Fastmail vs. Runbox

CyberRatz · 22 Dec 2019, 06:28 PM

Hi,

I am a using Fastmail since about more than 15 years, currently with the Standard (Personal Enhanced) plan.
The features and the web interface are very nice.
However from time to time there are downtimes and recently I found out that the customer service is not very fast, it seems that over (Australian) night and on weekends there is no or few staff.
While my fastmail acoount was down (I must admit that it was my own guilt) I made a test account at Runbox in order to receive my mails. The web interface is not as good as Fastmail's but I usually use Thunderbird.
Features seem to be slightly less (or more hidden).
Now my Fastmail account is back again; but as I have noticed in this occation that Email and all the stored data in the account are essential for me so I am thinking how to proceed in the future.

What are your experiences with both providers, comparing them?

My first impression:

Fastmail:
+better webinterface
+more features (?)
+cheaper or better say more quota for the same money (but they seem to rise prices)
-no 24/7 customer service, no phone contact for service
-some downtimes in the past
-servers and HQ located in US or in Australia
-/+... ?

Runbox:
+servers and HQ in Norway
...I heard that they have 24/7 support, is this true? Is there a hotline?
...How about availibility of the system? Are there downtimes?
-webinterface not nice
-less features (?)
-slightly more expensive (are prices stable there?)
+/-...?

Did I forget something? Or can you comment some point?
My main topics are availibilty of customer support and the system itself.

I want to decide which service I will use in the future, I would need the medium plan from Runbox so the price would be similar with fastmail.
Or is it an option to use both, Fastmail as main service and Runbox as backup service?
Runbox seems to offer a feature to mirror other accounts.

Do you have some suggestions and/or comments about this?

Thanks and br
CyberRatz

**ReuvenNY** · 23 Dec 2019, 01:28 AM

There are many factors involved, mostly dependent on your location, budget, and needs.
First, Fastmail's servers are in New York. If you are in the US - it's going to be extremely fast for you.
Both Runbox and Fastmail have been in business for about 20 years. That means there are both mature services.
If you don't mind paying for both - you can't go wrong. For me being in NY Fastmail is much faster and overall offers all the features I need. Runbox is as reliable, but I like more the Fastmail interface.

P.S. I have an account with both.

janusz · 23 Dec 2019, 02:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberRatz

Runbox:
+servers and HQ in Norway
...I heard that they have 24/7 support, is this true? Is there a hotline?
...How about availibility of the system? Are there downtimes?
-webinterface not nice
-less features (?)
-slightly more expensive (are prices stable there?)

Hotline: never heard of....

There is an alternative web interface, Runbox 7. Predictably: loved by some, hated by others.
As an ex-FM user and a current RB one: the former had (I assume still has) more features, mostly ones I'm personally not interested in

guest2k · 23 Dec 2019, 02:57 AM

i've used both, here's my 2 cents:

FM more expensive, more features, bad customer service.

Runbox is stable and decent price, but web interface is out dated.

emoore · 23 Dec 2019, 05:32 AM

Any comparison of the two services is probably going to be heavily influenced by whether you use webmail or a email client. AFAIK RunBox doesn't support CardDAV or CalDAV even in its most expensive plans.

CyberRatz · 23 Dec 2019, 12:51 PM

Hi,
thanks for all the info :-)
I am located in Europe and I rather use an email client than the web interface.
Fastmail is featurewise ok for me, but sometimes it is offline and I noticed that in case of any serious issue you cannot reach anyone fastly.
I also heard that there are privacy issues with servers in US and/or administration in Australia but I am not clear about this yet, will check further.
I think that I will mirror my mailboxes somewhere, I have an offline copy on my PC which saved me during this weekend but this of course is not a secure storage. Also it is just at home, if this problem catches me when I am traveling... ;-(

Br
CyberRatz

Berenburger · 24 Dec 2019, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberRatz

Hi,
thanks for all the info :-)
I am located in Europe and I rather use an email client than the web interface.
Fastmail is featurewise ok for me, but sometimes it is offline and I noticed that in case of any serious issue you cannot reach anyone fastly.
I also heard that there are privacy issues with servers in US and/or administration in Australia but I am not clear about this yet, will check further.
I think that I will mirror my mailboxes somewhere, I have an offline copy on my PC which saved me during this weekend but this of course is not a secure storage. Also it is just at home, if this problem catches me when I am traveling... ;-(

I can't say Fastmail is regularly offline.

http://stats.pingdom.com/w17m1yxzjyin
https://www.fastmailstatus.com

Every now and then every site is down.

CyberRatz · 24 Dec 2019, 04:53 PM

Hi,
not regularly offline but I had several issues in the past, even during several hours. But the larger ones were some time ago.

