What CounterMail does

CounterMail is a Stockholm, Sweden-based secure email provider founded in 2009, offering OpenPGP-encrypted webmail built on 4096-bit RSA keys with client-side encryption executed in the browser via OpenPGP.js. The service is differentiated by a diskless web server architecture (servers boot from CD-ROM with no persistent storage), an additional RSA/AES MITM protection layer beneath standard SSL, anonymous email headers, dynamic aliases, USB key two-factor authentication, and a documented 15+ year history of never logging user IP addresses. The product surface includes a JavaScript webmail interface, IMAP/SMTP access for third-party clients (Thunderbird, Outlook, K-9 Mail, CanaryMail), an XMPP chat server, secure form submission, a password manager (Safebox), and a Tools page for standalone PGP operations.

The company serves privacy-conscious individuals, journalists, whistleblowers, activists, and custom domain owners on a horizontal self-serve basis, with no enterprise tier and no disclosed enterprise customers. Distribution is primarily word-of-mouth within privacy/security communities, supplemented by a 165-entry support knowledge base and an invitation-code gating mechanism introduced in November 2020 to limit bot registrations.

Monetization is via a single premium subscription priced at $19 for three months (~$76/year), which unlocks 4 GB of encrypted storage, IMAP/SMTP access, USB key authentication, XMPP chat, and custom domain hosting; a free trial with restricted outbound delivery also exists. CounterMail is privately held, bootstrapped, and operates without disclosed external funding, headcount, or financial statements. As of the most recent data, all paid premium upgrades are paused due to unspecified "law issues," and Bitcoin payment acceptance for new accounts was disabled in June 2024 citing regulatory complexity. The legal entity (CounterMail.com) is governed by Swedish law and jurisdiction.

Name

CounterMail

Legal name

CounterMail.com

Website

https://countermail.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CounterMail is a Stockholm-based secure email provider offering OpenPGP-encrypted webmail with diskless servers, MITM protection, and zero IP logging, serving privacy-conscious individuals, journalists, and activists since 2009.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Encrypted Email Service

NAICS

Private Mail Centers (561431)

SIC

Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822)

akta.pro primary industry

Email Data Loss Prevention & Encryption (HDADAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Secure/Encrypted Messaging (BPAMACAG), Authentication (MFA/Passwordless/Biometrics) Platforms (BPAMAEAE)

Keywords

• Encrypted email service
• Secure webmail provider
• OpenPGP email encryption
• Privacy-focused email
• End-to-end email security

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Premium Subscription: Paid premium membership providing 4 GB encrypted email storage, IMAP/SMTP access for external email clients, USB key authentication, XMPP chat access, and domain hosting capabilities. Billing is handled automatically for card payments and within one hour for Bitcoin (5+ blockchain confirmations).
2. Domain Option Add-on: Annual fee for using custom domain names with the email service, managed through the domain panel in webmail.
3. Free Trial Account: Free tier with restrictions including limited storage, inability to send email to external domains except secure email and VPN providers, 10-day trial period. All registered accounts currently have extended expiration due to payment system changes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CounterMail provides a secure, encrypted email service using OpenPGP with 4096-bit RSA keys, delivered through diskless web servers running from CD-ROM to eliminate persistent data storage. The service offers client-side end-to-end encryption, anonymous email headers, MITM protection beyond standard SSL, and supports custom domain hosting, XMPP-based encrypted chat, and secure password storage via Safebox. Premium tiers provide IMAP/SMTP access for third-party email clients, expanded storage, and additional authentication options.

