In today’s digital age, having a reliable email service is essential for both personal and professional communication. With a plethora of options available, choosing the right email provider can be a daunting task. To simplify this decision, we’ve compiled a list of the top free email providers, emphasizing their unique features, benefits, and commitment to security and privacy.
Proton Mail
ProtonMail stands out for its emphasis on privacy and security. Based in Switzerland, ProtonMail offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that your emails remain private.
Features:
- 500 MB free mail storage
- 2GB Free Proton Drive
- Proton Calendar
- Access to Free Proton VPN Servers
- Support via email or reddit community
- Proton apps are open source
- Apps for iOS, Android, Linux, Windows and Mac OS
- All your private data is encrypted on servers
- No ads
- Two factor authentication via Google Authenticator app or Security key.
- Can be accessed from VPN or Tor anonymity network
- Bitcoin and Proton Digital Gift Card Payments
- Setting an account recovery method is not mandatory.
Notes:
- ProtonMail Does not require phone number or another email address to sign up, however if you sign up from a suspicious device or location, they may ask you to enter email or phone number or alternatively make a donation to complete sign up.
- You need to wait one hour after sign up before receiving emails, otherwise your new account will be flagged as spam and you will have to complete additional steps to unblock it.
- Only one free account per device is allowed.
- ProtonMail reserves the right to delete all data associated with Proton Accounts on a Free plan that remain inactive for one year (12 consecutive months).
- Proton Mail Bridge software is an application that seamlessly encrypts and decrypts your mail as it enters and leaves your computer. It allows you to fully integrate your Proton Mail account with most clients that support IMAP and SMTP protocols, with official support for Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Apple Mail. It is available for windows, macOS and Linux.
Tuta Mail
Tuta Mail (formerly Tutanota) is an email service provider known for its focus on security and privacy offering end-to-end encryption. It operates without advertisements, supported through donations and premium subscriptions. By June 2023, Tuta’s user base reportedly exceeded 10 million. The company, headquartered in Germany.
Features:
- Fully encrypted, no tracking, no ads
- 1 GB free mail storage
- Calendar
- Support via email or reddit community
- Apps for iOS, Android, Linux, Windows and Mac OS
- Open source code
- No ads
- Two factor authentication via Google Authenticator app or Security key
- Can be accessed from VPN or Tor anonymity network
- Bitcoin or Monero Payments via proxysto.re
- Setting an account recovery method is not mandatory.
Notes:
- Tuta Mail Does not require phone number or another email address to sign up, however you need to wait at least for 48 hours for your new free account to be approved.
- Free accounts are deleted if you do not log in for a period longer than six months. They do not recycle Tuta addresses which means that the address is blocked for new registrations. You can still re-use the deleted address with a paid account, but only if you have the correct credentials for the deleted account.
- Tuta mail does not support IMAP/Pop3 because emails retrieved via IMAP/POP3 would be stored unencrypted on your device. Instead, Tuta mail offers dedicated and open source desktop clients for Windows, Linux and macOS. Tuta mail also comes with open source apps for Android and iOS. The Tuta mail desktop clients and mobile apps work just as easy as Tuta mail’s secure webmail client, which enables you to access your encrypted mailbox wherever you are.
- They sometimes post inaccurate information about proton mail in their blog.
Yahoo Mail
Yahoo Mail stands as one of the pioneers in the world of email services, offering users a reliable platform for communication since its inception in 1997. Over the years, Yahoo Mail has evolved significantly, integrating various features to enhance user experience, security, and productivity.
Features:
- 1TB of storage is available in Yahoo Mail for free
- Native applications for iOS devices (including iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) and for Android devices.
- Customizable Themes
- Two factor authentication via Security key, Google Authenticator app, Yahoo app, or a phone number (A phone number required first)
- Attachment Preview
Notes:
- Yahoo does require a phone number during the account creation process.
- Yahoo Mail accounts are generally considered inactive if there has been no sign-in activity for 12 consecutive months. Yahoo’s policy states that inactive accounts may be deactivated, and all contents of the account, including emails and attachments, may be permanently deleted.
