WEB.DE is a German internet brand that began in Karlsruhe in 1995 as the “Deutsches Internet Verzeichnis” and later added a free email service. Today, it is part of a portfolio that also includes GMX and mail.com, serving around 42 million active users worldwide. WEB.DE and GMX are leading email providers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, offering free accounts and paid subscriptions.

Its services extend beyond email to include cloud storage, office tools and personal identity management. The Intelligent Inbox helps users sort messages, track parcels and manage newsletters, subscriptions and contracts. Customers can also use end-to-end email encryption; WEB.DE and GMX integrated the PGP standard in 2015. Together with Deutsche Post, the services support digital notifications and receipt of letters by email.

WEB.DE also provides news and other editorial content produced by an independent newsroom. Its digital services are supported in part by advertising, with United Internet Media offering advertisers branding and direct marketing solutions. The company develops its own products and operates them in its data centres.