They say, "If you aren't paying for the product, you are the product." With Gmail, this is literally true. Google scans your receipts, your trips, and your conversations to build an ad profile on you.
Fastmail offers the opposite promise: You pay them, and they serve you. No ads, no tracking, just blazing fast email. But is it worth paying $5 a month for something you can get for free? In this Fastmail review, we moved our entire domain to Fastmail to find out.
Quick Summary
Email, Solved.
Fastmail lives up to its name. The interface is instant, the search is powerful, and the "Masked Email" feature (integrated with 1Password) is a game-changer for avoiding spam. It is the perfect middle ground between the spying of Gmail and the complexity of Proton.
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What Fastmail Actually Does
Fastmail is an independent email host. It replaces Gmail or Outlook entirely.
You can use their (excellent) web app and mobile app, or you can connect it to Apple Mail/Outlook. Unlike Proton Mail, which encrypts everything so heavily that it breaks third-party apps, Fastmail uses standard protocols—just faster and more private than the big tech giants.
Core Features
How to Use Fastmail — Workflow
The feature that makes Fastmail worth the money is Masked Email. We use it to protect our main inbox from spam.
- The Setup: We linked Fastmail to our 1Password account (Bitwarden also works).
- The Sign-Up: When signing up for a new tool (like Gamma), we clicked the "Email" field. 1Password popped up and offered to "Create Masked Email."
- The Result: It generated `[email protected]`.
- The Benefit: If Gamma sells our data and we start getting spam, we simply block that one specific address. Our real email (`ajit@`) remains clean.
Example Use Cases
Who Fastmail Is Best For
- Privacy Conscious: People who want to de-Google their life but still want a normal email experience.
- Custom Domain Users: It handles multiple domains and aliases better than any other provider.
- 1Password Users: The integration is seamless and addictive.
Who Should Avoid Fastmail
- Whistleblowers: Fastmail encrypts data at rest, but they can access it if subpoenaed (Australian law). If you need zero-knowledge encryption, use Proton.
- Free Seekers: There is no free tier. If you won't pay for email, this isn't for you.
Pricing & Plans
- 2 GB Storage
- Masked Emails
- Calendars & Contacts
- No Custom Domains
- 30 GB Storage
- Use Your Own Domain
- Outlook/Mobile Sync
- Group Calendars
How Fastmail Compares (vs Proton & Gmail)
| Feature | Fastmail | Proton Mail | Gmail (Free) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Privacy | High (No Ads) | Maximum (Encrypted) | Low (Ad Profiling) |
| Speed | Fastest (JMAP) | Slow (Decryption) | Fast |
| 3rd Party Apps | Yes (Easy) | Hard (Bridge required) | Yes |
| Cost | $5/mo | $4/mo (limited) | Free |
Limitations & Reality Check
- No Encryption at Rest (Zero Knowledge): Fastmail manages your keys. This allows for great features (fast search, spam filtering), but it means they theoretically could read your email if forced by law. Proton does not have this ability.
- Spam Filtering: It is good, but Google's spam filter is still the world champion. You might see 1-2 more spam emails per month on Fastmail.
Best Practices: "The Catch-All"
Don't just use one email address.
Pros & Cons
- Blazing fast interface (feels instant).
- Masked Email feature stops spam forever.
- Excellent mobile app (better than Apple Mail).
- You are the customer, not the product.
- Not "End-to-End Encrypted" like Proton.
- No free tier (only 30-day trial).
- Basic plan ($3) doesn't allow custom domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fastmail secure?
Yes. They use strong encryption for data in transit and at rest. They are compliant with Australian privacy laws. However, they are not "Zero Knowledge" like Proton Mail.
Can I use my own domain?
Yes, on the Standard plan ($5/mo) and above. The setup wizard is excellent and guides you through updating your DNS records.
Does it work with Outlook or Apple Mail?
Yes. Fastmail supports standard IMAP/SMTP and JMAP protocols, so you can add your account to almost any email client seamlessly.
Is it easy to migrate from Gmail?
Extremely. Fastmail has an import tool. You log in to your Google account, and it pulls over all your old emails, folders, and contacts in the background.
Does it have a calendar?
Yes, a fully featured calendar that supports invites, time zones, and syncing. It is often cited as better than Google Calendar for power users.
Final Verdict
If you are paranoid about government spies, use Proton Mail.
But if you just want a fast, private, and professional email service that respects your data and works perfectly with your phone, Fastmail is the best choice. It is the service I personally use for TrakSource.
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