PGP Email — Automatic Encryption,
Zero Setup
Onion Mail encrypts every message with PGP automatically. You do not need to configure anything — your encryption is active from the moment you create your account.
PGP encryption — the gold standard for email security
PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) uses a public/private key pair to encrypt email messages. Only the holder of the private key can read messages encrypted with the corresponding public key. It is the strongest and most widely trusted email encryption standard available — used by journalists, activists, security researchers and privacy-conscious users worldwide.
🔒 How it works on Onion Mail
When a message arrives in your inbox, our server encrypts it with your PGP public key before storing it. Even if our servers were seized or compromised, the encrypted messages are completely unreadable without your private key — which only you hold. Not even our administrators can read your email.
Automatic — no setup needed
PGP is enabled by default on every account. You do not need to generate keys or configure any software.
Bring your own key
Already have a PGP key pair? Upload your public key and Onion Mail will use it instead of the auto-generated one.
Combined with Tor
PGP protects message content. Tor protects your identity. Together they provide the strongest available email privacy.
Plus post-quantum
Beyond PGP, Onion Mail integrates PQC Server for post-quantum encrypted messaging — protecting you from future quantum computers.
PGP email in 3 steps
You do not need to be a cryptography expert. Onion Mail handles everything automatically.
Create your account
Sign up with a username and password — no phone, no personal data. PGP is enabled automatically.
Check your security dashboard
After login you see a real-time dashboard showing whether PGP is active, your connection status and 2FA state.
Receive encrypted mail
Every message stored on our servers is encrypted with your PGP key. Send your public key to contacts who want to write to you securely.
Frequently asked questions about PGP email
What is PGP email encryption?
PGP uses a public/private key pair to encrypt messages. Your public key encrypts incoming messages; your private key decrypts them. Only you can read your email — not the email provider, not third parties, not authorities without your private key.
Do I need technical knowledge to use PGP on Onion Mail?
No. Onion Mail applies PGP automatically. The security dashboard shows you at a glance whether encryption is active — and alerts you if it is not.
Can I use my existing PGP key with Onion Mail?
Yes. You can upload your own PGP public key in your account settings and Onion Mail will use it to encrypt incoming messages.
What is the difference between PGP and post-quantum encryption?
PGP protects messages today against classical computers. Post-quantum encryption, available via PQC Server, protects messages against future quantum computers that could break classical encryption. For maximum protection, Onion Mail supports both.
Does ProtonMail use PGP?
ProtonMail uses PGP optionally for external contacts but uses its own proprietary encryption for messages between ProtonMail users. Onion Mail uses standard PGP for all stored messages, which is interoperable with any PGP-compatible software. See our full comparison.
PGP-encrypted email — active from day one
Create your account and get automatic PGP encryption with no setup required. Combined with Tor for complete anonymity.