TL;DR: Fastmail is a fantastic personal email platform, especially if you want privacy and advanced control. But if you’re a team who needs to collaborate on incoming messages without headaches, Jelly is the better option.
Want to see for yourself? Try Jelly for free
Fastmail is a beloved email service for people who want control, privacy, and a no-nonsense email experience. It’s a great platform if you need a personal or professional inbox that isn’t tied to the usual tech giants. But if you’re a small team looking to share an inbox and collaborate on incoming messages, Jelly might be the better fit. Let’s break down the differences.
1. One Inbox vs. Shared Collaboration
Fastmail is, at its core, a personal email platform. You get a fast, reliable email service with advanced features like custom domains, calendars, and contacts. It’s perfect for people who want a better, privacy-friendly inbox.
But when it comes to team collaboration, things get tricky. You can set up shared folders, but there’s no built-in way to claim conversations, leave internal notes, or track who’s handling what.
Jelly, on the other hand, is built for teams. Everyone works from a shared inbox where you can see incoming messages, claim emails for yourself, and leave notes for context. No more duplicate replies. No more wondering if someone else is handling it.
👉 Jelly is for teams. Fastmail is for individuals.
2. Simplicity vs. Feature Overload
Fastmail is packed with powerful features—calendars, aliases, advanced filters, and more. If you’re an email power user, it’s a dream. But if you just want to share an inbox with your team, it can feel like too much.
Jelly is designed to be simple from day one. There are no complex settings to configure. You sign up, forward your email, and start collaborating with your team immediately. If you value ease of use over exhaustive features, Jelly is the simpler choice.
👉 Jelly is simple and collaborative. Fastmail is feature-rich but individual.
3. Pricing: Flat and Fair vs. Tiered and Personal
Fastmail is reasonably priced for personal email. Plans start at $6 per month, but only include a single user account. That’s fine for individuals, but doesn’t help if you’re a team needing shared inbox functionality.
Jelly keeps it simple, starting at $29 per month for your entire team. No per-user pricing. Whether you’re a team of two or twenty, you get full access without paying extra.
👉 Jelly offers simple, flat pricing for teams. Fastmail is built for individual use.
4. Getting Started: Easy vs. Manual Setup
Setting up Fastmail for personal use is straightforward. But configuring a shared inbox? That involves creating folders, managing labels, toggling unread, and working around a system designed for solo users.
With Jelly, you’re ready to go in minutes. Forward your team email address, invite your teammates, and you’re up and running. No complex configuration required.
👉 Jelly is plug-and-play for teams. Fastmail needs workarounds for sharing.
5. Who’s It For?
Use Fastmail if:
- You want a private, fast, and reliable personal email service.
- You love advanced customization for your own inbox.
- You’re managing email solo.
Use Jelly if:
- You need a shared inbox that makes team collaboration easy.
- You want to claim emails, see who is assigned, and track conversations without stepping on each other’s toes.
- You prefer simple, predictable pricing for your whole team.
Why wrestle with workarounds? Give Jelly a try for free and see how simple a shared inbox can be.