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Productivity · head to head

Fastmail vs tldraw

Fastmail logo

Fastmail

Productivity

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

From
$3/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
tldraw logo

tldraw

Productivity

Open-source infinite canvas whiteboard and React SDK for drawing applications

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only tldraw 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.; tldraw production SDK use requires a license key; the dual licensing model means open-source development is free but commercial deployments are not
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Fastmail and tldraw actually diverge.

Attributes where Fastmail and tldraw differ
AttributeFastmailtldraw
Starting price$3/monthFree
Pricing modelPer user per monthfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, WindowsWeb, Browser, React

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 Fastmail

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

Only in tldraw

Nothing recorded that Fastmail does not also cover.

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

tldraw

  • Collaborative whiteboarding for distributed teams (internal tool alternative to Miro)not Fastmail
  • Developer SDK for building custom design tools and diagramming platformsnot Fastmail
  • Wireframing and UX prototyping applicationsnot Fastmail
  • Integrating drawing capabilities into larger applications (CMS, collaboration tools, learning platforms)not Fastmail
  • AI-powered drawing assistants and generative design toolsnot Fastmail
  • Educational applications and interactive learning environmentsnot 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.

tldraw

  • Production SDK use requires a license key; the dual licensing model means open-source development is free but commercial deployments are not
  • Limited ecosystem of community plugins; third-party extensibility less mature than some competitors
  • Multiplayer functionality requires custom backend implementation; real-time sync is not fully managed by tldraw
  • Mobile touch experience is functional but less optimised than desktop; precision drawing on tablets is challenging

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

tldraw

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the tldraw review.

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 tldraw if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Browser, React.
tldraw review

Questions people ask

Is Fastmail or tldraw better?
Neither clearly leads. Fastmail starts at $3/month and tldraw at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Fastmail or tldraw?
tldraw has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $3/month for Fastmail and Free for tldraw.
Does Fastmail or tldraw run on more platforms?
Fastmail runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows. tldraw runs on Web, Browser, React.
Can I use tldraw for free?
Yes. tldraw 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 tldraw is typically brought in for.
What can Fastmail do that tldraw cannot?
Fastmail covers Custom domain hosting, Masked email, Unlimited aliases, Integrated calendar and contacts.

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.

tldraw: Is tldraw free to use?

The tldraw web application is free and open-source. SDK development (creating applications using tldraw) is free in development; production deployments require a license key purchased from tldraw Labs.

Source
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.

tldraw: Can I host tldraw on my own servers?

Yes. tldraw can be self-hosted. The web application is open-source; multiplayer functionality requires you to implement or host your own backend (e.g., WebSocket server for real-time sync).

Source
Fastmail: Can I use my own domain?

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

tldraw: Can I embed tldraw into my application?

Yes. The tldraw SDK is a React library providing drawing capabilities for custom applications. Development is free; production use requires a license key from tldraw Labs.

Source
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