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook, developed by Microsoft, serves as a comprehensive personal information manager software system, which is available as part of the Microsoft 365 software suites. While widely recognized as a prominent email client for businesses, Outlook offers a diverse array of features beyond email management. These include calendaring, task management, contact management, note-taking, journal logging, web browsing, and RSS news aggregation. Microsoft Outlook was initially released on January 16, 1997.
Features:
- You receive 15 GB of complimentary email storage with Outlook.com, distinct from your Microsoft cloud storage. Alongside this, your Microsoft account includes 5 GB of free cloud storage, which is distributed across various services. This storage space is shared among your files and photos stored in OneDrive, attachments within Outlook.com, and content accessed through your Microsoft 365 applications.
- Mobile and desktop app
- Two factor authentication via Microsoft Authenticator, alternate email address or a phone number.
Notes:
Outlook does not initially require a phone number to sign up for an account. However, it may block your access and ask you for a phone number later.
To keep your Microsoft account active, you must sign in at least once every two years. If you don’t sign in within this period, Microsoft will mark your account as inactive. Additionally, any account that has been locked for over two years will also be considered inactive and will be closed. Microsoft will extend your account’s active status, even without sign-in, if you’ve made purchases (excluding gift cards, certifications, or subscriptions), have an active subscription, published to the Microsoft Store, earned certifications, have an unspent balance, are owed money by Microsoft, have an account linked to a minor’s active account, or as required by law or otherwise provided by Microsoft.
Gmail
Gmail, launched by Google in 2004, quickly became one of the most popular email services globally. Offering a user-friendly interface, robust features, and integration with other Google services, Gmail revolutionized the way people manage their email communication. With its ample storage space, efficient spam filtering, and powerful search capabilities, Gmail has become the go-to choice for individuals, businesses, and organizations alike.
Features:
- 15 GB of free storage
- Google Calendar, Google Drive, Google Docs and Google Meet
- Strong Spam filter
- Native applications for iOS devices (including iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch) and for Android devices.
- Two factor authentication via Google Authenticator app or Security key (A phone number required first)
- Attachment Preview
Notes:
Gmail typically requires a phone number to sign up for a new account. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) via Authenticator app or Security key also requires a phone number first. You can delete this phone number after you set up 2FA, however google may force you again to give a phone number later.
When you create a Gmail account on a smartphone, Google often uses that smartphone as a default method for two-factor authentication (2FA). This means that when you try to sign in to your Gmail account from a new device or location, Google may send a verification code to your smartphone. You’ll then need to enter this code to complete the sign-in process
If you don’t set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for your Gmail account, Google may still prompt you for additional information when signing in from a new device or location. This additional information could include things like questions about account, providing a recovery email address, providing a phone number, or verifying account ownership through other means which are not clearly stated by google.
Gmail accounts are subject to deactivation if they remain inactive (no sign-ins or activity) for an extended period. Google’s policy states that accounts may be deactivated and all data associated with the account may be deleted after approximately two years of inactivity.
With a vast user base, there is limited support.
AOL Mail
AOL Mail, offered by America Online (AOL), stands as one of the pioneering email services that have endured the test of time. Renowned for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and reliability, AOL Mail continues to serve millions of users worldwide as a go-to email solution.
Features:
- Email attachment limit: Up to 25 MB per attachment.
- Max mailbox size: New accounts may have a limit of 1 TB.
- Supported protocols: POP3, SMTP, IMAP.
- Linking to other email accounts from different service providers like Gmail and Hotmail is possible.
- Advertisements are displayed while using the email account. Embedded links within emails are automatically disabled and require activation by the user.
- Spam protection and virus protection are included features.
- Spell checking functionality is available.
Notes:
- AOL request users to verify their identity using a phone number during sign up to ensure that they are not robots and it is used for recovery by default. Your phone number must be local and match country of your IP address.
- AOL Mail maintains the content of your mailbox as long as it remains active. Sign in to your mailbox at least once every 12 months to keep it active. Content deleted from an inactive mailbox can’t be restored. To preserve your mailbox you can subscribe to Extended AOL Mail.
