Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FastMail VS Evolution

Compare FastMail VS Evolution and see what are their differences

FastMail logo FastMail

Email, calendars, and contacts to highest standards of security, privacy and reliability.

Evolution logo Evolution

Apps/Evolution - GNOME Wiki!
  • FastMail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22
  • Evolution Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-10

FastMail features and specs

  • Privacy-Focused
    FastMail is known for its strong commitment to user privacy. They do not serve ads or sell user data to third parties, providing a more secure email experience.
  • Feature-Rich
    The service offers a variety of features such as email filtering, calendar integration, and contact management, making it a versatile choice for both personal and professional use.
  • Custom Domain Support
    Users can use their own custom domains with FastMail, which is particularly useful for businesses and advanced users.
  • Fast and Reliable
    FastMail lives up to its name by offering quick email delivery and a reliable, responsive user interface.
  • Support and Documentation
    FastMail provides robust customer support and has extensive documentation to help users troubleshoot issues and make the most out of the service.

Possible disadvantages of FastMail

  • Cost
    FastMail is a paid service, which might deter some users who are accustomed to free email services like Gmail or Yahoo.
  • Limited Free Tier
    Unlike some competitors, FastMail does not offer a free tier, meaning users have to commit financially from the get-go.
  • No E2E Encryption
    FastMail does not provide end-to-end encryption by default, which may be a drawback for users seeking maximum security for their communications.
  • Complex Interface for Beginners
    While feature-rich, the interface may be overwhelming for users who are not technically inclined or are new to email management.
  • Limited Integration
    FastMail may not integrate as smoothly with some third-party services and applications when compared to giants like Google Workspace or Microsoft Office 365.

Evolution features and specs

  • Feature-Rich
    Evolution provides a comprehensive suite of tools including email, calendar, contacts, tasks, and memo features integrated into a single application.
  • Integrations
    Seamlessly integrates with GNOME desktop environment and other GNOME apps, providing a cohesive user experience on GNOME-based systems.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source software, Evolution allows users to access the source code, enabling customizations, and community-driven enhancements.
  • Supports Multiple Email Protocols
    Supports a variety of email protocols such as IMAP, POP, SMTP, and Exchange, which makes it compatible with a wide range of email services.
  • Security Features
    Includes enterprise-grade security features like GPG encryption and S/MIME, ensuring secure email communications.

Possible disadvantages of Evolution

  • Resource Intensive
    Evolution can be heavy on system resources, which might affect performance, especially on older or less powerful hardware.
  • Complex Setup
    The initial setup and configuration can be complex and time-consuming, especially for users who are not familiar with email protocols and server settings.
  • GNOME Dependency
    Evolution is tightly integrated with the GNOME environment, and it might not work as seamlessly or look as visually cohesive on other desktop environments.
  • Limited Proprietary System Support
    Support for proprietary email systems like Microsoft Outlook might not be as robust or straightforward compared to commercial solutions.
  • Learning Curve
    The abundance of features and options can present a steep learning curve for new users who might find the interface overwhelming.

Analysis of FastMail

Overall verdict

  • FastMail is an excellent choice for users seeking a reliable, privacy-focused email provider with a range of features that enhance productivity and data security.

Why this product is good

  • FastMail is considered a good email service due to its strong privacy features, user-friendly interface, and reliable performance. It is an independent email provider that doesn't rely on ad revenue, which enhances user privacy. The service offers robust security measures, including two-factor authentication and PGP encryption support, making it a trustworthy option for users concerned about data protection. Additionally, FastMail provides useful organizational tools, such as custom folders, rules for sorting emails, and integrated calendars and contacts, which help users manage their communications effectively.

Recommended for

    FastMail is recommended for individuals and businesses who value privacy and security in their email communications, as well as those looking for an ad-free, user-friendly email service with solid organizational tools. It's particularly suitable for users who require reliable performance and are willing to pay a subscription fee for enhanced features and privacy assurances.

Analysis of Evolution

Overall verdict

  • Evolution is a good choice for users looking for a free and open-source solution that provides comprehensive email and productivity features. Its long-standing history within the GNOME ecosystem and continuous updates make it a reliable option.

