Best Email Encryption Software (2026): Top 9 Compared

Virtru adds end-to-end encryption to Gmail and Microsoft Outlook and extends it to files shared through Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams. Virtru states that 6,100 customers use the product.

Starter covers encrypted email and attachments for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, expiry dates and revocation, security rules that protect shared data automatically, and a signed business associate agreement. Business adds encrypted file sharing, custom branding, audit data delivered to SIEM and SOAR tools, Google Vault integration for eDiscovery, and compliance support that Virtru lists for CCPA, CJIS, EAR, GDPR, HIPAA and FERPA.

The Compliance package is aimed at regulated industries and government contractors. Virtru lists CMMC, DFARS 7012 and ITAR support, a FedRAMP moderate authorisation, FIPS 140-3 validated encryption, private key hosting with Google Workspace client-side encryption, secure workspaces and 450 GB of pooled storage. Enterprise adds SaaS integrations such as Zendesk and Salesforce and an optional Data Gateway for endpoint data.

Paubox is an email security and compliance product for healthcare. It works as an addition to an existing Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 account, and Paubox states that setup takes about 15 minutes.

Standard encrypts every outbound email by default using what Paubox describes as patented blanket TLS encryption. Messages arrive in the recipient's inbox without a portal, password or plug-in. Standard also includes secure calendar invites from Outlook and Google Workspace, domain-level protection that adds new senders on the domain automatically, signable encrypted forms, and HITRUST certification. Paubox includes a business associate agreement with all accounts and offers US-based phone and email support.

Plus adds inbound protection against spam, ransomware and phishing, display-name spoofing protection called ExecProtect+, and transcription of audio attachments. Premium adds archiving with search and export, unlimited storage for inbound and outbound email, and data loss prevention rules that block messages containing sensitive data, including in attachments.

Proofpoint sells encryption as part of Email DLP and Encryption, which runs through the Proofpoint email gateway. The product combines detection of sensitive data with automatic responses, including encryption.

Detection uses prebuilt identifiers, custom dictionaries, data classes and content analysis to find PII, PHI, PCI data and intellectual property in messages and attachments. Proofpoint lists image and scanned-document analysis and document fingerprinting that matches full or partial copies of sensitive files. Policies can then block, quarantine, route, encrypt or alert.

Encryption can be triggered by sender, recipient, destination, message attributes or attachment type, and LDAP and Active Directory integration targets rules by group or department. Proofpoint describes no-touch key management, transparent encryption with trusted partners on compatible gateways, and recipient access through a web portal or browser. Outlook add-ins let users send and read encrypted mail, and Smart Send routes policy violations back to the sender or data owner for review.

Microsoft Purview Message Encryption is an online service built on the Azure Rights Management service, part of Microsoft Purview Information Protection. It encrypts email and attachments sent from Exchange Online.

Senders can apply rights management templates, the Encrypt-only option or Do Not Forward, which stops recipients forwarding, copying or printing. Administrators can create Exchange mail flow rules that encrypt automatically, for example every message to a given recipient or containing certain words in the subject.

Microsoft states that Outlook users on desktop, Mac, mobile and the web read encrypted mail natively, even when they are in a different organisation. Recipients on Gmail or Yahoo receive a wrapper message that links to an encrypted message portal, where they sign in with a Microsoft, Gmail or Yahoo account. Users of other mail clients also read messages through the portal.

Microsoft Purview Advanced Message Encryption builds on the base service with multiple branding templates and automatic policies that detect sensitive information types, such as personal, financial or health identifiers.

OpenText Core Email Encryption is the current form of the Zix encryption product. Zix was acquired by OpenText in 2021, and its marketing site now redirects to OpenText Cybersecurity, while the Zix support, Secure Cloud and Message Center portals remain in use.

The service scans outbound messages in real time with content filters and DLP rules covering the subject, body and attachments. When a message matches policy, it is encrypted, quarantined or blocked. OpenText provides out-of-the-box templates for common policies.