Product overview

CounterMail is a secure email service provider offering a unified privacy-focused email platform. The core product is the CounterMail Secure Email service, which combines web-based access via the JavaScript Webmail Interface with premium IMAP/SMTP server access for third-party email clients. The platform architecture includes a webmail client accessible from any browser, plus add-on modules including Domain Option for custom domain hosting, Secure Forms for encrypted web form submissions, XMPP Chat Server for encrypted instant messaging, Safebox for password management, USB Key Authentication for hardware-based two-factor authentication, and a Tools Page providing standalone PGP utilities. The service differentiates through diskless web servers that prevent IP address logging, OpenPGP 4096-bit encryption with end-to-end security, and MITM protection beyond standard SSL.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CounterMail Secure Email Encrypted webmail service using OpenPGP with 4096-bit RSA keys, providing end-to-end email security with diskless web servers, anonymous email headers, and automatic client-side encryption/decryption. Targeted at privacy-conscious individuals.
• Webmail Interface Browser-based webmail client accessible from any browser without software installation. Performs PGP encryption/decryption locally on the user's device, supporting Windows, macOS, and Linux browsers.
• IMAP/SMTP Server Access Premium feature allowing users to access their CounterMail accounts via third-party email clients such as Thunderbird, Outlook, Apple Mail, and mobile email apps over IMAP/SMTP.
• Domain Option Premium add-on allowing users to use their own custom domain names with CounterMail's encrypted email service, including a domain panel for managing aliases and domain users.
• Secure Forms Encrypted form submission service for websites, allowing webmasters to receive encrypted form data without exposing email addresses or managing PGP infrastructure themselves.
• XMPP Chat Server Premium instant messaging service using XMPP protocol with TLS/SSL encryption for secure real-time chat. Accessible via third-party XMPP clients.
• Safebox Secure password manager feature within the webmail interface that stores encrypted credentials for external websites. Premium feature.
• USB Key Authentication Hardware-based two-factor authentication using encrypted keyfiles stored on USB drives for login. Requires at least two USB keys activated and stored in separate locations.
• Tools Page Browser-based utility suite of standalone PGP tools including text encryption/decryption, signature verification, keypair generation, Base64 encoding, hash functions, email obfuscator, and public key search. Available without an account.
• Dynamic Aliases Email pseudonym and alias system that lets users create multiple identities for different purposes, supporting anonymity and reducing spam. Premium feature.

Quantifiable outcome

• No known cryptographic methods exist to break OpenPGP 4096-bit encryption by computational means

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature12 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Hushmail: Hushmail is a Canada-based encrypted email service offering PGP encryption with a focus on healthcare and regulated industries. Direct competitor in the secure email space with similar OpenPGP-based architecture.
• Posteo: Posteo is a Germany-based privacy-focused email provider offering encrypted mailboxes, no logging, and anonymous payment options. Direct peer competing on privacy, encryption, and subscription-based monetization.
• Mailbox.org: Mailbox.org is a Germany-based secure email provider targeting privacy-conscious individuals and businesses, offering PGP encryption, custom domains, and team mailboxes. Competes in the same encrypted email subscription category.
• Runbox: Runbox is a Norway-based secure email provider emphasizing sustainability and privacy, operating on renewable energy. Direct peer in the privacy-focused encrypted email subscription segment.
• Proton: Proton Mail is a leading end-to-end encrypted email provider based in Switzerland, offering OpenPGP encryption, no-log policies, and a broader privacy ecosystem (VPN, Drive, Calendar). Direct competitor serving the same privacy-conscious customer segment with similar OpenPGP-based architecture.
• Tuta (Tutanota): Tuta is a Germany-based encrypted email and calendar provider using its own symmetric/asymmetric encryption protocol. Competes directly with CounterMail in the secure email category with similar consumer focus and subscription model.
• StartMail: StartMail is a Netherlands-based encrypted email service launched by the founders of StartPage, offering PGP encryption with simplified usability. Direct peer in the privacy-focused paid email segment.

Emerging players

• Disroot: Disroot is a Netherlands-based privacy-focused nonprofit offering encrypted email alongside other privacy tools. An emerging smaller-scale player in the same privacy email niche with community-driven ethos.

Broad incumbents

• Zoho Mail: Zoho Mail is part of Zoho's broader business software suite, offering secure email with custom domains and privacy features. A broader incumbent competing for business users seeking private, paid email services.
• Fastmail: Fastmail is an established paid email provider focused on privacy and productivity. While not exclusively encrypted, it offers a no-ads, privacy-respecting alternative with custom domains — a broader incumbent in the paid private email category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CounterMail