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Productivity · head to head

Fastmail vs Mimestream

Fastmail logo

Fastmail

Productivity

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

From
$3/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Mimestream logo

Mimestream

Productivity

Native Mac email client built specifically for Gmail and Google Workspace accounts, and nothing else

From
$4.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Mimestream it only works with Gmail and Google Workspace, so it is entirely useless for anyone with an iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo or other IMAP account.
  • They diverge on capability: Fastmail covers Custom domain hosting, Mimestream covers Native Gmail labels.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fastmail and Mimestream actually diverge.

Attributes where Fastmail and Mimestream differ
AttributeFastmailMimestream
Starting price$3/month$4.99/month
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsMac

Identical on both: pricing model (Per user per month), free tier (No), 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 Fastmail

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

Only in Mimestream

  • Native Gmail labels
  • Gmail filters
  • Fast local search
  • Conversation threading
  • Multiple account support
  • Native macOS integration

What people use each for

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

Fastmail

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

Mimestream

  • A Mac user whose email is entirely Gmail or Google Workspace and wants a faster native alternative to the Gmail web appnot Fastmail
  • Someone who finds Apple Mail handling of Gmail labels and search unreliable or confusingnot Fastmail
  • A Google Workspace user managing multiple accounts who wants them combined in one native menu bar appnot Fastmail
  • A user who wants Gmail-specific filters and search operators without opening a browser tabnot Fastmail

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Mimestream

  • It only works with Gmail and Google Workspace, so it is entirely useless for anyone with an iCloud, Outlook, Yahoo or other IMAP account.
  • It is a subscription with no permanent free tier or lifetime purchase option, so the cost is ongoing for as long as it is used.
  • It is Mac only, so it does nothing for a Windows machine or for mobile email, which still relies on the standard Gmail app or another client.
  • Because it depends entirely on Gmail API access, any change Google makes to that API could affect Mimestream functionality outside the developer control.
  • A user who wants one email client for multiple different providers has to run Mimestream alongside a second app for non-Gmail accounts, rather than consolidating everything in one place.

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Mimestream

$4.99/month
  • Mimestream$4.99/month
    • 49.99 USD per year if billed annually
    • Free trial before purchase
    • Covers multiple Gmail or Google Workspace accounts

Which should you pick?

Choose Fastmail if

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

Choose Mimestream if

  • You need native gmail labels.
  • You work on Mac.
  • You also want gmail filters.
Mimestream review

Questions people ask

Is Fastmail or Mimestream better?
Neither clearly leads. Fastmail starts at $3/month and Mimestream at $4.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fastmail or Mimestream?
Fastmail starts at $3/month and Mimestream at $4.99/month.
Does Fastmail or Mimestream run on more platforms?
Fastmail runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Mimestream runs on Mac.
What is Fastmail best used for?
Fastmail is most often used for someone who wants their email address tied to a domain they own rather than a free provider they do not, a small business wanting hosted mail on its own domain without running mail server infrastructure, a person leaving gmail specifically to stop an ad-funded provider processing their mail, a household migrating several accounts to one paid provider with shared billing. Of those, someone who wants their email address tied to a domain they own rather than a free provider they do not and a small business wanting hosted mail on its own domain without running mail server infrastructure are not what Mimestream is typically brought in for.
What can Fastmail do that Mimestream cannot?
Fastmail covers Custom domain hosting, Masked email, Unlimited aliases, Integrated calendar and contacts. Mimestream covers Native Gmail labels, Gmail filters, Fast local search, Conversation threading.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Mimestream: Does Mimestream work with Outlook or iCloud Mail?

No. It connects only to Gmail and Google Workspace accounts and cannot be used with any other provider.

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.

Mimestream: Is Mimestream free?

No. It is a subscription at 4.99 US dollars a month or 49.99 dollars a year, with a free trial but no permanent free tier.

Fastmail: Can I use my own domain?

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

Mimestream: Is it available on iPhone or iPad?

No. Mimestream is a Mac-only native app with no iOS version.

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