Free Certified Mail

In the digital world, communication needs to be secure, fast, and sometimes legally binding. Enter Certified Email or PEC (Posta Elettronica Certificata), a type of email used in Italy that has the same legal value as registered mail with return receipt. Whether you’re an individual, business owner, or part of the public administration, PEC ensures secure and legally recognized communication. But can you get this service for free? In this guide, we’ll explore how to set up a free PEC account and cover the best available services.

What is Certified Email (PEC)?

PEC stands for Posta Elettronica Certificata, and it’s a certified email system used widely across Italy. Unlike regular email, PEC provides legal proof of sending and receiving, making it ideal for official communications between businesses, citizens, and public institutions. In fact, for businesses and professionals, having a PEC is often mandatory. But what about private citizens? Can they use PEC for free? Let’s find out.

How PEC Works

The main advantage of PEC lies in its legal status. When you send a PEC email, both the sender and receiver are notified when the email is delivered, making it legally binding. It’s essentially the digital equivalent of a registered letter with return receipt.

From a technical perspective, PEC functions similarly to a regular email account. Users can access their certified email via:

• Webmail
• Mobile apps
• Email clients such as Outlook or Thunderbird.

PEC doesn’t require any special hardware, and the “certified” process happens behind the scenes. When an email is sent, it’s validated by the sender’s PEC provider and delivered to the recipient’s PEC provider, where it’s verified again before landing in their inbox.

Why Use PEC?

PEC is essential for businesses, but it’s also highly beneficial for private citizens. While it’s not mandatory for personal use, it can be extremely useful in situations like:

• Sending legal documents.
• Applying for government services.
• Communicating with businesses or public administration.

Free Certified Email for Private Citizens

For those looking to use PEC without a subscription, there are a few services available. Keep in mind that while some services offer free trials or limited features, most providers will eventually require a paid subscription.

Free PEC with SPID

If you already have an identity with SPID (Sistema Pubblico di Identità Digitale), you’re in luck. SpidMail by Namirial offers a free PEC service that’s linked to your SPID credentials. Here’s what you need to know:

• Receiving messages is always free.
• Sending messages is limited: you get a few free sends when you sign up, and additional sends are available for purchase.

To activate your free PEC with SPID:

1. Visit the SpidMail website.
2. Select “Activate for Free.”
3. Use your SPID credentials to sign up.

Libero Mail PEC

Another popular service is Libero Mail PEC, which offers affordable plans starting at just 14.99 EUR/year for the Family PEC plan. While it’s not entirely free, Libero does provide:

• 1GB of mailbox space.
• Legal notifications for sending and receiving messages.
• Digital domicile capabilities for receiving government communications.

For businesses and professionals, Libero offers an Unlimited PEC plan with unlimited storage, making it an excellent choice for managing invoices, legal documents, and more.

To get started, head over to Libero Mail PEC and choose the plan that suits your needs.

Free PEC with Virgilio

Much like Libero, Virgilio PEC offers reasonably priced certified email plans. The Personal PEC plan costs 14.99 EUR/year and includes 1GB of storage. Meanwhile, the Infinity PEC plan provides unlimited storage for 30 EUR/year, making it ideal for businesses or professionals who need to store large amounts of certified communication.

Visit Virgilio PEC to sign up.

Free PEC with LegalMail

If you’re interested in testing out PEC for a limited time, LegalMail by InfoCert offers a 6-month free trial. Here’s what you get with the trial:

• 2GB mailbox space.
• 6GB secure archive.
• Unlimited sends and priority notifications.

After the trial, the Silver plan costs 29.90 EUR/year. For a more basic option, LegalMail also offers a Personal plan for 5.90 EUR/year.

Start your free trial at LegalMail.

Register.it PEC

Another option for a free trial is Register.it PEC, which offers a 6-month free trial for their PEC Agile plan. Here’s what you get:

• 2GB of space.
• SMS notifications.
• Antivirus and spam filtering.

After the free trial, it costs 38.85 EUR/year. You can sign up for a free trial at Register.it.

Poste Italiane PEC

Unfortunately, Poste Italiane doesn’t offer a free PEC service. Their basic PEC plan starts at 7 EUR/year and provides:

• 2GB of mailbox space.
• 200 daily sends.
• Access via Webmail or email clients.

Learn more about the Poste Italiane PEC at Poste Italiane PEC.

PEC with Aruba

Aruba is a well-known provider of web hosting and other online services, including PEC. While they don’t offer a free option, their PEC Standard plan is very affordable:

• 5 EUR/year for the first year (9.90 EUR/year upon renewal).
• 1GB of space.

If you need more features, their PEC Pro plan offers additional storage and features for 25 EUR/year. Learn more at Aruba PEC.

Using PEC with Gmail

While Gmail itself doesn’t offer certified email, it can be used as an email client to manage your PEC inbox. This allows you to use the same interface for both regular and certified email. To set it up, simply configure your PEC email settings in Gmail, and you’re ready to go.

For more details, check out this guide on how to send a PEC with Gmail.

FAQs

1. Can I get PEC for free?

   • Yes, there are several services that offer free PEC, either with limited features or through a trial period.

2. What is the difference between regular email and PEC?

   • PEC provides legal proof of sending and receiving messages, making it suitable for official communications. Regular email does not have this legal status.

3. Is PEC mandatory for businesses in Italy?

   • Yes, businesses and professionals in Italy are required to have a PEC for official communications.

4. Can private individuals use PEC?

   • Absolutely! While it’s not mandatory, PEC is useful for sending legal documents and communicating with public administration.

5. Does PEC work like regular email?

   • Yes, PEC functions similarly to regular email but includes additional verification and legal proof.

6. How can I send PEC through Gmail?

   • You can set up your PEC account to be managed through Gmail by configuring the correct email settings.

7. What happens if I exceed the free trial period?

   • Most PEC providers will require you to subscribe to a paid plan once the trial period ends.

8. Can I receive emails from non-PEC addresses with PEC?

   • Yes, you can receive regular emails, but the legal certification only applies to PEC-to-PEC communication.

Getting a free PEC service is possible with the right provider. Whether you’re looking for a short-term solution or want to try PEC before committing to a paid plan, the options outlined above offer great flexibility and features for both individuals and businesses.