Gmail is one of the most popular and widely used Email Service Providers in the world due to the user-friendliness of the service. So, why would anyone want alternatives to Gmail?
Why do we need Gmail Alternatives?
While Gmail users do enjoy greater integration and better user-interface, it lags heavily on the Security front.
When Google Reportedly stopped going through user’s mails for promotional purposes, many security companies proved otherwise. It was later found out that a lot of apps on your phone and PCs have been granted permission to go through the users’ mail for advertisement purposes.
Also, Gmail users suffer because of the absence of End-to-End encryption. Gmail relies on TLS or Transport Layer Security protocol to encrypt the emails sent by the users. However, it only works when the emails are sent to a Gmail address.
Other Gmail Limitation Include:
- Only 10 GB of Space.
- Doesn’t offer Anonymous Sign Up and Payment Options.
- It isn’t End-to-End Encrypted.
What makes a great Gmail Alternative?
A great Gmail Alternative should at least overcome one limitation of Gmail and has all the important features that Gmail currently has. If we were to make a checklist of all the features that we are looking for in a worthy Gmail Alternative, it would look something like this:
- End-to-End Encrypted Emails
- Custom Domains for Business (Not all users want this)
- Personal Information Free Sign Up
- No-Ads
- Anonymous Payment Option.
Note: Not all the Email Service providers mentioned below have ALL the functionalities mentioned above.
Best Gmail Alternatives in 2024
1. ProtonMail:
End-to-End Encrypted Emails
Doesn’t require App Installation
Users don’t need to provide their personal information to Sign Up
Open-Source Email Service Provider
Email Subject Lines are not encrypted
Limited Customer Support
Limited Storage in the Free Version
ProtonMail has been around for 8 years now. It has really made a place for itself in the market and is now considered as one of the best Gmail Alternatives .
To begin with, ProtonMail Provides up to 500MB free space in the free version which can later be extended up to 20GBs in the premium version.
In addition to that, ProtonMail provides end-to-end encryption to better secure user information online. Moreover, it also features a modern inbox to match the feel of a premium email service provider.
Considering all the information given above, it is definitely one of the best Email Service Providers available.
2. Tutanota
Limited Storage in the free version
Tutanota has successfully completed a decade and boasts over a million users worldwide. ProtonMail may be one of the well-known email service providers with End-to-End encryption, the first-one known to be the first email service to offer end-to-end encryption is Tutanota.
Tutanota provides 1GB of free storage when you sign up which can later be extended to 10GBs with the premium version.
“We believe email privacy should be available to all. That’s why our code is open source and basic ProtonMail accounts are always free.” Says the company.
Moreover, Tutanota provides an easy-to-use interface and modern inbox design. Hence, Tutanota is definitely one of the best Alternatives to Gmail.
3. Zoho Mail
Apps for all the different platforms
End-to-End Encryption
No Ads
Custom Domain
Zoho CRM Integration for Business Users
Interface could be a bit better
Lacks End-to-End Encryption
Designed with the focus on Businesses, Zoho Mail is also available for Businesses. Zoho Mail offers End-to-End Encryption on emails. It allows you to add two-factor authentication to add an additional layer of security.
It offers 5GB of storage with the free account, you can extend the provided space to 1TB by opting for a paid plan. The additional benefit with Zoho Mail is that they have apps for all the different platforms.
Because it is designed with Businesses in mind, it also has 24/7 customer support for your convenience. Considering top-notch security, privacy features, and ease of use, Zoho Mail is definitely one of the best Gmail alternatives available in the market.
4. GMX
65GBs of Storage Per Account
No Ads
Allows you to create up to 10 Accounts per user
Interface could be a bit better
No End-to-End Encryption
Germany Based Global Mail Exchange (GMX) stands out as one of the strongest Gmail Alternative available in the market. It boasts a user base of more than 11 million users.
GMX uses TLS/SSL security protocol to encrypt the mails. Though it doesn’t provide end-to-end encryption, it doesn’t go through its users’ mails for advertisement purposes. It strictly follows a No-Ads policy.
With GMX, you get Calendar Integration, Spam Filter, and an Antivirus to provide an extra layer of security. Also, you get a whopping 65GB of Free Storage per account and a user can create up to 10 Email accounts on GMX.
With robust security features and high-quality services, GMX is one of the best Alternative for Gmail available in the market.
5. Outlook
Great Integration with cloud storage and apps like calendar and skype
Ad=Free
User Friendly Interface
Limited Storage Space
Lacks End-to-End Encryption
With a user base of over 400 million users worldwide, Outlook stands out as one of the main competitors of Gmail.