Why this product is good

  • Evolution is a robust email and calendar application that integrates various functions like email management, calendar scheduling, contact management, and task handling into one seamless interface. It's particularly useful for users who rely on these functions heavily and want them integrated into a single application. Additionally, it supports multiple protocols and can integrate with various email services such as Gmail, Outlook, and Exchange, making it highly versatile.

Recommended for

    It is recommended for Linux users who prefer an integrated suite of productivity tools, especially if they use the GNOME desktop environment. It's also a great option for anyone who needs advanced email management and scheduling capabilities without resorting to proprietary software solutions.

FastMail videos

Fastmail - Email Service Review

Evolution videos

Evolution Movie Review

More videos:

  • Review - Review : Evolution (2015)
  • Review - Evolution Review - Off The Shelf Reviews

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FastMail and Evolution)
Email
73 73%
27% 27
Hosted Email
100 100%
0% 0
Email Clients
47 47%
53% 53
Enterprise Communication
84 84%
16% 16

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare FastMail and Evolution

FastMail Reviews

The Top 4 ProtonMail Alternatives
Fastmail is a great alternative to Protonmail because of its focus on security, but unlike other offerings, it doesnโ€™t provide a free option. Fastmailโ€™s approach to emailing will feel familiar to users of Gmail which can be beneficial with its ease of use. Their offerings focus on the personal and business side of email use with three tiers on each side.
The BEST Email Hosting Providers for Small Business in 2021
By choosing FastMail, the host will allow you to email from an address that matches your business website. You can create up to 100 your own domains ([email protected]) and 600 aliases ([email protected]). FastMail will also allow you to use one inbox to send and read mail from every alias and if you encounter some problems, FastMail will deliver great assistance from their...
Moving away from GMail
Fastmail was my top choice, from a usability perspective and I read many good reviews of it. It ticks all the boxes, at a cost of 50$ per year. I evaluated it a year ago, but because the construction of my house started, I put the email migration project on hold.
Source: rolisz.ro
Have a private email account
Use Fastmail, Posteo, Mailbox, or any similar service where you actually pay $1-$3 per month and in return get a completely ad-free spam-free wonderful email experience.
Source: sivers.org
15 Best Email Hosting for Small Business (2019)
In case you want to migrate away from FastMail or make backup of your data, you can download all your data on FastMail.

Evolution Reviews

We have no reviews of Evolution yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FastMail seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 51 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FastMail mentions (51)

  • ๐Ÿ“จ Building your Email API with Fastmail for free!
    Have you ever wondered how to host an email system without paying even a single penny? Well, this blog will guide you through the process of building your own email system on Node.js with the integration of fastmail.com. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Staying logged in/remembering cookies in specific containers only?
    Hi, I have recently added a few exceptions to cookie auto-deletion, e.g. To ensure my email provider (fastmail.com) remains logged in. However, for other parties who I do not trust, such as Google, I don't want to remember cookies 99% of the time. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Domains and Email hosting
    Used to use MXRoute but noticed emails to Gmail and other providers were not getting through. Switched over to Fastmail highly recommend it. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Chrome extension for managing your masked emails is now available!
    I too use a catchall address... And I'm always disappointed when Fastmail doesn't take all of the addresses that I get email sent to, and turn them into masked emails automatically! I guess masked emails are for people who dont have a custom domain and want to use their fastmail.com address, with some kind of email forwarding. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Looking to change hosting services, forget $5 fees!
    I'm personally partial to fastmail.com for a conventional business email provider that respects privacy and has a common sense 'good enough' configuration for the vast majority of small businesses. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Evolution mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Evolution yet. Tracking of Evolution recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FastMail and Evolution, you can also consider the following products

ProtonMail - Secure email with absolutely no compromises. Get your free encrypted email account today.

Thunderbird - Thunderbird is a free email application that's easy to set up and customize - and it's loaded with great features!

Zoho Mail - Zoho Mail is a secure, encrypted, and enterprise-ready email solution, a suite of apps tailor-made for your organization's needs.

Microsoft Outlook - Organize your world. Outlookโ€™s email and calendar tools help you communicate, stay on top of what matters, and get things done.

Gmail - Gmail is available across all your devices Android, iOS, and desktop devices. Sort, collaborate or call a friend without leaving your inbox.

eM Client - eM Client is a fully-featured email client for Windows and macOS with a clean and easy-to-use interface. eM Client also offers features for calendars, tasks, contacts, notes, and chat.