Gmail is among the most widely used email services. In reality, over 1.5 billion people worldwide use it, both individually and professionally. Both are possible. Although Gmail offers many advantages, if your privacy is a concern, there are other alternatives to Gmail to consider. Google examines its users’ email and utilizes the contents to bring up advertising that may or may not be useful to you. This does not imply that Google workers are reading your emails; algorithms handle this without the need for human participation.
However, instead of using Gmail, you may use an end-to-end encrypted service that prioritizes your privacy. Many options are likewise free to use, but depending on the features you want and need, you may pay for others.
What will you see here?
Apple iCloud Mail
The default email software on Apple devices is iCloud Mail. It works on a web browser, so it can be used on Windows, although it’s a little tricky on Android. You receive 5GB of storage as well as a 20MB attachment restriction for free, while larger data is automatically transferred using Mail Drop.
It’s the logical choice for Apple customers who are already involved in the ecosystem, and it’s also free of advertisements.
Even though it has a VIP inbox that prioritizes messages from contacts you select as VIPs, the main issue commonly levied at the service is its lack of capacity to arrange emails into folders. However, you can add other email accounts as well as manage them in the Mail app, giving you a consistent, ad-free experience for all of your emails. This is the alternative to Gmail for iPhone users.
FastMail
FastMail is a premium, quick, and easy email service that offers both individual and business accounts. It works across all platforms, including browsers and desktop applications. FastMail is accessible in a variety of languages.
FastMail takes the opposite approach to Google: instead of being a free service for which you ‘pay’ by giving over your data, you pay for it and gain privacy in exchange. The user interface is identical to Gmail, with the extra security feature of two-step authentication. It also allows you to sync emails from other accounts, such as Yahoo and Gmail.
Pricing begins at $3 a month, however, there is a 30-day free trial to try it out first.
Yahoo Mail
Yahoo’s alternative to Gmail is Yahoo Mail. You’ll have to put up with advertisements if you are using Yahoo’s free email service, but that’s no big thing for some when you’re receiving a huge 1TB (1000GB) of free storage.
If you’re a hoarder who wants to save emails for years, this is ideal.
Instead of attempting to discover images, papers, bargains, and other items among the emails, you may create alternative themes, and layouts, and even view them. Yahoo Mail, like many other email providers, including Gmail, allows you to save your contacts and calendar events.
If you run out of storage space, you can switch to Yahoo Mail+ for $5 monthly. It will provide you 5TB of storage, removes the annoying advertisements, and adds a slew of other services like automatic email forwarding, and reply reminders, as well as 24/7 tech support.
Microsoft Outlook
Gmail’s major competition is Microsoft’s long-running email service, which has gone by several names including Hotmail and Live. We are talking about Outlook.com, a free web-based email service.
Outlook allows users to handle email accounts from many providers without having to switch programs, and it prioritizes emails in a Focused Inbox to assist users to avoid distractions. It’s similar to the Primary Inbox in Gmail.
Within your Outlook mailbox, Skype is integrated to facilitate chat and video conversations. The outlook may also automatically include email information to your calendar, such as airline schedules.
You receive 15GB of storage, much as with Gmail. However, if you need more, you’ll have to pay Microsoft 365 for 50GB. A diverse set of connectors spans Microsoft’s extensive product portfolio, including Office file editing straight from the inbox, as well as third-party services like Google Drive, PayPal, and Facebook. This is the closest alternative to Gmail one can consider.
Zoho Mail
Zoho Mail comes in a commercial edition that costs £0.8 per person/month as well as a free personal edition that is completely ad-free.
The webmail service is meant to offer sophisticated functionality in a simple and easy-to-use interface. It includes Zoho Docs, which allows users to save, share, and collaborate on spreadsheets, documents, and presentations.
A thread-nesting style conversation interface in a nested-tree structure is included to monitor the history of interactions inside an email thread, as well as CRM connection for easier corporate communication management.
ProtonMail
If you value your privacy, ProtonMail will appeal to you. It’s free to use and offers end-to-end encryption to keep your communications secret.
To keep your emails encrypted, you must send them to other ProtonMail members. Its servers are located in Switzerland, privacy heaven, and the UI, albeit uninspiring, gets the job done.
The primary disadvantage is the 500MB of free storage capacity. That implies you’ll have to spend a few pounds/dollars each month to use it effectively. This is the most secure alternative to Gmail.
GMX Email
GMX Email may not be as well-known as some of the other companies on our list, but it is quickly establishing a reputation to rival them all, with more than 20 million customers and one of the alternatives to Gmail.
The free webmail service is intended for both small business and personal usage, with the feature of “all your email” storage being the centerpiece. There is a 65GB restriction, so it’s not endless. However, that’s a lot of room for email, and GMX has options to help you free up space fast if you run out.
The GMX Mail Collector, which allows users to file several third-party inboxes in their GMX account, is one of the many functions. Security is very important to the firm. Antivirus software checks all emails and attachments for viruses, while anti-spam software filters out undesirable messages.
Tutanota
Tutanota is for email users who are concerned about security. When sending emails to other Tutanota users, this service offers end-to-end encryption, although passwords can be used to safeguard emails sent to other email providers.
The program is free and open-source, including apps for all common smartphones and Linux. Users on Android may also get the software through F-Droid rather than the Google Play Store. Tutanota manages to maintain an intuitive design despite the considerable focus on security, and it is also reachable via a web browser.
Conclusion
Gmail has been so popular since its launch that it has virtually become synonymous with “email.” It is presently the most popular email service in the world, and it shows no signs of slowing down thanks to its easy layout, large range of helpful functions, and a Gmail extension for every need.
But, like every other software, Gmail has defects and weaknesses. In fact, its widespread use might be seen as a disadvantage – after all, using Gmail puts your information in the hands of a massive business. Above there are various alternatives to Gmail that one can consider.