Its Best Method of Delivery engine chooses S/MIME, TLS or a secure messaging portal based on the recipient's environment, so some recipients receive encrypted mail directly in their inbox. The portal works on any device. Secure Compose lets clients and partners outside the organisation start an encrypted email into it through the portal. Graphical reporting shows encryption triggers, delivery methods and compliance activity, and setup and management run in OpenText's Secure Cloud console.

Echoworx is a managed email encryption platform deployed entirely on AWS. It describes itself as a policy-driven layer that complements an organisation's existing gateway rather than replacing it.

A central policy engine checks each outbound message against sender identity, recipient domain, data classification and content, then chooses a delivery method: TLS, web portal, encrypted PDF, encrypted attachment, S/MIME or PGP. Certificates, keys and passwords are retrieved or generated automatically, and branded, localised elements are applied before delivery. Inbound S/MIME and PGP messages can be decrypted using keys held in the platform.

Integration is based on SMTP. Echoworx states that no MX record change or Microsoft 365 API connection is needed, because an Exchange rule routes only outbound mail to the service, and it works with upstream DLP tools. Deployment can be multi-tenant, dedicated or in specific AWS regions. Reporting feeds delivery and verification events to SIEM tools.

Egress Protect is the email encryption product of Egress, now a KnowBe4 company. It sits alongside Egress products for phishing defence, data loss prevention, secure workspaces and web forms.

Protect connects to Microsoft 365 through an Outlook add-in, an API and an integrated cloud email gateway. It can read classification labels from tools such as Microsoft Purview Information Protection to apply encryption automatically, and users can also choose to encrypt. Egress positions Protect as a way to pair encryption with Microsoft 365 E1 or E3 licences rather than E5, and notes that mail stays protected even if a Microsoft 365 account is compromised.

Content and attachments are encrypted with AES-256 at rest and in transit. Egress lists FIPS 140-2, ISO 27001 and Commercial Product Assurance accreditation. Recipients can use several sign-in methods, and machine learning assesses the recipient's domain, location and system to let trusted recipients open content without logging in. Senders can restrict editing, copying and downloading.

PreVeil provides end-to-end encrypted email and file sharing that integrates with Outlook, Gmail and File Explorer, with mobile access. PreVeil states there are no passwords to compromise and that data can be restored after ransomware.

Basic is free and includes 5 GB of encrypted storage. Individual raises storage to 5 TB and includes free accounts for third parties. Business adds an admin console and system logs, a Trusted Community data loss prevention feature, approval groups that protect administrator actions, priority support and a dedicated customer success team. PreVeil states Business supports named requirements under HIPAA, the FTC Safeguards Rule and IRS Publication 4557.

Gov Community is aimed at defence industry organisations. PreVeil lists CMMC Level 2, DFARS 7012 and ITAR support, FedRAMP Moderate equivalence, FIPS 140-3 validated modules, data held in AWS GovCloud, 10 TB of storage and a compliance documentation package. PreVeil Pass bundles three Gov Community licences with that package and one-to-one compliance support for small organisations.

Proton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted email service from Proton, sold to organisations as part of Proton for Business. Unlike the other products on this page, it replaces the existing mail provider rather than adding encryption to it, and Proton offers migration from Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

Proton states that data is encrypted on the sender's device and stays encrypted in transit and in storage until it reaches the intended recipient. Password-protected emails let users send encrypted messages to people outside Proton. Proton lists GDPR and HIPAA compliance support on both business plans.

Workspace Standard includes 1 TB of storage per user, 15 custom domains, secure email and calendar, appointment scheduling, cloud storage, document and spreadsheet editors, video meetings for 100 participants, a VPN and a password manager with team vaults. Workspace Premium raises storage to 3 TB and domains to 20, supports 250 meeting participants and adds Proton's Lumo AI chat, an email writing assistant and data retention policies.