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- Gmail is the most popular free email service on the planet. And there are many good reasons for that. Chief among them is that Gmail is easy to use, even for the least tech-savvy among us. Additionally, your Gmail address works with every other free Google service available.
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Discover how Gmail keeps your account & emails encrypted, private and under your control with the largest secure email service in the world.
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- Overview
- Gmail
- Outlook
- Proton Mail
- Yahoo Mail
- iCloud Mail
- AOL Mail
- Tuta
- Zoho Mail
- Yandex Mail
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There's really no need for most people to pay for an email account. And although there are lots of companies that offer a free email service, some of them definitely stand out from the crowd. This article will guide you through the best options I've used, and their standout features.
I've created an account at each of these websites to try out the features, and I still use some of them frequently.
These encrypted email services keep your messages private
What's So Great About Gmail?
It's probably not a surprise that Gmail tops this list. I've used Google's free email service for many years. It has a modern feel, is tightly integrated with the company's other services, and does a good job blocking spam.
It has some other nifty features, too, such as the option to snooze emails for later, schedule emails to be sent later, and read mail offline. You can also send emails that expire and require a unique code to open, store messages in a 15 GB vault, share files from your Drive account, undo sending messages, and set up vacation responses.
I love how closely connected Gmail is with the company's other products. This means I can use my account to collaborate with people on projects or hold virtual meetings. It works with Meet's picture-in-picture feature, so I can see and hear people I'm working with while composing a message or reading an email.
There are themes you can apply to Gmail's interface to customize how it appears so it feels more like your space. Some other things I like include access to tons of advanced settings, the ability to create filters and labels, and the option to import email from other email accounts. There are also gadgets (add-ons) to extend Gmail's functionality.
All addresses end in @gmail.com.
Outlook.com vs. Gmail
Outlook is Microsoft's free email service that, like Gmail, has a solid interface that's easy to navigate. In my experience, it's easily second to Google's service or even tied as the best free email provider.
The website is intuitive; it's as easy as right-clicking an email to find further options that include moving and deleting messages and searching for every email from that one sender.
Outlook supports mail rules, which means you can set new messages to move to a specified folder automatically, be categorized, flagged, or forwarded if certain conditions are met. You can also connect directly to Skype through your email and use add-ons such as DocuSign.
All of Microsoft's other products are woven together nicely through Outlook. You can easily access Excel, Word, Teams, Calendar, and more, right from your email.
Your address can end with @outlook.com or @hotmail.com (yes, it's still around!).
Our Review of Proton Mail
The main difference between Proton Mail and the other services is that this one is centered around email encryption. The idea is that you can send mail without fear that the people at Proton Mail or anyone else besides the recipient can read the message.
Messages sent to other Proton Mail users are always encrypted. You can also encrypt messages you send to non-users. I love the options here. If you encrypt a message, you can set an expiration time (up to four weeks) so that it's destroyed and unreadable after the duration you specify!
Recipients who receive encrypted messages open the email through a link that asks for the password, where it's decrypted and displayed in the browser. They can reply through an encrypted channel via the same message they decrypted and don't need a Proton Mail account.
I like that Proton Mail includes encryption features for free, but 1 GB is quite low for email storage (and you actually start with 500 MB; the rest you can unlock for free). The per-day message limit doesn't seem like as big of a problem, at least not for me, but you'll definitely feel that limitation if you're a heavy email user.
Here's why and how to encrypt your email
The main reason I like Yahoo Mail is that every person who signs up gets 1 TB of free storage. This is way more space than the majority of email providers, so it's a good choice if you're looking for an email account that can store years and years worth of messages and attachments.
The Compose window is similar to Gmail, but with one helpful difference: it's easy to switch between inline image attachments and regular file attachments. This is important if you need to describe context for your images, something hard to do when they're stored as attachments.
This is probably the best email service when it comes to alternate identities or aliases. You can create disposable addresses (up to three for free) linked to your inbox without revealing your actual address. This is helpful when you sign up for accounts and don't want your regular inbox spammed or filled with useless email; delete the disposable address if the spam becomes too overwhelming.
I'm also a big fan of how Yahoo Mail organizes things. All the photos, documents, receipts, and travel details that show up in my email are collected in their own areas. It's far easier to look through those items this way than searching for their emails and opening each attachment.
Here are some other things I like about Yahoo's approach to email: insert GIFs from a built-in GIF collection, use themes that change the background and color scheme of the website, import contacts from a file on your computer and other accounts like Facebook or Outlook, use a built-in notepad, attach files from Google Drive or Dropbox, easily attach files to an email that were sent to you recently, access the online calendar app, and connect external accounts so you can use one interface to manage email.
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Our Review of iCloud Mail
iCloud Mail is an interesting service because many people don't realize they're only a few steps away from having one. It's free to anyone who signs up for an Apple ID, but it isn't limited only to Apple products. Anyone can get a free iCloud ID and access iCloud Mail on their computer.
Once you make an account, you can log in from any computer and access a suite of products in addition to your mail, like notes, reminders, photos, iCloud Drive content, contacts, calendar events, and anything else that's been synced to iCloud from your iOS device.
The email portion of iCloud isn't super advanced and probably won't serve you well if you want lots of options. However, it's effortless to set up, and you don't have to go through a tedious process of adding your name and choosing a password. All of this works well with your existing Apple ID or a new free iCloud account.
The 5 GB of free storage for emails and other iCloud files is a plus compared to some of these other services that offer much less space. You also get IMAP support, forwarding options, large file attachment support (up to 5 GB via Mail Drop), and a two-click method to unsubscribe from unwanted emails.
