Posteo
Ad-free, green-powered encrypted email from Germany — an ethical alternative to Gmail.
Overview
Posteo is a Berlin, Germany-based European company building email and privacy software since 2009. As an EU-headquartered provider, Posteo operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to Gmail and Outlook 365 for European teams.
Why European teams pick Posteo
Teams in Europe pick Posteo when they want a email provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Germany law, operating since 2009. Compared with Gmail and Outlook 365, Posteo avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
See more EU email tools or browse other startups from Germany.
About
Posteo is an independent email provider from Berlin offering encrypted, ad-free email powered 100% by renewable energy. No personal data is collected and payment can be made anonymously.
Details
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Berlin, Germany
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Frequently asked questions
What is Posteo?
Posteo is an independent email provider from Berlin offering encrypted, ad-free email powered 100% by renewable energy. No personal data is collected and payment can be made anonymously.
What does Posteo do?
Posteo is ad-free, green-powered encrypted email from germany — an ethical alternative to gmail. It is listed under email and privacy on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European email tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from Gmail and Outlook 365.
Is Posteo a good European email alternative?
Posteo is a fit for European businesses evaluating email options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with privacy use cases.
Is Posteo GDPR compliant?
Posteo is headquartered in Berlin, Germany and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it processes user data under the GDPR by default. Customer data processing is supervised by Germany's data protection authority, the Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI). Because the company is not US-incorporated, it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel Posteo to disclose customer data the way they can with Gmail and Outlook 365. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from Gmail to Posteo?
Most teams move to Posteo from Gmail and Outlook 365 because they want EU data residency without giving up the core email workflow. Posteo's Germany base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot Posteo with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need is confirmed.
Where is Posteo based?
Posteo is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The company was founded in 2009. Its main website is https://posteo.de.