993. External first-line support partner under DPA/NDA (country unpublished). HIBP k-anon password checks; Let’s Encrypt; domain DNSSEC partner. No AWS/GCP/Azure as primary mailbox hosts in public materials.
Summary

Swiss-operated, standards-based email hosting for custom domains: unlimited addresses and multi-domain accounts priced by usage quotas, not per mailbox.

Dutch privacy-first email hosting: custom domains, open IMAP/SMTP/CalDAV, 25 GB mailboxes, no ads or content scanning, servers operated in the Netherlands.

Tags
At a glance: Migadu vs Soverin
At a glanceLogo: MigaduMigaduLogo: SoverinSoverin
HQ / entityMigadu-Mail GmbH, SwitzerlandNot listed
Founded2014 (vendor About)Not listed
Mail hostingData centers in France (vendor Pro/Cons)Not listed
Commercial modelFlat per-account plans by daily message quotas + soft storageAnnual prepaid; 30-day mailbox money-back; no free tier
Open source product?No — built on open-source stack; service is proprietary SaaSNot listed
Self-hostNoNot listed
OwnershipBootstrapped; no outside capital (vendor claim)Not listed
HQNot listedAmsterdam, Netherlands (Soverin B.V.)
GroupNot listedThe Sharing Group / TSG Online (acq. Sep 2025)
HostingNot listedDutch data centres; vendor claims self-operated, no hyperscaler
ProtocolsNot listedIMAP, SMTP, CalDAV, CardDAV
StorageNot listed25 GB per mailbox (vendor-stated)
Self-host / OSSNot listedNo / No
Key capabilities: Migadu vs Soverin
Key capabilitiesLogo: MigaduMigaduLogo: SoverinSoverin
Swiss operatorYesNot listed
Usage-priced multi-domainYesNot listed
SMTP/IMAP/POP3YesNot listed
Mail hosted in FranceYesNot listed
Multi-admin + APIYesNot listed
No ads / no trackingYesYes
NL / EU operatedNot listedYes
Custom domainsNot listedYes
IMAP / CalDAVNot listedYes
ISO 27001 (claimed)Not listedYes
DANE / DNSSECNot listedYes

Migadu

  • Usage-metered accounts with unlimited addresses

    Plans are flat per Migadu account. Within daily in/out quotas and soft storage guidance, create large numbers of mailboxes and host many domains without per-address fees—useful for agencies and multi-project teams. Soft storage does not hard-bounce mail; sustained over-quota use can force upgrades or limits.

  • Standards SMTP, IMAP4, POP3, and webmail

    No proprietary client protocol. Connect Thunderbird, Apple Mail, Outlook, mutt, and others over TLS (typical endpoints imap.migadu.com:993, smtp.migadu.com:465, pop.migadu.com:995). ManageSieve filtering, aliases, pattern rewrites, identities, footers, auto-responders, and optional catch-alls cover classic postmaster needs. Data remains portable via standard protocols.

  • Multi-domain admin, multi-admin, and beta API

    Agencies can hold many client domains under one roof, open multiple administrators (domain-scoped on higher plans), set per-domain/mailbox limits, and monitor traffic. A REST API (documented as early beta) manages domains, mailboxes, identities, forwardings, aliases, and rewrites for automation. Domain deletion stays UI-only as a safety measure.

  • DNS helpers and postmaster-style support

    Optional built-in DNS ships mail records preconfigured; Migadu also offers DNS setup help at no extra fee and publishes diagnostics/activation flows. Support is ticket-based from people who operate the mail stack—not outsourced chat—with plan-dependent urgency outside office hours.

  • No ads, no product analytics cookies

    Vendor policy states no advertising, no tracking of mailbox content for ads, and no website analytics cookies beyond session needs. Processing is framed for service delivery, abuse prevention, and legal obligations. Payment data still goes to Stripe and PayPal under separate processor terms.

Soverin

  • Custom domains with unlimited aliases

    Host mail on your own domain (bring existing or register through Soverin). Unlimited aliases—plus-addressing or domain names—deliver into one mailbox, plus optional random @sinenomine.email private aliases that hide the real address. Suits freelancers and SMEs who need brandable addresses without per-alias fees.

  • Open IMAP/SMTP plus CalDAV/CardDAV

    Use any standards-based client or device for mail, calendar, and contacts—no proprietary app required. Dashboard import helps migrate from other providers. Ideal when IT wants Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or Outlook without locking into a closed webmail ecosystem; not a zero-knowledge E2EE product by default.

  • Mail-path security: DANE, DKIM, DMARC, IP stripping

    Outbound and inbound paths use TLS; Soverin publishes and honours DANE/TLSA, signs with DKIM, publishes SPF/DMARC, enables DNSSEC on managed domains, and strips personal IP addresses from outbound headers. 2FA is available and can be admin-mandated. Buyers still need their own OpenPGP setup for end-to-end content secrecy with external parties.

