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Productivity · head to head

Bluemail vs Fastmail

Bluemail logo

Bluemail

Productivity

Free multi-account email client from Blix with unified inbox, smart filters and calendar

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Fastmail logo

Fastmail

Productivity

Paid email hosting with custom domains, calendar and contacts, run without ad-based revenue

From
$3/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bluemail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bluemail its AI features are minimal next to Spark or Canary, so users specifically wanting AI drafting or summaries will find it thin.; Fastmail it does not provide end-to-end encryption by default, so users specifically wanting zero-knowledge mail should compare it against Proton Mail or Tuta rather than assume parity.
  • They diverge on capability: Bluemail covers Unified inbox, Fastmail covers Custom domain hosting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bluemail and Fastmail actually diverge.

Attributes where Bluemail and Fastmail differ
AttributeBluemailFastmail
Starting priceFree$3/month
Pricing modelquotePer user per month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Productivity).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Bluemail

  • Unified inbox
  • Smart filters
  • Colour-coded accounts
  • Integrated calendar
  • Snooze and reminders
  • Business tier

Only in Fastmail

  • Custom domain hosting
  • Masked email
  • Unlimited aliases
  • Integrated calendar and contacts
  • Migration tools
  • JMAP support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bluemail

  • Someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inboxnot Fastmail
  • A user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by handnot Fastmail
  • An IT team evaluating a lower-cost alternative to Outlook for a mixed-provider organisationnot Fastmail
  • A budget-conscious user who does not need AI drafting or PGP encryption, just consolidationnot Fastmail

Fastmail

  • Someone who wants their email address tied to a domain they own rather than a free provider they do notnot Bluemail
  • A small business wanting hosted mail on its own domain without running mail server infrastructurenot Bluemail
  • A person leaving Gmail specifically to stop an ad-funded provider processing their mailnot Bluemail
  • A household migrating several accounts to one paid provider with shared billingnot Bluemail

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bluemail

  • Its AI features are minimal next to Spark or Canary, so users specifically wanting AI drafting or summaries will find it thin.
  • The interface exposes a large number of settings and toggles, which makes initial setup slower than more opinionated clients.
  • Business pricing is not published, so an organisation has to go through a sales conversation to learn total cost.
  • Free-tier support is largely community forum and help articles rather than direct responsive support.
  • Some optional cloud features, such as certain sync and backup functions, have historically required a paid add-on despite the base app being free.

Fastmail

  • It does not provide end-to-end encryption by default, so users specifically wanting zero-knowledge mail should compare it against Proton Mail or Tuta rather than assume parity.
  • Moving to Fastmail is a real migration with DNS changes for a custom domain, unlike installing a client such as Spark or Bluemail over an existing account.
  • There is no free tier at all, so a user just wanting to try it commits to a paid trial rather than a permanently free option.
  • Storage limits on the entry Basic plan are modest next to the free allowance Gmail gives, and heavy attachment users will need Standard or above.
  • Being based in Australia means it falls under Australian data access law, which some privacy-focused buyers weigh differently from Swiss or German jurisdictions used by Proton Mail and Tuta.

Pricing, plan by plan

Bluemail

Free
  • Bluemail$undefined/month
    • Free for individual use, unlimited accounts
    • Business tier priced per seat, contact sales
    • Optional cloud sync add-ons

Fastmail

$3/month
  • Basic$3/month
    • 6GB storage
    • No custom domain support
    • Core mail, calendar and contacts
  • Standard$5/month
    • 60GB storage
    • Custom domain support
    • Masked email and aliases
  • Professional$9/month
    • 150GB storage
    • Multiple custom domains
    • Priority support

Which should you pick?

Choose Bluemail if

  • You need unified inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want smart filters.
Bluemail review

Choose Fastmail if

  • You need custom domain hosting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
  • You also want masked email.
Fastmail review

Questions people ask

Is Bluemail or Fastmail better?
Neither clearly leads. Bluemail starts at Free and Fastmail at $3/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bluemail or Fastmail?
Bluemail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bluemail and $3/month for Fastmail.
Does Bluemail or Fastmail run on more platforms?
Bluemail runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Fastmail runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows.
Can I use Bluemail for free?
Yes. Bluemail has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fastmail starts at $3/month.
What is Bluemail best used for?
Bluemail is most often used for someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inbox, a user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by hand, an it team evaluating a lower-cost alternative to outlook for a mixed-provider organisation, a budget-conscious user who does not need ai drafting or pgp encryption, just consolidation. Of those, someone with five or more email accounts across providers who wants one free unified inbox and a user who wants automatic mail sorting without configuring rules by hand are not what Fastmail is typically brought in for.
What can Bluemail do that Fastmail cannot?
Bluemail covers Unified inbox, Smart filters, Colour-coded accounts, Integrated calendar. Fastmail covers Custom domain hosting, Masked email, Unlimited aliases, Integrated calendar and contacts.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bluemail: Is Bluemail really free?

Yes, for individual use with unlimited accounts; the paid tier is Blue Mail for Business, aimed at teams.

Fastmail: Is Fastmail a client like Spark, or does it host my email?

It hosts the mailbox itself; there is no separate provider underneath it the way Spark sits over Gmail.

Bluemail: Does it support Gmail and Outlook together?

Yes, it unifies accounts from any of the major providers plus generic IMAP and SMTP in one inbox.

Fastmail: Does Fastmail offer end-to-end encryption?

Not by default in the way Proton Mail or Tuta do; its privacy position rests on being subscription-funded rather than ad-funded.

Bluemail: Does it have AI features like Spark or Canary?

Only basic smart filtering; it does not offer AI drafting or thread summarisation at the level of those competitors.

Fastmail: Can I use my own domain?

Yes, from the Standard plan up, with full alias and masked email support.

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