FredOnline · 24 Dec 2019, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berenburger

I can't say Fastmail is regularly offline.

http://stats.pingdom.com/w17m1yxzjyin
https://www.fastmailstatus.com

Every now and then every site is down.

Also, if Fastmail goes down, you can be assured that it will be quickly mentioned here on the forum, even if Fastmail themselves are a bit slow in reporting.

FredOnline · 24 Dec 2019, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emoore

AFAIK RunBox doesn't support CardDAV or CalDAV even in its most expensive plans.

CardDAV:

https://community.runbox.com/t/annou...ntact-sync/794

CalDAV:

https://blog.runbox.com/2016/07/laun...endar-service/

And more recently:

https://blog.runbox.com/2019/06/runb...r-now-in-beta/

FredOnline · 24 Dec 2019, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CyberRatz

Runbox:
+servers and HQ in Norway
...I heard that they have 24/7 support, is this true? Is there a hotline?
...How about availibility of the system? Are there downtimes?

The Runbox Support team is IMHO much quicker to respond to any queries, and the person answering is usually someone who we (on the forum) have got to know over the years.

There is no telephone hotline, and regarding downtime there have been a few "connection issues" over recent months, but they have been quickly fixed.

Here's a useful status page:

https://status.runbox.com/nodeping/

22 Dec 2019, 06:28 PM	#1
CyberRatz Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 3	Fastmail vs. Runbox Hi, I am a using Fastmail since about more than 15 years, currently with the Standard (Personal Enhanced) plan. The features and the web interface are very nice. However from time to time there are downtimes and recently I found out that the customer service is not very fast, it seems that over (Australian) night and on weekends there is no or few staff. While my fastmail acoount was down (I must admit that it was my own guilt) I made a test account at Runbox in order to receive my mails. The web interface is not as good as Fastmail's but I usually use Thunderbird. Features seem to be slightly less (or more hidden). Now my Fastmail account is back again; but as I have noticed in this occation that Email and all the stored data in the account are essential for me so I am thinking how to proceed in the future. What are your experiences with both providers, comparing them? My first impression: Fastmail: +better webinterface +more features (?) +cheaper or better say more quota for the same money (but they seem to rise prices) -no 24/7 customer service, no phone contact for service -some downtimes in the past -servers and HQ located in US or in Australia -/+... ? Runbox: +servers and HQ in Norway ...I heard that they have 24/7 support, is this true? Is there a hotline? ...How about availibility of the system? Are there downtimes? -webinterface not nice -less features (?) -slightly more expensive (are prices stable there?) +/-...? Did I forget something? Or can you comment some point? My main topics are availibilty of customer support and the system itself. I want to decide which service I will use in the future, I would need the medium plan from Runbox so the price would be similar with fastmail. Or is it an option to use both, Fastmail as main service and Runbox as backup service? Runbox seems to offer a feature to mirror other accounts. Do you have some suggestions and/or comments about this? Thanks and br CyberRatz

23 Dec 2019, 01:28 AM	#2
ReuvenNY Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: New York Posts: 4,259	There are many factors involved, mostly dependent on your location, budget, and needs. First, Fastmail's servers are in New York. If you are in the US - it's going to be extremely fast for you. Both Runbox and Fastmail have been in business for about 20 years. That means there are both mature services. If you don't mind paying for both - you can't go wrong. For me being in NY Fastmail is much faster and overall offers all the features I need. Runbox is as reliable, but I like more the Fastmail interface. P.S. I have an account with both.

23 Dec 2019, 02:57 AM	#4
guest2k Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 530	i've used both, here's my 2 cents: FM more expensive, more features, bad customer service. Runbox is stable and decent price, but web interface is out dated.

23 Dec 2019, 05:32 AM	#5
emoore Essential Contributor Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 280	Any comparison of the two services is probably going to be heavily influenced by whether you use webmail or a email client. AFAIK RunBox doesn't support CardDAV or CalDAV even in its most expensive plans.

23 Dec 2019, 12:51 PM	#6
CyberRatz Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 3	Hi, thanks for all the info :-) I am located in Europe and I rather use an email client than the web interface. Fastmail is featurewise ok for me, but sometimes it is offline and I noticed that in case of any serious issue you cannot reach anyone fastly. I also heard that there are privacy issues with servers in US and/or administration in Australia but I am not clear about this yet, will check further. I think that I will mirror my mailboxes somewhere, I have an offline copy on my PC which saved me during this weekend but this of course is not a secure storage. Also it is just at home, if this problem catches me when I am traveling... ;-( Br CyberRatz

24 Dec 2019, 04:53 PM	#8
CyberRatz Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2019 Posts: 3	Hi, not regularly offline but I had several issues in the past, even during several hours. But the larger ones were some time ago.