Outlook features a built-in spam filter to offer better protection. Initially Outlook only provided the email services but later it got expanded to services such as Calendar, notes, task, and much more.
It provides 5GB storage which is neither the best nor worst considering all other options. However, it doesn’t fail to impress with its easy-to-use interface. Additionally, you can use Microsoft Authentication to sign in to the account rather than using the password itself.
Considering all the different features, Outlook is one of the worthiest alternatives to Gmail.
6. Mailbox.org
No Personal Information required to create an Account
Ad-Free
Supports Third-Party Email Clients
Emails are stored on two separate servers to protect the online data
User-Interface could be better
Lacks End-to-End Encryption
Mailbox is the third solution on our list that is made in Germany. It is another one of the biggest Gmail alternatives available in the market. It is designed for both businesses and individuals.
To begin with the security, it features a TLS/SSL security protocol similar to Gmail. However, unlike Gmail, it doesn’t go through the user’s mails for Advertisement purposes.
As Mailbox.org is a paid only Email Service provider, you get to choose the amount of mail and cloud storage that you would like to use in Mailbox.org which is restricted to 100GBs for Mail and 2TBs for Cloud Storage.
With all its focus on privacy and user-friendliness, Mailbox.org definitely deserves to be on the list of Best Gmail Alternatives.
7. iCloud Mail
Easy-to-use app interface
Ad-Free
No apps for devices other than Apple
Limited 5GB Storage
Lacks End-to-End Encryption
Could have more advanced features
It is difficult to not include iCloud while discussing Gmail Alternatives. iCloud Mail is already a popular application based on Apple Devices. However, if you don’t have an Apple device, you will only be able to use the account through the web and not through any application.
Needless to say, being an Apple Product, iCloud Mail provides an easy-to-use interface which allows easier transition from Gmail.
Similar to Outlook, iCloud Mail provides 5GBs of Mail Storage which isn’t the highest. Also, like all other Email Service Providers on the list, it features a No Ads policy.
Considering all its features and user-friendliness, it definitely deserves to be on the list of best Gmail Alternatives.
8. Yahoo! Mail
Easy-to-use app interface
Excellent Customization Options
A whopping 1TB storage space
Supports large attachments
Full of Ads
Lacks End-to-End Encryption
There was a time when Gmail and Yahoo! were each other’s biggest competitors. But as the time progressed, Yahoo fell behind.
As the interface of both Yahoo and Gmail are pretty similar, it is fairly simple to transition from Gmail to Yahoo mail. Also, among all the Gmail Alternatives, Yahoo provides the most online storage space, 1 TB.
However, Yahoo Mail is pretty similar to Gmail in terms of privacy and security features offered. To add to the misery, there have been serious cases of data breaches in Yahoo earlier. So, if you are a very picky person about security, you may not like Yahoo Mail as much.
However, you are just looking for an alternative to Gmail for better storage space, Yahoo Mail is probably one of the best Gmail alternatives on the list.
9. Fastmail
Ad-Free
User-Friendly Interface
Paid Only Options
No End-to-End Encryption
Fastmail was designed with focus on both business and individuals. This Australia based company was acquired by Opera Software in 2010.
Let’s get straight to the point, Fastmail doesn’t provide any kind of encryption when it comes to storing the emails. However, it is ad-free.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a minimalistic Gmail Alternative, Fastmail is one of the best picks.
It is a totally paid email service provider. The basic plan provides the user with 2GBs of space while the Standard and Professional Plan provide 25GB and 100GBs of Space. Also, the latter plan can also take advantage of unlimited archiving space.
So, if you are looking for one of the best minimalistic Gmail alternatives, Fastmail is one of the most viable options available in the market.
10. Posteo
The last one on our list is Posteo. It is another Email Service Provider from Germany offering services for both Businesses and individuals.
This Open-source email service provider offers top-notch security features, including server-side email encryption. It uses TLS protocol to ensure security, similar to Gmail. However, in addition, it features a No-Ads policy which means no one is reading your mails.
It allows you to set up different aliases with the same email account. The free version of Posteo offers 2GBs of email storage space which you can upgrade any time you want to 20GBs.
With security features like Server-side TLS Encryption and Open Source outline, Posteo is a well deserved candidate on the list of Gmail Alternatives.
So, these are all the worthy alternatives to Gmail that we know about. Do let us know if you think that we missed any, we love listening from you. Keep Visiting Tweak Library for more such tech related content.
Next Read:
You Can Fix Gmail Temporary Error
How to Recover a Gmail Account
Save a Backup of Your Emails in Gmail
How To Clear Gmail Sidebar And Organize It