Mail.com
Mail.com is owned by United Internet AG. The US-based company was founded in 1995 as Vanity Mail Services, part of Globecom Inc. The founding strategy of mail.com was to secure hundreds of email domains so its users could create customized email addresses. This successful business model eventually attracted global attention, and in 2010 mail.com was purchased by Europe’s United Internet group. The United Internet Group is the parent company of 1&1
Features:
- Your free mail.com account comes with 65 GB of email storage, or space for about half a million emails. It also includes 2 GB of free cloud storage in addition to your email storage, with the option to upgrade.
- Up to 10 custom email alias for free.
- Two factor authentication via Google Authenticator app or phone number. (A phone number required first)
Notes:
- It requires a phone number to sign up and it is used for account recovery by default.
- Free email accounts are considered inactive after six months of no login activity, and will be marked for deletion. When a mail.com account is deleted, all information (emails, cloud files, etc.) contained in the account is deleted from the mail.com servers in accordance with data privacy requirements.
- The free account includes advertisements.
GMX Mail
GMX is a service provided by 1&1 Mail & Media GmbH
Features:
- With GMX, you can store up to 65 GB worth of emails. That’s around 500,000 emails.
- Two factor authentication via Google Authenticator app or phone number. (A phone number required first)
Notes:
- It requires a phone number to sign up and it is used for account recovery by default.
- GMX is entitled to delete the messages saved in the customer’s account and other files after a period of 6 months of inactivity (no login via web browser or email program) without warning. After a period of 1 year of inactivity, GMX shall also be entitled to release the customer’s GMX email addresses (“aliases”) and make them available to other customers.
- The free account includes advertisements.
iCloud Mail
iCloud Mail, part of Apple’s suite of cloud-based services, offers users a secure and convenient email solution integrated seamlessly with the Apple ecosystem. iCloud Mail provides a range of features designed to enhance the email experience for Apple users.
Features:
- When you sign up for iCloud, you automatically receive 5GB of free storage per iCloud account. This storage can be used for various purposes, including backups, iCloud Photos, iCloud Drive, and iCloud Mail.
- Mobile and desktop app. (Apple has not created an official iCloud app for Android)
Notes:
- Apple may terminate your Account if it has been inactive for one year.
- To create an iCloud email account, users need to have an Apple ID, and creating an Apple ID typically requires providing a phone number for verification purposes.
- Sign up via Proxy or VPN or Tor is not allowed.
Yandex Mail
Yandex.Mail is an email service provided by Yandex, a Russian multinational technology company. It offers free email accounts with features such as a user-friendly interface, customizable inbox organization, spam filtering, and antivirus protection. Yandex.Mail also provides users with ample storage space for their emails and attachments. Additionally, it offers integration with other Yandex services, such as Yandex.Disk for file storage, and supports access via web browsers, mobile apps, and desktop email clients.
Features:
- All services are without ads.
- Support via email.
- Mobile and desktop app
Notes:
- Requires a phone number to sign up for a new account.
- A mailbox at Yandex.Mail is deleted if the User does not use it for over 24 months.
Eclipso Mail
Whether email, cloud drive, photo album, calendar, notes, to-do list, address book, agenda, fax or regular mail — the apps and tools from eclipso Mail Europe help you make your everyday life safer and more efficient.
Features:
- 4 GB free storage
- POP3 and SMTP support
- Office & Organizer
- No private information needed to sign up, like credit card, phone number, email, etc…
- Android and iOS app
- Two factor authentication via Google Authenticator app
- Setting an account recovery method is not mandatory.
Notes:
- According their terms and conditions, unused accounts will be deleted after a reasonable period. There is no legal claim to a specific email address. Generally, account names (email addresses) remain blocked for further use after deletion. However, if you can credibly demonstrate prior use of the deleted email address, they offer to reactivate it or release it for registration for a processing fee of €20.00.
- When a website implements Google Authenticator (or any Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) system), it’s generally considered a best practice to confirm that the user has set up the authenticator correctly. This is typically done by asking the user to enter a code generated by their authenticator app before completing the setup. However currently eclipso does not ask for this confirmation step! This could lead to potential issues, such as the user misconfiguring their authenticator and being locked out of their account!
- Access from VPN and Tor Network is not possible.
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