# Fastmail vs Criptext Secure Email

The clearest difference is rating: Criptext Secure Email at 4.7 against Fastmail's 3.8. Criptext Secure Email also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (56% vs 48%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fastmail sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $6.49 per month. Criptext Secure Email asks for nothing beyond the download.

Criptext Secure Email holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 572 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of Fastmail's written reviews are positive against 56% of Criptext Secure Email's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fastmail | Criptext Secure Email |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (572 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmail-email-and-calendar/id931370077/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/criptext-secure-email/id1377890297/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 572 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 48.0% of reviews | **56.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 18 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.4 | **11.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fastmail Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/931370076) | [Criptext Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/913104597) |

## What reviewers say

### Fastmail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fastmail-email-and-calendar/id931370077)

Manage your email, contacts, and calendar with a privacy-focused service. Offers powerful search, inbox decluttering tools, and customizable gestures for efficient communication. Seamlessly syncs across devices and supports open standards.

**Highlights:** Offline access to email, Powerful search with refinement, Inbox decluttering tools, Customizable swipe gestures, Seamless calendar syncing, Shared address books, Privacy-first, no ads or tracking

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fastmail Monthly Plan | $6.49 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🔥 Excellent email service
- 💯 Great customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app with frequent crashes
- 🔍 Lacking offline support
- 🔀 Confusing navigation and UI
- 🔋 Poor battery life
- 💤 Slow app performance

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen on app launch
- Notification badges not updating correctly
- Delayed email delivery
- Unreliable swiping gestures
- Disappearing toolbar buttons

**Requested features**

- Offline email access
- Customizable notification sounds
- Integration with native iOS apps
- Dark mode support
- Multiple account management


### Criptext Secure Email

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/criptext-secure-email/id1377890297)

This email service prioritizes your privacy with end-to-end encryption and no data collection. Your inbox is stored solely on your device, ensuring only you and your recipients can access your messages. The open-source nature allows for verification of its security claims.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, No data collection, Local inbox storage, Open source code, Easy to use interface

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Clean and intuitive UI
- 💡 Unique features like read receipts
- 🌐 Multi-platform support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- ⚠️ Unreliable email delivery
- 📤 Issues with attachments and file transfers
- 🕰️ Slow customer support response times
- 🚫 Unable to sign up or create new accounts

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes on startup
- Sync issues between devices
- Emails not received or delayed
- Attachment upload/download failures
- Password reset problems

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Advanced search and filtering
- Calendar and task management integration
- Improved backup and export options
- Support for more email providers and aliases


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fastmail free?

Fastmail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Criptext Secure Email free?

Criptext Secure Email is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Fastmail or Criptext Secure Email?

Criptext Secure Email is rated higher. Fastmail averages 3.8 out of 5 from 572 ratings, while Criptext Secure Email averages 4.7 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Fastmail or Criptext Secure Email have ads?

Neither Fastmail nor Criptext Secure Email shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fastmail or Criptext Secure Email?

Fastmail ships an update every 3 weeks, and Criptext Secure Email every 3 weeks. Most recently, Fastmail was updated on September 25, 2026 and Criptext Secure Email on September 12, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*