Mailfence is a Belgian encrypted email service with a focus on security and privacy that offers OpenPGP based end-to-end encryption and digital signatures for usage in emails.{{Cite web |last=Tschabitscher |first=Heinz |date=16 January 2025 |title=The ultimate guide to secure email services for 2025: Top picks and features |url=https://www.lifewire.com/secure-email-services-8774358 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250120004450/https://www.lifewire.com/secure-email-services-8774358 |archive-date=20 January 2025 |access-date=20 January 2025 |website=Lifewire}}{{Cite web |last=Blechynden |first=Daniel |date=12 November 2020 |title=Mailfence secure email review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/mailfence |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908131211/https://www.techradar.com/reviews/mailfence |archive-date=8 September 2024 |access-date=9 March 2025 |website=TechRadar}} It was launched in November 2013 by ContactOffice Group, which has been operating an online collaboration suite since 1999.{{Cite web |last=Javed |first=Kanza |date=16 March 2023 |title=Mailfence vs. ProtonMail: Which Is more secure? |url=https://www.makeuseof.com/mailfence-vs-protonmail-which-is-more-secure/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203041745/https://www.makeuseof.com/mailfence-vs-protonmail-which-is-more-secure/ |archive-date=3 February 2025 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=MakeUseOf}}

History

= Development =

The Mailfence project began development in 2013 by the founders of ContactOffice.

In March 2016, a beta version of end-to-end encryption and digital signatures for emails was released.{{cite web |last=De Schutter |first=Patrick |date=10 March 2016 |title=BETA launch of a pure end-to-end encrypted email solution that gives you full control |url=https://blog.mailfence.com/beta-launch-of-the-first-pure-end-to-end-encryption-service-that-gives-you-full-control/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214020014/https://blog.mailfence.com/beta-launch-of-the-first-pure-end-to-end-encryption-service-that-gives-you-full-control/ |archive-date=14 December 2024 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Mailfence Blog}}

== Mobile interface ==

In January 2021, Mailfence released a progressive web application for mobile devices.{{cite web |last=De Schutter |first=Patrick |date=14 January 2021 |title=Launch of Mailfence mobile app |url=https://blog.mailfence.com/launch-mobile-app/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216211347/https://blog.mailfence.com/launch-mobile-app/ |archive-date=16 February 2025 |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Mailfence Blog}}

= Block in Russia =

On 5 March 2020, Mailfence reported that their SMTP servers were being blocked by Russian-based email services. This had followed their refusal to respond to a request by the Roskomnadzor to collaborate with and provide information to the Russian government. Mailfence claimed that agreeing to the request would violate both its own privacy policy and Belgian law.{{cite web |last=De Schutter |first=Patrick |date=5 March 2020 |title=Mailfence email servers blocked in Russia |url=https://blog.mailfence.com/email-servers-blocked-russia/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911193727/https://blog.mailfence.com/email-servers-blocked-russia/ |archive-date=11 September 2024 |access-date=11 September 2024 |website=Mailfence Blog}}