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Gmail vs Kolab Now: Is Your Metadata Safer in the EU?

Explore how Kolab Now's Swiss origin prioritizes metadata protection and privacy compared to Gmail. Make an informed choice today.

Last updated: March 7, 2026Reviewed by Built in EU Team

Should You Switch to Kolab Now?

What You Gain

Enhanced privacy, GDPR compliance, EU-based servers

Privacy advantage
Trade-offs

Lacks advanced features like Smart Compose and Meet

Gmail has more features
Bottom Line

Privacy-focused users should switch; feature-focused may hesitate

At a Glance

Data Location
🇺🇸US

US data laws

🇨🇭CH

GDPR protected

Pricing

Gmail

freemium

Kolab Now

subscription

Migration
Medium difficulty~3-5 days

Privacy & Compliance Comparison

Critical data sovereignty factors at a glance

CriteriaGmailKolab Now
Server Location
US (Google data centers), EU (optional)EU (Switzerland)
GDPR Compliance
Partial (SCCs)Full
Open Source
E2E Encryption
Enterprise onlyOptional
Data Portability
Full exportFull export

CLOUD Act Notice

Gmail is a US company and must comply with CLOUD Act data requests, even for data stored in EU data centers. Kolab Now is not subject to US jurisdiction.

Switching from
Gmail logo

Gmail

🇺🇸

Google

VS
Switching to
Kolab Now logo

Kolab Now

🇨🇭

Apheleia IT AG

US Data Storage

Data subject to US CLOUD Act and may be accessed by US authorities

EU Data Protection

Data protected under GDPR with EU-only data residency

Certifications & Compliance

No certifications listed

EU-hosted
GDPR Compliant
Open Source

Reasons to Switch

  • GDPR compliance ensures strict data protection standards.
  • EU-based servers reduce latency for European users.
  • End-to-end encryption enhances email security.
  • Open source client allows for community-driven improvements.

Things to Consider

  • !Migration from Gmail may require manual data transfer.
  • !Lacks integrated video conferencing like Google Meet.
  • !Learning curve for users unfamiliar with open source tools.
Migration difficulty:
Medium
~3-5 days

Migration Overview

Full guide
Difficulty
Medium
Time Estimate
~3-5 days

Depends on data size and complexity

Quick Steps

1

Create Kolab Now account and configure settings

2

Export and prepare data from Gmail

3

Import data, test integrations, and migrate users

Other alternatives to Gmail

Ready to make the switch?

Start using Kolab Now today and take control of your data privacy.