Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenPGP VS Mailvelope

Compare OpenPGP VS Mailvelope 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.

OpenPGP logo OpenPGP

The most widely used email encryption standard. Defined in RFC 4880.

Mailvelope logo Mailvelope

Mailvelope open source project. OpenPGP in your browser.
  • OpenPGP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-22
  • Mailvelope Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-20

OpenPGP features and specs

  • Interoperability
    OpenPGP is an open standard that's widely supported across various platforms and software, making it possible to work with many different clients and systems.
  • Security
    OpenPGP uses strong cryptographic algorithms to provide confidentiality, integrity, and authentication for communications, offering robust protection against data breaches and snooping.
  • Email Encryption
    OpenPGP is particularly well-known for its ability to encrypt emails, which is crucial for maintaining privacy in digital communication.
  • Authentication and Verification
    It provides a mechanism for signing messages, which can authenticate the sender and verify data integrity, reducing the risk of forgery and tampering.
  • Data Portability
    As an open standard, OpenPGP ensures that data encrypted or signed with one application can be decrypted or verified by another supporting application, preventing vendor lock-in.

Possible disadvantages of OpenPGP

  • Complexity
    The setup and usage of OpenPGP can be complex for non-technical users, involving key generation and management, which could lead to misuse or errors.
  • Key Management
    Maintaining and securing private keys can be cumbersome, and losing a private key can make encrypted data irretrievable.
  • Lack of Forward Secrecy
    OpenPGP does not inherently offer forward secrecy, meaning that if a private key is compromised, previous communications encrypted with the corresponding public key could be decrypted.
  • Integration Challenges
    Integrating OpenPGP into existing systems and workflows can be challenging, especially in environments that have not previously supported encryption.
  • User Adoption
    Even though OpenPGP is widely supported, its adoption among general users remains limited, which can lead to difficulties in communicating securely with others who do not use it.

Mailvelope features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Mailvelope offers an intuitive interface, making it easy for users to encrypt and decrypt their emails directly within their webmail client.
  • Integration with Webmail
    Mailvelope seamlessly integrates with popular webmail services like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook, enhancing email security without needing to change email providers.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, Mailvelope's code can be reviewed and audited by the community, ensuring transparency and enhancing trust in its security.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    As a browser extension, Mailvelope can be used on any operating system that supports the Chrome or Firefox web browsers, providing flexibility for users across different platforms.
  • PGP Encryption
    Mailvelope uses PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) encryption, which is a well-respected method of securing email communications, ensuring messages remain private between sender and recipient.

Possible disadvantages of Mailvelope

  • Requires Technical Knowledge
    Users need a basic understanding of public-key cryptography and PGP to effectively use Mailvelope, which may be challenging for non-technical users.
  • Limited to Webmail
    Mailvelope is specifically designed for webmail services, so it may not be suitable for those who use desktop email clients.
  • Manual Key Management
    Users are responsible for generating, managing, and sharing their encryption keys, which can be cumbersome and prone to user error.
  • No Support for Attachments
    Mailvelope does not natively support encrypting email attachments, which may require additional steps for users who need to send files securely.
  • Potentially Vulnerable to Browser Exploits
    As a browser extension, Mailvelope may be vulnerable to browser-based security threats, such as malicious extensions or exploits that could compromise its functionality.

OpenPGP videos

No OpenPGP videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Mailvelope videos

Mailvelope Demonstration

More videos:

  • Review - Rob Fuller Shows Us Weaknesses With Mailvelope, Hak5 1417.3

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenPGP and Mailvelope)
Security & Privacy
72 72%
28% 28
Email
0 0%
100% 100
Cloud Storage
100 100%
0% 0
Email Clients
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenPGP seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 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.

OpenPGP mentions (4)

  • WKD on custom domains
    You're trusting the service (openpgp.org seems to be the only server offering this?) to serve up your correct key. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Verification Key? OpenPGP and Keys, How to acquire Verification Code
    Hello, I used openpgp.org to create a set of pgp keys, and I tested them out and all is well. I went to a web site and uploaded my pub key fine, but now it asks for a Verification Code/Key? What is that, and how do I get that off my newly created PGP keys? Thanks. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Future of Key-Pools
    Not sure, but it looks like keys.openpgp.org is up. I found a keyserver still running where I could find my public key (this one: http://pgp.mit.edu/) and uploaded it to the openpgp.org one. This seems rather recent; there's a related post on r/GnuPG. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Keyservers are gone
    Anyways; it looks like openpgp.org is trying to get on the right side of these crowds ... Source: almost 4 years ago

Mailvelope mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenPGP and Mailvelope, you can also consider the following products

Skizzle Email - Skizzle is the most secure way to share end-to-end encrypted files through email, backed by blockchain

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

OpenPGP Keyserver - Pool of places to publish and search OpenPGP public keys.

Tutanota - Get your encrypted mailbox for free.

Virtru - Virtru is your data privacy force field, wrapping and protecting emails and files wherever they're shared. Easy-to-use data security software for business. People also askIs Virtru Hipaa compliant?

Enigmail - Security extension to Mozilla Thunderbird and SeaMonkey