Gmail and Outlook dominate the email market

Gmail and Outlook are the leading email services in Europe, but their dominance raises concerns about data control, privacy, and national sovereignty. According to a 2025 study by Validity, Gmail holds 37.7% of the French market, followed by Outlook at 18.3%, and Orange at 9.2%. Several national providers also operate in the market, including SFR, Free, and La Poste.

Risks of relying on American email services

Philippe Lenoir, co-founder of the French email service Mailo, highlights the risks of depending on American platforms. He references the case of Nicolas Guillou, a French judge who lost access to major services in 2025 after authorizing arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. This illustrates the potential for service disruption and data control issues.

Legal frameworks and data transmission

The Cloud Act of 2018 allows American companies to transmit data stored in Europe under certain conditions. During a Senate hearing in June 2025, a Microsoft France official admitted that French data might be shared with U.S. authorities without French approval. Concerns also exist about how data is used for artificial intelligence, with Lenoir stressing the need to protect personal information.

Choosing an independent email service

Selecting an independent email provider involves more than just server location. Lenoir warns that users must consider who owns the technology, the service’s dependencies, and the applicable laws. Dante Emilio Grassi advises checking the ownership structure, as the company’s headquarters and owner may be in different countries.

Portability and reversibility of data

Users should ensure they can recover and transfer their data freely between platforms. Recommended alternatives include Mailo, Infomaniak, Tuta, and Proton. Orange, SFR, Free, and La Poste are not considered the most advanced options, as they are often tied to mobile or cloud subscriptions.

Proton Mail's encryption and legal obligations

Proton Mail, a Swiss email service launched in 2014, offers end-to-end encryption between users. However, it may be required to share metadata with authorities, as seen in 2021 and 2024. Since 2024, a Swiss foundation holds the majority of its shares, but environmental details about the service remain limited.

Infomaniak's environmental transparency

Infomaniak, another Swiss provider, offers a free email with 20 gigabytes of storage and uses renewable energy in its data centers. It publishes detailed environmental data, including carbon balances and life cycle analyses. A foundation holds the majority of voting rights since 2026, but its encryption is not as strong as Proton Mail’s.

Tuta's open-source approach

Tuta, a German email service founded in 2011, emphasizes technological independence. Its code is open source, and messages are encrypted end-to-end. Data is stored in Germany using renewable energy. However, less information is available about its environmental impact and user experience.

Mailo's French independence

Mailo, a French company established in 1998, offers email services built on its own technology without relying on American cloud providers. Data is stored in a French data center powered by renewable energy. Mailo guarantees not to use user data for advertising or sell it. Free plans are becoming ad-free, with subscription options starting at 1.50 € per month.

Ecomail's partial reliance on American infrastructure

Ecomail, launched in 2016 in France, donates a portion of its revenue to environmental causes and operates without ads or data resale. However, it still uses the American service Mailchannels for some outgoing emails, showing that even French hosting may not ensure full technological independence.