An alternative email address with more security and privacy and sustainable green electricity? That can be useful for your Slotsgem login, and there is one! We have tracked down secure, green email providers, namely Posteo, Mailbox and Tuta. One of them is even free with the basic plan.
There are many email providers, but there are only a few reputable sustainable email addresses – and when there are, they are almost always chargeable. The typical price is usually 1 euro per month, but you are spared advertising and minimize environmental damage in return.
Criteria for Sustainable Email Providers
Electricity from renewable energy sources is one of the most critical factors when assessing an email provider’s sustainability, so only green electricity should be used on the business premises and the servers. In addition, the company behind the email service should conduct its business via sustainable banks.
Although freedom from advertising is only a tiny sustainability factor, in the sense that advertising spam is an unnecessary waste of energy, it is simply part and parcel of a reputable email provider: Who wants intrusive promotional newsletters and advertising pop-ups when using webmail? Besides sustainability, every email service should have a specific range of functions and high-security standards.
Posteo: The greener email address for everyone
The alternative email provider Posteo (posteo.de) offers a feature-rich and ad-free inbox. The inbox has 2 GB of storage space and can be accessed via IMAP and POP3 connections. Extras include a mail collection service, calendar, address book and two additional e-mail addresses (“aliases”). Two-factor authentication and the option to encrypt the mailbox, including attachments and calendar data, ensure greater security. Posteo discloses how often authorities wanted access to mailboxes in a transparency report.
Posteo is committed to sustainability, data protection and encryption. The email provider obtains green electricity from Green Planet Energy and works with money via eco-banks such as GLS Bank and Umweltbank. Posteo states that it does not travel by air for business purposes. Employees get their bicycles repaired free of charge and additional vacation days if they choose not to fly during their private vacation. A comprehensive sustainability concept, the transparency of which we would also like to see in other web services and which was awarded the Climate Mobility Prize by Deutsche Bahn in 2023.
Sustainable email address: secure, ad-free provider with green electricity
The webmail interface of the email provider Posteo.de is very tidy. Stiftung Warentest 10/2016 awarded Posteo.de a test score of “very good” in a comparison of email addresses alongside Mailbox.org. The test praised the email functions, the handling of user data, the security functions, and the handling. It also found almost nothing wrong with Posteo.de’s small print. Regarding email functions, posteo.de scored slightly better than Mailbox.org in this test. Since then, Stiftung Warentest has no longer carried out an email comparison. In December 2016, posteo.de was the first email provider to receive certification by the BSI “Secure Email Transport” guideline.
Server with green electricity from Green Planet Energy
2 GB storage
2 aliases
Webmail/IMAP/POP3
1 euro per month
Conclusion on Posteo.de: Anyone who has had enough of the usual free e-mail addresses and is looking for a transparent, sustainable, ad-free, alternative e-mail provider for private use should give Posteo.de a try.
Mailbox: The alternative email address for business
The alternative email address from Mailbox (Mailbox.org) is at least as enjoyable. For 1 euro per month, you get an ad-free mailbox with a 2 GB inbox and three additional mail aliases on the cheapest Light plan. If you want to access it from outside, you can do so via IMAP and POP3. The Light tariff already includes essential functions. Such as an address book and calendar, and the address can also be used for decentralized single sign-on (ID4me support).
The standard 3 euros per month tariff offers 10 gigabytes of mail storage and a few other functions. For example, simple but practical office applications such as a text program and a spreadsheet. Including cloud storage, can be accessed via OX Drive (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS). You can also connect mailbox.org to your domain using the standard plan (via MX records).
Mailbox also offers a premium plan for 9 euros per month. This provides more storage (25 GB mail and 50 GB cloud) and prioritized support.
There is no lack of security with the email provider. Mailbox.org supports one-time passwords and two-way authentication. Encryption is a top priority when accessing the mailbox and exchanging with other email services. The mailbox can also be encrypted with PGP. mailbox.org also offers special tariffs for professional users. With more storage space, separate email accounts for employees, shared document storage for texts and spreadsheets, plus group appointment management.