  • 25 GB mailboxes with per-user encrypted backups

    Each mailbox includes a stated 25 GB quota covering mail, calendar, and contacts. Nightly backups use individually generated keys; Soverin states that emptying trash permanently deletes data and that leaving the service removes backups when the key is destroyed. Extra mailboxes can share storage for small teams.

  • Multi-mailbox and channel-friendly business use

    Purchase and assign additional mailboxes on a domain, with admin tooling for teams. Soverin markets to hosters, ISPs, MSPs, and independent professionals for multi-mailbox and white-label scenarios—useful when you want Dutch-operated email without building your own mail stack.

Assurance & compliance: Migadu vs Soverin
Assurance & complianceLogo: MigaduMigaduLogo: SoverinSoverin
Independent security / no-logs audit
Not found

Vendor claims no ad scanning/sharing of mail content; no public third-party audit PDF located.

Not found

No public third-party no-logs or full security audit PDF located; privacy claims are first-party.

ISO 27001
Not found

Data centers described as internationally certified; no Migadu-organization ISO 27001 certificate found on primary pages.

Vendor claimed

Vendor states independently audited ISO 27001; certificates available on request via support@soverin.net. Not re-verified against a public registry entry in this pass.

SOC 2 / SOC 3
Not found
Not found

No SOC 2/3 claim found on primary pages reviewed.

GDPR / EU data protection
Vendor claimed

Privacy policy asserts GDPR and Swiss DPA compliance; mail hosted in France per vendor.

Vendor claimed

NL entity; AVG-framed privacy statement; EU-only processing claimed; GDPR Proof messaging on recognitions page.

US CLOUD Act exposure (indicative)
Partial

Swiss entity, no known US parent, mail in France; Stripe and PayPal process payments with US transfers. Infrastructure subprocessors not fully named. EuropeanStack assessment—not a vendor certification. Not legal advice.

Partial

EuropeanStack assessment: low exposure path—Dutch Soverin B.V., Dutch The Sharing Group owner, claimed self-operated NL hosting without public AWS/GCP/Azure mailbox hosts. Partial because residual subprocessors (support partner jurisdiction, domain partners, HIBP hash checks) need buyer confirmation. Not legal advice.

Data processing agreement (B2B)
Vendor claimed

Privacy page states it serves as privacy policy and DPA; confirm suitability with counsel.

Vendor claimed

Privacy statement states it qualifies as an Article 28 AVG processing agreement; other DPAs expressly rejected. Confirm signed annex for enterprise use.

EU AI Act
Not applicable

Email hosting product; not an AI system offering.

Not applicable

Email hosting product; vendor emphasises no AI scanning/mining of mailbox content for ads.

ISO 9001 / ISO 14001Not listed
Vendor claimed

Vendor-claimed quality and environmental certifications; certificates on request.

NIS2 readinessNot listed
Vendor claimed

Vendor markets NIS2 Ready; buyer press also asserts NIS2 compliance—confirm evidence package.

NEN 7510 (healthcare NL)Not listed
Partial

Vendor states NEN 7510 certification is in progress, not completed.

Considerations & known limitations: Migadu vs Soverin
Considerations & known limitationsLogo: MigaduMigaduLogo: SoverinSoverin
US payment subprocessors (Stripe, PayPal)
Medium

Billing-related personal data can transfer to US processors under Migadu’s privacy policy. Mail content path is France/EU per vendor, but payment data is a separate CLOUD Act / transfer surface.

Not listed
Incomplete public infrastructure subprocessor list
Medium

Primary pages name France hosting and certified DCs without a full vendor inventory for compute, storage, and backups. Procurement should request the current list and regions in writing.

Not listed
No E2EE product default; no classic mailbox 2FA
Medium

Standards mail with TLS; vendor recommends user-side OpenPGP for strong content secrecy. IMAP 2FA is not offered; app-specific-style identities are not second-factor MFA.

Not listed
Daily quotas and human-mail policy
Medium

Account-wide daily in/out caps and anti-bulk rules make Migadu unsuitable as a transactional/marketing ESP. Over-limit mail can be deferred or rejected after tolerance.

Not listed
No default SLA on standard plans
Low

Vendor states standard offers lack SLAs; email is treated as asynchronous and occasionally disrupted. Enterprise SLA only via separate commercial discussion.

Not listed
No public independent security audit
Medium

Privacy and no-ad-scanning claims are first-party. No independent audit report found for no-logs or security controls.

Not listed
Not zero-knowledge E2EE by defaultNot listed
Medium

Unlike Proton/Tuta, Soverin is a classic IMAP host. Provider infrastructure can process content for delivery and spam filtering. Practical impact: unsuitable as a drop-in for policies that require provider-blind encryption without extra client crypto.

Unnamed external support partnerNot listed
Medium

Privacy statement discloses a first-line support partner with limited account data under DPA/NDA, but does not publish the partner name or country. Practical impact: add an open diligence item for any regulated workload.

