Email Services (10 best): gmail, hotmail, yahoo and more

Emails have revolutionized the way we do business. They are a handy tool to engage customers or communicate with colleagues. There are different free emails you can create within a few minutes. However, not all are ideal for your business or individual use.

This blog post takes you through the best emails accounts that you can use for free. We have used each email service on our list and understand their advantages and disadvantages.

Email Services Storage Capacity Ideal for
Gmail 15GB All purposes
Yahoo Mail 1TB Bulk storage
AOL 1TB Bulk storage
Outlook 15GB Integration with Microsoft tools
Neo 50GB Start-up emails
Zoho Mail 5GB Home business management
iCloud Mail 5GB Mac users
Mozilla Thunderbird 5GB Tech-savvy users
ProtonMail 1GB Data encryption
GMX Mail 65GB Managing multiple emails

List of the Best Free Email Services

Gmail

Founded in early 2004, Gmail is the most popular email globally, with almost 2 billion users. The platform supports over 100 languages, making it the most diverse and accessible. The 15GB data allowance is enough for individual use or start-up email services.

Pros

  • Anti-phishing and spam protection.
  • A simple interface on mobile and desktop.
  • End-to-end data encryption.
  • Smart Compose technology, which makes writing emails quicker.
  • Integration with AI.
  • Easily to integrate with other Google services (Meet, Drive, Calendar, among others).

Cons

  • Integration with other Google products can be overwhelming if you need an email only.
  • Targeted advertising through your email can feel intrusive.

Yahoo! Mail

One of the primary advantages of Yahoo! Mail over other free email services is the mailbox storage. The platform supports up to 1TB of data storage, which is way above the other service providers. Yahoo! allows you to create disposable addresses without revealing your address. This feature comes in handy when you want to avoid inbox spamming.

Pros

  • It is easy to import contacts from other platforms like your computer or Facebook.
  • Diverse themes that make the background of your mailbox attractive.
  • You can track all the files you have shared on your inbox’s sidebar.
  • Huge free storage.

Cons

  • Limited filters compared to other free emails.
  • It doesn’t support attachment of online files.

AOL

Apollo purchased this platform from Verizon in 2021. Formerly, AOL was American Online, and it has kept up with the latest technology in the industry. Similar to Yahoo! Mail, AOL allows up to 1TB of free mailbox storage. The ease of importing contact files in different formats from your computer or mobile gives the platform an edge. Apart from that, AOL has a spellchecker that helps you reduce typos.

Pros

  • Free spellchecker integrated into the platform.
  • The large text option, which is customizable to the user’s liking.
  • Undo options for emails sent to other AOL contacts.
  • Anti-virus and spam protection services.

Cons

  • Many ads which can slow down email access.
  • Some features need a subscription to access.

Outlook

This Microsoft product provides all the necessary features you expect from an email service: storage, integration with Microsoft tools, calendar, and mailbox, among others. Outlook email addresses are @outlook.com and @hotmail.com (yes, it is still available). The platform also supports alias email addresses, which can help in anonymity and protection against spamming.

Pros

  • Easy to integrate with other Microsoft tools like Office.
  • You can access Skype, Calendar, and OneNote.
  • Message recovery option allows you to retrieve mistakenly deleted emails.
  • Aliases make it easy to add anonymity to your emails.

Cons

  • Loading time can be long.
  • The free plan has no end-to-end encryption.

Neo

Are you looking for a custom email address for your business, but you don’t have a domain name? This platform provides a 30-day free trial period for their customized emails. Apart from that, they also offer free .co.site one-page sites for businesses. After the trial period, you can proceed with the Business Starter or Business Plus plans for $1.99 and $3.99, respectively.

Pros

  • Free site is a big plus for start-ups.
  • Easy to customize your email address.
  • Follow-up reminders can help revive forgotten emails.
  • Email scheduling helps send your communication during prime times.

Cons

  • No lifetime free plans.
  • It doesn’t work offline.

Zoho Mail

Zoho is a renowned brand for its business-focused features that make it ideal for start-ups. The platform works more like a private social media platform where you can set expiry for messages and limit sharing, downloading, forwarding, and printing. You can integrate Zoho Mail with Google Drive, Box, Zoho Doc, and OneDrive.

Pros

  • The free plan allows up to 5 users.
  • You can limit the sharing of your emails and set expiry.
  • Guaranteed safety from advertisers.
  • Clean and professional mailbox interface.

Cons

  • Overwhelming number of tools on the platform.
  • The 5GB storage is low for heavy users.

iCloud Mail

This is the best free email service for Mac users who want everything in one system. The email service is limited to Apple product users. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have advanced features compared to other tools. iCloud Mail allows up to 5GB of storage, which is shared with other apps. This limits the storage capacity for users who want large space. The good thing is that you can upgrade to a paid package to get more storage.

Pros

  • It helps Mac users manage all systems in one place.
  • The interface is easy to use and appealing.
  • Easy to unsubscribe from unnecessary email lists.
  • It is easy to share bulky files of up to 5GB.

Cons

  • The features are not as advanced.
  • It is an integrated system of different services rather than a single service.

Mozilla Thunderbird

One thing that makes this email service stand out is the ability to open emails on different tabs. However, you need to download the Thunderbird app to access your mailbox. Although it is not a popular choice, it is suitable for individuals looking for a customizable mailbox.

Pros

  • Ideal for tech-savvy users.
  • The interface is easily customizable to fit your preference.
  • Good for privacy.
  • You can organize your emails easily.

Cons

  • The setup process is disrupted by ads.
  • Many users are not familiar with it, and this can raise credibility questions.

ProtonMail

Are you concerned about the security of your email messages? ProtonMail is one of the most advanced platforms when it comes to data encryption. You can rest assured that no third party can access your message because it requires a password before accessing it. Apart from that, you can set an expiration for the email after which the recipient can’t access it.

Pros

  • Idea for end-to-end message encryption.
  • The password requirement makes it secure.
  • You can set an expiration period for your emails.
  • Easy to set up the account.

Cons

  • Branded footer, which is only removed by upgrading.
  • Limited mailbox storage of 1GB.

GMX Mail

Most people have not heard about this email service, but it has been around for over 25 years. When you are thinking about managing multiple emails, this is the best option. GMX Mail allows you to store up to 65GB of data for the free plan. This platform also helps share large files because it can accommodate up to 50MB. You can also create aliases to add some anonymity to your email addresses.

Pros

  • Strong spam filters.
  • Large storage capacity of 65GB.
  • In-built translation tool.
  • Ease of integration with external email accounts.

Cons

  • There is no way to increase font size without zooming.
  • Doesn’t offer two-factor authentication to secure accounts.

There are numerous free email services that you can choose from. However, not all are secure, and some have limited functionalities. This list of diverse email services can help you choose a platform that aligns with your needs. Whether your concern is security, storage space, integration, or interface, there is something for everyone.