Company: Tuta
Interviewee: Hanna Bozakov, Press Officer
Website: https://tuta.com/

Privacy by Design, Not by Exception

In a digital landscape dominated by ad-based business models and pervasive tracking, Tuta stands apart. With its flagship services — Tuta Mail and Tuta Calendar — the company offers secure, end-to-end encrypted alternatives to mainstream email and calendar platforms. Built with the principle that privacy should be the default, Tuta’s tools are fully open source, free from tracking, and designed to ensure that no user data is ever accessible — not even by Tuta itself.

Hanna Bozakov, Tuta’s Press Officer, summarizes the mission clearly: “We are building a better internet — one where people are not spied on by default, but respected by design.”

With quantum-safe encryption, no advertisements, and feature-parity across desktop and mobile platforms, Tuta empowers users with privacy-first digital tools. Their commitment is not just technical — it’s deeply ethical.

At the heart of Tuta’s success is radical transparency. All client code is open source, enabling anyone to verify the software’s integrity. The company publishes regular transparency reports and communicates openly with users, even when vulnerabilities are discovered.

Bozakov recalls a critical moment: “Shortly after launch, a cross-site scripting vulnerability was reported. We fixed it within two days and informed all users. That honesty was appreciated — most companies would never disclose something like that.”

This transparency extends to every aspect of product development. Whether informing users about data access permissions or avoiding push notification dependencies on Google, Tuta never compromises on its core values — even when it means a tougher road technically or commercially.

“We are building a better internet — one where people are not spied on by default, but respected by design.”

A User-Centered Ethos, Backed by Community and Sustainable Software, Ethically Engineered

Tuta engages its users through multiple channels — including social media, support tickets, and annual surveys — to guide development priorities. Feedback is tracked, feature requests are discussed openly, and decisions reflect community input.

Growth is measured not just by revenue, but by community sentiment. “Of course we look at numbers,” Bozakov notes, “but the real success is what we see on Reddit, on blogs, on Twitter. That feedback has been consistently positive — not because we’re perfect, but because we’re present and honest.”

The company’s user base has grown steadily over more than a decade, driven by word-of-mouth and the open-source community’s support.

Tuta sees sustainability as part of its ethical mandate. All operations are powered by renewable energy — and even their data center provider was persuaded to make the switch. Tuta avoids greenwashing by selecting partners who invest directly in building new wind and solar infrastructure.

Its quantum-resistant encryption is both a forward-looking privacy measure and a key differentiator. Though its adoption is difficult to quantify, the company views it as a necessary step to future-proof user protection — an investment in long-term trust over short-term gains.

Tuta thrives on collaborations that bring fresh perspectives and innovation. A government-funded partnership with a university is currently supporting the development of Tuta Drive, a privacy-focused alternative to cloud storage services. PhD candidates bring new ideas, and the shared goal of ethical tech drives success.

“It’s always about people,” says Bozakov. “If you share a mission, the partnership works.”

“It’s always about people,” says Bozakov. “If you share a mission, the partnership works.”

Facing the Hard Choices — and Sticking to Principles

Staying independent of dominant platforms hasn’t been easy. Tuta had to replace Google’s push notification system — a move that affected user experience but protected privacy. Even as this decision complicated app delivery, it earned them admiration from the FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) community, where Tuta’s Android app is now available via F-Droid.

The team’s leadership backs these difficult decisions, recognizing that the extra effort builds long-term value and brand integrity.

Bozakov offers a candid message to newcomers: “Don’t do it for fast money. It’s much harder to scale a freemium model that respects privacy. But if you’re committed, it’s worth it. The open-source community will support you — just as they’ve supported us.”

The future for Tuta lies in expanding its secure communications suite. With Tuta Drive in development and continued refinement of mail and calendar tools, the company is moving steadily toward a fully encrypted ecosystem.

The team describes themselves as freedom fighters — building alternatives to Google and Microsoft not just out of competition, but out of conviction.

For Tuta, success is not just about scale or revenue. It’s about earning and keeping the trust of a community that values ethics, privacy, and transparency. As Bozakov puts it: “Only when you truly believe what you’re building benefits everyone — not just your bottom line — can you make the right decisions.”

“Only when you truly believe what you’re building benefits everyone — not just your bottom line — can you make the right decisions.”