Our Guide To The Best Free Email Providers

Choosing the right free email provider is essential for balancing features, storage, and usability. Whether you prioritise integration, storage capacity, or privacy, there is an option to meet your needs.

Here’s a comprehensive review of the top free email providers, with key information to help you make the best choice.

Key Features to Consider

When evaluating free email providers, consider the following key features:

• Storage Space: The amount of email storage provided and whether it can be expanded.
• Attachment Limits: The maximum size of files you can attach to emails.
• Email Protocols: Support for POP3, IMAP, and SMTP, which affects how you can access and manage your emails across devices.
• Security: Built-in features like encryption, two-factor authentication (2FA), and spam filters.
• Usability: The user interface and how intuitive and user-friendly it is.

Top Free Email Providers

1. Gmail

Gmail is the most popular email service worldwide, offering 15 GB of free storage and seamless integration with Google services like Drive, Docs, and Calendar. Known for its user-friendly interface and strong spam filters, Gmail is a top choice for both personal and professional use.

• Storage: 15 GB of free storage shared across Google services.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: Integration with Google Drive, Docs, Calendar, and other Google services. AI-powered features (for Google Workspace subscribers) like smart replies and email categorisation.
• Security: Two-step verification, strong spam filters.
• Pros: Generous storage, user-friendly interface, excellent integration with Google services.
• Cons: Privacy concerns due to the use of personal and behavioural data for advertising, limited attachment size.

2. Outlook.com

Outlook.com, previously known as Hotmail, offers robust integration with Microsoft Office apps and 15 GB of storage. It features a Focused Inbox for prioritising important emails and supports various platforms, making it a versatile choice for many users.

• Storage: 15 GB of email storage.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: Integration with Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, Teams), Focused Inbox feature that sorts important emails.
• Security: Two-factor authentication, strong phishing and malware protection.
• Pros: Great integration with Microsoft products, useful organisation features, no storage sharing with OneDrive.
• Cons: Free version includes ads, strict privacy and spam filtering controls mean some legitimate emails end up in Junk.

3. Yahoo Mail

Yahoo Mail stands out with its generous 1 TB of free storage and customisable interface. It offers powerful search capabilities and unique features like the ability to view all attachments in one place, though it includes ads in the free version.

• Storage: 1 TB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: Customisable themes, integrated calendar, and contacts, powerful search capabilities.
• Security: Spam filters, basic encryption.
• Pros: Large storage capacity, customisable interface.
• Cons: Ads in the free version, historical security breaches, and fewer advanced features than Outlook or Gmail.

4. Proton Mail

Proton Mail is a privacy-focused email service based in Switzerland, offering end-to-end encryption and 1 GB of storage on the free plan. It is ideal for users who prioritise security and privacy above all else.

• Storage: 1 GB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: End-to-end encryption, focus on privacy, zero-access encryption.
• Security: Strong encryption, two-factor authentication, privacy-focused.
• Pros: High level of security and privacy, based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws.
• Cons: Limited storage on the free plan, many advanced features require a premium plan.

5. iCloud Mail

iCloud Mail offers seamless integration with Apple devices and services, providing a clean, ad-free email experience. With 5 GB of free storage, it’s a great choice for users heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem.

• Storage: 5 GB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 20 MB per email.
• Features: Seamless integration with Apple devices and services, ad-free experience.
• Security: Two-factor authentication, built-in spam filters.
• Pros: Excellent for Apple users, good customer support.
• Cons: Limited to the Apple ecosystem, less storage compared to some competitors.

6. Zoho Mail

Zoho Mail is a professional email service ideal for businesses, offering custom domain options and 5 GB of free storage. It integrates well with Zoho’s suite of productivity tools and provides strong security features.

• Storage: 5 GB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: Custom domain email, integration with Zoho’s office suite (Calendar, Docs), strong organisational tools.
• Security: Two-factor authentication, encryption, anti-spam and antivirus protection.
• Pros: Business-friendly features, customisable themes.
• Cons: Limited storage on the free plan.

7. AOL Mail

AOL Mail offers 1 TB of free storage and is known for its simple, user-friendly interface. It includes basic email features and spam filtering, making it a reliable option for long-term email storage.

• Storage: 1 TB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: Customisable folders, integrated calendar, and tasks, simple user interface.
• Security: Spam and virus protection, two-step verification.
• Pros: Huge storage capacity, easy to use.
• Cons: No advanced features, includes ads.

8. Mail.com

Mail.com provides 65 GB of free storage and allows users to choose from over 100 different domain names. While it offers basic email features, its large attachment size limit is a significant advantage.

• Storage: 65 GB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 30 MB per email.
• Features: Over 100 domain options, calendar, cloud storage.
• Security: SSL encryption, spam filters.
• Pros: Large attachment size limit, variety of domain names.
• Cons: Basic spam filtering, ad-supported, limited customer support.

9. Tuta

Tuta (formerly Tutanota) is a privacy-focused email provider offering 1 GB of free storage with end-to-end encryption. It is ad-free and prioritizes user privacy, making it a strong choice for security-conscious users.

• Storage: 1 GB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: Ad-free, end-to-end encryption, privacy-focused.
• Security: Strong encryption, two-factor authentication.
• Pros: High level of privacy and security, no ads.
• Cons: Limited storage.

10. Mailfence

Mailfence offers robust security features, including end-to-end encryption and digital signatures. While it only provides 500 MB of free storage, it is ideal for users needing secure communication.

• Storage: 500 MB of free storage.
• Attachment Limit: 25 MB per email.
• Features: End-to-end encryption, digital signatures, integrated calendar, and contacts.
• Security: Strong encryption, no tracking, ad-free.
• Pros: Excellent security features, digital signatures for added authenticity.
• Cons: Limited storage, many features require a premium plan.

How to Choose the Best Email Provider

When selecting the best email provider, it's crucial to consider your specific needs and priorities. Here are some tips:

• For Storage Needs: If you need significant storage, Yahoo Mail and AOL Mail are excellent choices.
• For Security: Proton Mail, Tuta, and Mailfence offer strong encryption and privacy features. However, none of these provide recipient authentication, for which you will need a secure email solution.
• For Integration: Gmail and Outlook.com provide seamless integration with their respective office suites and other services.
• For Custom Domains: Zoho Mail is ideal for businesses needing custom domain emails.
• For Apple Users: iCloud Mail offers seamless functionality with Apple devices.

Conclusion

Choosing the right free email provider depends on your needs for storage, security, and integration with other services.

Providers like Gmail, Outlook.com, and Yahoo Mail offer a balance of features and storage, while Proton Mail and Tuta stand out for their security and privacy measures.

Evaluate your specific requirements and select the provider that best suits your needs for a seamless and secure email experience.

Enhance Your Email Security with Mailock

Regardless of the email provider you choose, ensuring the security of your communications is paramount.

Mailock offers a simple solution to enhance your email security with end-to-end encryption and recipient authentication.

By integrating Mailock with your existing email service, you can protect sensitive information from interception and unauthorised access, ensuring that only the intended recipients can read your messages.

This added layer of security is crucial for confidential communications, providing peace of mind and safeguarding your data effectively.

Mailock offers a free secure email account for you to get started.

Reviewed By:

Sam Kendall, 07.06.24

Sabrina McClune, 07.06.24