3 mailboxes
SHIPMAIL
$4/mo
Fastmail
$15/mo
SHIPMAIL costs less than a third of Fastmail for the same mailbox count.
Fastmail vs SHIPMAIL: full comparison for small teams
If you work alone and want fast, private email, Fastmail is a strong pick. If your team needs shared inboxes and flat pricing, SHIPMAIL is the better fit. They are both good email products solving different problems.
Fastmail: polished individual email with calendar, $5/user/mo
SHIPMAIL: team email with shared inbox, $4/mo flat for 3 mailboxes
The gap: Fastmail has no shared inbox or flat pricing. SHIPMAIL has no masked email aliases.
When SHIPMAIL is the better choice
SHIPMAIL is the better choice when the team collaborates on shared addresses. If support@, hello@, or billing@ need to be managed by more than one person, Fastmail does not offer that. SHIPMAIL builds shared inbox into the product.
Flat pricing also helps teams that have more mailboxes than people. Adding a role address on SHIPMAIL does not increase the bill. On Fastmail, every mailbox is another seat.
When Fastmail is still the better choice
Fastmail is the better choice for individuals who want a fast, private email experience with a polished interface. Search is excellent, the keyboard shortcuts are well thought out, and Fastmail has a 25-year track record of reliability.
If the team does not need shared inboxes and everyone works from their own private mailbox, Fastmail is a premium individual email host that earns its price.
Verdict
For teams, SHIPMAIL. For solo users, Fastmail. The deciding factor is whether shared inbox collaboration is part of the daily workflow.
| Factor | SHIPMAIL | Fastmail |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat plan pricing | Per-user pricing |
| Entry cost | $4/mo for 3 mailboxes | $5/user/mo |
| Shared inbox | Built in | Not available |
| Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Custom domains | Included | Included |
| Best fit | Small teams with shared operational inboxes | Solo users and privacy-conscious individuals |
Pricing breakdown
Last verified March 2026
5-person team
SHIPMAIL
$9/mo
Fastmail
$25/mo
SHIPMAIL Pro includes shared inbox. Fastmail has no shared inbox at any price.
10 mailboxes
SHIPMAIL
$9/mo
Fastmail
$50/mo
Flat pricing vs per-user pricing makes a 5x difference at this scale.
FAQ
Questions worth answering.
Common questions about choosing between SHIPMAIL and Fastmail.
- Is Fastmail better for solo users?
- In most cases, yes. Fastmail's interface, calendar, and privacy features make it one of the best individual email hosts available.
- Why would a team switch from Fastmail to SHIPMAIL?
- Shared inboxes. Once the team needs collaborative access to support@ or similar addresses, Fastmail has no solution. SHIPMAIL handles it natively.
- Does SHIPMAIL have a calendar?
- Yes. SHIPMAIL includes calendar (CalDAV) and contacts (CardDAV). Both sync with Apple Calendar, Thunderbird, and other standard apps.
Internal links
Related
More on SHIPMAIL pricing, use cases, and how it handles shared inboxes.