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Productivity · head to head

Fastmail vs Spark Mail

Fastmail logo

Fastmail

Productivity

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

From
$3/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Spark Mail logo

Spark Mail

Productivity

AI-assisted email client from Readdle with a Smart Inbox and team collaboration features

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Spark Mail has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Spark Mail several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.
  • They diverge on capability: Fastmail covers Custom domain hosting, Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fastmail and Spark Mail actually diverge.

Attributes where Fastmail and Spark Mail differ
AttributeFastmailSpark Mail
Starting price$3/monthFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web

Identical on both: pricing model (Per user per month), 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 Spark Mail

  • Smart Inbox
  • AI Copilot
  • AI Summaries
  • Team collaboration
  • Send later and snooze
  • Multi-account unified inbox

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 Spark Mail
  • A small business wanting hosted mail on its own domain without running mail server infrastructurenot Spark Mail
  • A person leaving Gmail specifically to stop an ad-funded provider processing their mailnot Spark Mail
  • A household migrating several accounts to one paid provider with shared billingnot Spark Mail

Spark Mail

  • A freelancer juggling Gmail and Outlook accounts who wants one AI-assisted inboxnot Fastmail
  • A small support team sharing a single inbox with internal notes before replyingnot Fastmail
  • Someone who wants drafts and summaries generated without switching to a new mail hostnot Fastmail
  • A user who wants notification triage without writing their own filtersnot 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.

Spark Mail

  • Several sync features route mail metadata and, for some features, credentials through Readdle servers, which is a materially different trust model from a local-only IMAP client.
  • It is a client over accounts you still pay for elsewhere, so the total cost is Spark plus whatever Gmail, Outlook or Fastmail plan you already hold.
  • The free tier lacks AI Copilot and summaries, so the features it is best known for sit behind the paid plan.
  • Team features are basic next to dedicated shared-inbox tools like Front or Help Scout, so a support team scaling past a few agents will likely outgrow it.
  • Windows and Android versions have historically lagged the macOS and iOS apps in feature parity.

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

Spark Mail

Free
  • BasicFree
    • Unlimited accounts
    • Smart Inbox
    • Basic send later
  • Premium$7.99/month
    • AI Copilot and summaries
    • Unlimited snooze and send later
    • Priority support
  • Premium Teams$10/month
    • Shared inboxes
    • Delegation and internal comments
    • Admin controls

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 Spark Mail if

  • You need smart inbox.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want ai copilot.
Spark Mail review

Questions people ask

Is Fastmail or Spark Mail better?
Neither clearly leads. Fastmail starts at $3/month and Spark Mail at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fastmail or Spark Mail?
Spark Mail has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $3/month for Fastmail and Free for Spark Mail.
Does Fastmail or Spark Mail run on more platforms?
Fastmail runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. Spark Mail runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Spark Mail for free?
Yes. Spark Mail has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Fastmail starts at $3/month.
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 Spark Mail is typically brought in for.
What can Fastmail do that Spark Mail cannot?
Fastmail covers Custom domain hosting, Masked email, Unlimited aliases, Integrated calendar and contacts. Spark Mail covers Smart Inbox, AI Copilot, AI Summaries, Team collaboration.

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.

Spark Mail: Does Spark host my email?

No. It is a client that connects to Gmail, Outlook, iCloud or any IMAP account; you still need a mail host.

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.

Spark Mail: Does Spark store my email credentials on its servers?

For some features, including cross-device snooze and send-later sync, yes. It is part of how those features stay consistent across devices.

Fastmail: Can I use my own domain?

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

Spark Mail: Is there a one-time purchase option?

No, Spark is subscription only for individuals and teams; the base client is free but AI and unlimited scheduling need Premium.

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