ISO certificates not self-serve publicNot listed
Low

ISO 27001/9001/14001 are claimed with certificates via support rather than a public PDF registry link found in research. Practical impact: procurement should request current attestations before treating certs as verified.

2025 group acquisitionNot listed
Low

The Sharing Group acquisition may change subprocessors, tooling, or brand packaging over time even if continuity is promised. Practical impact: re-check DPA and hosting annex annually.

Email-centric supportNot listed
Low

Public materials emphasise human Dutch-team email support; TechRadar notes no live chat or phone. Practical impact: large orgs needing 24/7 phone SLAs may find coverage thin.

Fit

Migadu

Best fit when

  • Agencies and freelancers hosting many client domains under one account with multi-admin or API provisioning
  • Organizations that want custom-domain mail with standard clients and portable IMAP—not a proprietary suite lock-in
  • Teams tired of per-seat pricing for large address spaces with modest real traffic
  • Buyers who value a small bootstrapped Swiss operator that publishes blunt product limits
  • Setups that need aliases, rewrites, identities, SIEVE, and postmaster-style controls more than collab apps

Poor fit when

  • Primary need is end-to-end encrypted mail by default (Proton Mail, Tuta, or user-side OpenPGP workflows)
  • High-volume transactional, marketing, or bulk outbound mail
  • Requirement for default contractual SLA, phone support, or multi-language admin UI
  • Mandatory mailbox 2FA on every IMAP login
  • Want a free long-term plan or Migadu-branded @provider addresses without owning a domain

Consider instead when

  • When: You need provider-managed end-to-end encryption as the default product promise

    Consider: Proton Mail or Tuta

    Migadu is standards hosting with TLS; content secrecy against the operator is not the design center.

  • When: You want another European professional host with a different admin/encryption/residency package

    Consider: mailbox.org, Mailfence, Posteo, or Runbox

    Compare DPA detail, audit packaging, and whether multi-domain usage pricing still wins for your address sprawl.

  • When: You need full workspace suite (docs, meet, identity) rather than email hosting alone

    Consider: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or Infomaniak-style European suites

    Migadu deliberately stays postmaster-focused.

  • When: You need bulk or high-rate application email

    Consider: A dedicated ESP (not Migadu); Amazon SES is the common Big Tech baseline—pair with EU ESPs if residency matters

    Migadu rate-limits and bans intentional bulk use.

Soverin

Best fit when

  • Individuals and freelancers who want a paid European mailbox on their own domain with any standard mail client
  • SMEs needing several mailboxes, aliases, and CalDAV/CardDAV without adopting Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
  • Teams prioritising Dutch jurisdiction and claimed no-hyperscaler hosting over zero-knowledge E2EE
  • Hosters/ISPs/MSPs evaluating white-label or multi-mailbox Dutch email
  • Buyers who value DANE, DKIM/DMARC, DNSSEC, and IP-header stripping on an open-standards stack

Poor fit when

  • Organisations that require default zero-access / E2EE mail against the provider (use Proton Mail or Tuta)
  • Users seeking a free tier, anonymous cash-only signup, or purely self-hosted open-source mail servers
  • Enterprises needing SSO, eDiscovery archives, phone support SLAs, or a full office suite in one vendor
  • Workloads that depend on US-region mailbox hosting or hyperscale global PoPs

Consider instead when

  • When: You need zero-knowledge E2EE and a privacy-first mobile/web ecosystem

    Consider: Proton Mail or Tuta

    Trade open IMAP convenience for stronger default content secrecy vs the provider.

  • When: You want German-hosted paid mail with broader office-style add-ons

    Consider: mailbox.org or Posteo

    Compare storage, admin features, and payment anonymity (Posteo) against Soverin’s domain/alias model.

  • When: You need Google- or Microsoft-class collaboration and global free consumer mail

    Consider: Gmail or Microsoft 365 / Outlook.com

    Different risk and advertising model; not EU-sovereignty substitutes.

Open questions for due diligence

Migadu

  • What are the current named mail hosting, backup, and ancillary subprocessors and their countries?
  • Can Migadu provide ISO/SOC evidence for the organization or only DC-level certifications?
  • Is an independent security or penetration-test summary available under NDA?
  • Does the privacy-page DPA meet your controller’s mandatory clauses without a separate signed agreement?
  • What encryption-at-rest and key-management practices apply today versus the older public pro/con narrative?

Soverin

  • What is the legal name and country of the first-line support partner, and is a current subprocessor list available under NDA?
  • Can Soverin provide the latest ISO 27001/9001/14001 certificates and scope statements without delay?
  • After The Sharing Group acquisition, are any new group companies (e.g. Mijndomein, Greenhost, Leafcloud tooling) in the mailbox data path?
  • Is NEN 7510 certification complete for healthcare use cases, or still in progress?
  • Which domain registrar(s) handle customer DNSSEC, and where are registry data stored?