Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Microsoft 365 VS FastMail

Compare Microsoft 365 VS FastMail and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Microsoft 365 logo Microsoft 365

Boost your productivity with reliable access anywhere with services like email, calendar, file sharing, meetings, instant messaging, and Office Online

FastMail logo FastMail

Email, calendars, and contacts to highest standards of security, privacy and reliability.
  • Microsoft 365 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-16
  • FastMail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-22

Microsoft 365 features and specs

  • Accessibility
    Office 365 allows users to access their documents and applications from virtually any device with an internet connection, promoting remote and collaborative work.
  • Automatic Updates
    Software updates are automatically rolled out, ensuring that users always have the latest features, security patches, and improvements without needing to manually install them.
  • Integrated Productivity Tools
    The suite includes a wide range of integrated tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive, which streamline workflow and enhance productivity.
  • Cloud Storage
    Microsoft 365 provides cloud storage options through OneDrive and SharePoint, offering users scalable storage solutions and easy file sharing capabilities.
  • Security Features
    The platform includes advanced security features like data encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular security updates to protect sensitive information.
  • Collaboration
    Multiple users can work on the same document simultaneously, with real-time editing and commenting features, which enhances team collaboration and productivity.
  • Scalability
    Different subscription plans are available, allowing businesses of all sizes to choose the appropriate plan based on their needs and scale as they grow.

Possible disadvantages of Microsoft 365

  • Subscription Model
    Office 365 operates on a subscription-based model, which may become expensive over time compared to a one-time purchase of traditional Office software.
  • Internet Dependency
    Some features require an internet connection to function properly. Inconsistent or poor internet access can hinder productivity and limit accessibility.
  • Complexity
    With a vast array of tools and features, some users may find it challenging to navigate and utilize the full potential of the platform without adequate training.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Storing data on cloud services can raise privacy and compliance concerns, especially for organizations dealing with sensitive information.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There may be compatibility issues with older versions of Microsoft Office and other third-party applications, potentially causing disruptions in workflow.
  • Cost
    For small businesses or individual users, the cost of the subscription can be a significant expense, particularly when considering ongoing payments.

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.

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.

Microsoft 365 videos

Office 365 Complete Tutorial Zero to Hero

More videos:

  • Review - What is Office 365
  • Review - The Merger - S3E8 - The Office In Review
  • Review - Performance Review - S2E8 - The Office in Review
  • Review - Checking Out Microsoft Office 365
  • Review - All 9 Seasons of The Office Ranked!
  • Review - Microsoft Office 365 review: Online, offline, any good?
  • Review - 🤷‍♂️ What is Microsoft 365 - Explained

FastMail videos

Fastmail - Email Service Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Microsoft 365 and FastMail)
Office Suites
100 100%
0% 0
Email
0 0%
100% 100
Office & Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Hosted Email
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Microsoft 365 and FastMail

Microsoft 365 Reviews

  1. Always backup your Office 365 data

    Microsoft Office 365 is an amazing software that helps companies establish their business, so a backup is a must since Microsoft is not offering the proper backup.

    🏁 Competitors: Google Docs
    👍 Pros:    Great set of functions
    👎 Cons:    No backup

Top Alternatives to Microsoft Office Suite
In today’s competitive business environment, having the right office suite is crucial for streamlined operations and effective collaboration. While Microsoft Office Suite has been a popular choice, these alternatives offer unique features and cost-effective solutions to cater to your specific business needs. Whether you prioritize real-time collaboration, budget-friendly...
Source: saaszeal.com
112 Best Chrome Extensions You Should Try (2021 List)
Office Editing For Docs, Sheets & Slides is an offline chrome extension that helps you edit Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files without Office installed on your PC. It opens Docx and other files in a new tab instead of downloading them locally.
The BEST Email Hosting Providers for Small Business in 2021
There are 4 deployment steps to set up an account on Microsoft 365 Business. The initial step is acquiring a subscription and assigning Microsoft 365 Business licenses to the user. Then you use the set-up wizard to configure the account. Once you install the Office apps on your devices, the final step is to prepare your PCs by using the Windows AutoPilot.

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 doesn’t provide a free option. Fastmail’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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FastMail should be more popular than Microsoft 365. 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.

Microsoft 365 mentions (13)

  • You Are Already Using Wasm In Production
    If you use Microsoft’s online Office.com suite or the popular Figma graphics tool, you’ve already used Wasm in production. If you’ve used a device to watch streaming services like BBC or Amazon Prime, you’ve already used Wasm in production. In fact, you’re using Wasm in production right now. This website has been powered by server-side Wasm since its initial launch in February of 2022. Our serverless platform for... - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Need to count calls on certain days in certain time slots
    Yes it does change, will not work for 2016, but it works for excel online at office.com, which is free with a microsoft account. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Change SharePoint Start Page for All
    When our users go to office.com, login and click the waffle for SharePoint, I want to change this landing page. Right now, it goes to https://ourdomain.sharepoint.com/_layouts/15/sharepoint.aspx and once users are in SP, if they ever click the home button it will direct them to this page as well. I want to change this to a new site we created that makes browsing our sites and sharing information/events much... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Has anyone seen same behavior with AAD laptops reaching out to internal DCs on ports 88, 389, and 445
    Authentication happens through a 3rd party so when we try to login to office.com with our company accounts it redirect us to this 3rd party company that handles our logins. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Where is the Copilot in Excel?
    I've looked in office.com (using Chrome) and Excel 365 for Mac (Version 16.79). Nothing in the top-right corner except "Analyze Data". And when I try to search for in the the Tell Me or Help menu, it acts like it has no idea what Copilot is. Source: over 1 year ago
View more

FastMail mentions (51)

  • 📨 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 1 year 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: almost 2 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: almost 2 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: almost 2 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: about 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Microsoft 365 and FastMail, you can also consider the following products

LibreOffice - Free office suite, open source, and compatible with .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx files. Updated regularly – download for free. Originally based on OpenOffice.org.

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

Apache OpenOffice - Apache OpenOffice is an open source, office document productivity suite.

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

Google Workspace - Google's encompassing suite of cloud-based business apps.

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