New accounts end with @icloud.com.
AOL Mail is another free email account option that's actually very similar to Yahoo Mail in some ways. The main page includes top stories from AOL.com, which can be viewed as a pleasant addition or seem cluttered, depending on your preferences.
Like most email providers, you can filter your messages to only show unread or read emails or flagged or unflagged messages. AOL Mail can also block mail senders and lets you configure filters.
Much like Yahoo Mail, writing an email from AOL Mail includes access to a GIF gallery and stationery. The same handy collections for photos and documents are also included here.
Your AOL.com account comes with a calendar and to-do list that are accessible from the inbox. However, some features, such as a chat room, require a paid AOL Desktop Gold subscription.
An AOL email address gives you an email like example@aol.com, but you can also receive mail if someone messages example@aim.com.
What was AOL Instant Messenger?
Self-described as the "world's most secure email service," Tuta (formerly Tutanota) is similar to Proton Mail in that it automatically encrypts your emails. However, you can disable end-to-end encryption if you'd like.
One thing that stands out to me is that you can't create your account until you make a secure password. Some places urge you to make your password stronger, but still will accept it: Tuta requires it.
The web interface is straightforward and provides menu transitions that bring together the mail folders and email settings. When sending messages to non-users, you can make them password protected or keep them unencrypted. If a password is designated, the recipient gets a custom link to open the message; they must enter the password to read and reply.
A neat feature is that when the user responds to an email not using Tuta, the messages are still contained within the temporary account. You can have back and forth communication with any other email service, and the recipient can keep the link open the entire time.
Even though it isn't as well known as Gmail or Yahoo, Tuta lets you have an email signature, use up to 1 GB of storage, and automatically add emailed recipients as new contacts. Premium features like offline storage and smart filtering can be had for a cost.
You can make an account with any of these domains: tutanota.com, tutanota.de, tutamail.com, tuta.io, keemail.me.
Our Review of Zoho Mail
Zoho is an online suite of several apps centered around business use. Zoho Mail is its free email service.
When composing a message for the first time, I noticed the minimal, tabbed design, that lets me quickly switch between the new email box and the rest of my mail. Everything feels way more accessible this way.
The Streams feature makes it easy to create groups where you and your team members can interact with shared messages and attachments. It works a bit like a private social media site.
I also really like SecurePass. If you click the lock while making a new email, you can set up the message to automaticaly expire on a certain day. Also, when this is turned on, recipients won't be able to forward, copy, print, or download the email. Very cool!
All the standard compose tools are included, but you can also add files from Zoho Docs, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, and other services and include tables in your messages. It also lets you create new notes and tasks, use keyboard shortcuts, enable filters for auto-management, share email drafts with contacts, set up vacation replies, and send custom domains to an allow or block list.
Yandex.Mail: The Good and Bad
Yandex is a Russian company that provides many tools and free email accounts, such as 5 GB of online storage, a calendar, and a search engine. Like Google, your Yandex email makes it possible to access these services using one login.
The interface is friendly. It's easy to read and provides a simple layout while still keeping all the necessary tools intact. Like most other providers in this list, this one supports email filters, contact importing and exporting, tasks, and hotkeys.
However, it's also unique in many ways that make it one of the better ones out there. You can forward multiple messages with ease; they send as file attachments. Delayed messaging is supported, you can be notified when an email is received and reminded later if you don't get a reply, and the part after @ can be your website domain name (for free).
The reason I list this lower than the rest is because I occasionally have trouble logging in. For some reason, the website thinks something suspicious is going on, and I'll be locked out until I can verify my identify. When this happens, I'm able to get back in no problem and all my emails are still there.
By default, all addresses end with @yandex.com.
- Gmail. When it was launched in 2004, Google’s email service shook up the whole industry: For the first time in history of free email, a provider offered users an inbox size of 1 GB.
- Yahoo Mail. Just like Gmail, Yahoo Mail is another free email provider with huge amounts of storage space – a record-breaking 1,000 GB (i.e. 1 TB). This has meant that deleting emails is very much a thing of the past.
- Outlook.com. For a long time, 'Outlook' was the name of the Personal Information Manager (PIM) developed by Microsoft. It is part of the whole Microsoft 365 package.
- GMX. GMX has two domains: GMX.net is the German version, while GMX.com is for English, French, and Spanish speaking users. GMX is not as well-known as the free email providers discussed above, but still conveniently manages to meet all your basic email requirements.
Oct 22, 2024 · Which free email service offers the most storage in 2024? Gmail offers 15GB of free storage, which is shared across Google services like Drive and Photos.
- Gmail is the best email provider for most people. Gmail is the best email service for most people, hands down. It’s reliable, filters spam well, and gives you 15GB of cloud storage for free.
- Outlook is the best Gmail alternative for most people. For those who don’t want to use Gmail, but are looking for a similar service, Microsoft’s Outlook is the best option.
- Proton Mail is the best email account for privacy. Proton Mail is the best free email service for privacy conscious people. It offers 1GB of storage, a limit of 150 emails per day, and up to 10 aliases for free, which is good enough to get started.
- Yahoo Mail is the best free email for free storage. If you want the maximum possible storage on your free email account, believe it or not, Yahoo Mail is your best bet.
Jun 19, 2024 · Gmail offers much more than just email. A Gmail account is your ticket to all the free services Google offers, including YouTube, Google Docs, Google Sheets, etc. It unlocks access to a...
Oct 21, 2024 · For a secure and ad-free experience, ProtonMail is the best choice, offering end-to-end encryption and a completely ad-free interface. iCloud Mail and Zoho Mail are also strong contenders ...
