In today’s world of new technologies, having a pleasant mailing service that organises all of your emails and offers you with the highest level of security is critical. Gmail has been in the spotlight for selling data and not delivering an ad-free inbox, despite being the most popular and commonly used mailing programme. This is one of the many reasons why you should start looking for Gmail alternatives right now.
What is Gmail?
Gmail is the most widely used email service in the planet.
It has an inbuilt organising tool that allows you to label, sort into separate categories, set notification alerts and reminders, and much more to keep track of all your emails. Gmail, which was created and introduced by Google in April 2004, is simple to use and set up. Gmail is currently used by 1.8 billion individuals to send and receive emails.
What to Look for in a Gmail Alternative?
Before moving on to the best 11 Gmail alternatives, you need to know what you’re looking for. If you’re clear on that, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions sooner and without regret. Let us refresh your memory on what to look for in Gmail alternatives.
- Privacy policy: An email provider should have stringent privacy and individual policies. A reliable email provider will always have a strict privacy policy in tune with its respective jurisdiction.
- End-to-end encryption: All the emails should have end-to-end encryption for better protection of data.
- Accessibility: Adherence to protocols, such as IMAP and POP, to access encrypted emails through third party software or mobile application.
- Open-source code: It allows easy tracking of any vulnerabilities.
- Anonymous registration: Unlike Gmail, you can use it to register yourself and secure your personal information anonymously.
- Unlimited aliases: This feature allows you to create temporary emails to send and receive emails and keeps your inbox spam-free.
- Anonymous payment: Email service providers must have flexible payment gateways to keep your digital payment mechanism separate from your email information.
Check Out the 11 Gmail Alternatives (Most Secure Free Email Providers) in 2021:
1. ProtonMail
ProtonMail is one of the most secure Gmail alternatives.
The Swiss privacy laws encompass its strict privacy settings, which ensure data security, integrity, and neutrality. The Professional plan costs $8 per month per user for up to 5000 users and 5GB per person.
Why ProtonMail:
- End-to-end encryption
- The ProtonMail inbox is user-friendly, designed, and optimized to provide maximum productivity
- Easy to use and compatible on any device and with any software, including other email providers
Pros
- Open-source platform
- New users do not have to provide their personal information.
- Application is not required to be installed
- New users get up to 500MB of storage free
Cons
- You have to go for premium plans for advanced features.
- Subject lines for emails are not encrypted.
2. Mailbox.org
Mailbox.org, one of the most dependable alternatives to Gmail and the best free email service for privacy, provides people and businesses with an ad-free experience. It has cloud, calendar, and contact list features.
Why Mailbox.org:
- Allows you to use your custom domain name
- Video conferencing
- Cloud storage, calendar data, and address book
- Germany-based data protection
Pros
- No personal information is required for availing of the services
- Third-party email service providers are supported
- Free trial for 30 days
Cons
- You need to subscribe to a premium plan for more storage provision which requires a prepaid credit scheme.
3. Zoho Mail
Zoho Mail is a popular Gmail alternative that is ranked among the best secure email providers. It is designed for both businesses and individuals. It has mail, calendar, and note-taking capabilities. The Workplace plan costs $1 per user each month and is invoiced annually.
Why Zoho Mail:
- Zoho Mail integrates with Zoho CRM for better sales management
- Storage up to 10 GB
- Custom domain email for businesses
- Easy migration and email collaboration
- Mobile access and email privacy
Pros
- 24×7 customer support
- 99.99% uptime
- A 15 days free trial is available.
Cons
- Cannot sync with contacts present on social media.
- For more than 5GB storage, you need to upgrade to a premium plan.
4. Outlook
Outlook is a wonderful Gmail competitor that provides the most secure free email service. It offers an easy-to-use UI as well as account management. You must pay $19.95 per year to utilise Microsoft Outlook Premium as a separate email service.
Why Outlook:
- Outlook offers mailing, calendar, and task management services
- It has an enterprise-grade security level
- Data encryption is available for emails as well as for sent emails
Pros
- Outlook is ad-free
- Integrates with Skype, OneDrive, and Calendar.
- Free one-month trial available
Cons
- Outlook offers only 5GB of storage, which is disappointing compared to Gmail (15GB)
- It offers ransom detection and recovery of essential files in OneDrive and deactivation of malware upon premium subscription.
5. iCloud Mail
For iOS users, iCloud Mail is included with every Apple device and provides up to 5GB of storage. It’s the greatest Gmail alternative for encrypting emails and protecting your privacy.
Why iCloud Mail:
- Signing in is easy. You can use either your @icloud.com email address or your Apple ID
- Enjoy the free cloud space up to 5GB
- Access all the iCloud Mail features through your Apple devices
Pros
- User-interactive and intuitive UI
- No ads
Cons
- Lacks many advanced features for composing emails
- Working with iCloud Mail requires an Apple-supported browser
- It requires an Apple ID to sign in
- No POP3 services are available
6. FastMail
FastMail is another safe email provider and one of the top Gmail alternatives due to its basic functionality. Its major services are for both individuals and businesses, and it includes superior privacy protection measures. It does not monetize your data like Gmail does. FastMail offers three different subscription plans, each with varying storage capacities. The Basic plan costs $2 per month per user.
Why FastMail:
- Custom domain emails
- Supports PGP and IMAP
- The storage space can range from 2GB to 100GB
- It is security-focused
- Contact, mail, and calendar are all synced
- Import and export from other email providers
Pros
- Completely ad-free
- Highly customizable spam filters
- A 30 days free trial period is available
Cons
- It is a paid email service provider. No free versions are available
- Lack of end-to-end encryption
- Not apt for users required advanced features
7. GMX
Global Mail Exchange, or GMX, is one of the more dependable Gmail alternatives. The software provides a fully working mailbox, spam filters, antivirus, and a free calendar, and is well-known in the market for its high-quality and extensively tested services.
Why GMX:
- Easy to use and organize
- You can access the mailbox on the go
- Combine multiple mail accounts and enjoy the webmail
Pros
- Users can create up to ten email accounts using GMX.
- Each GMX account offers up to 65 GB of storage.
- The app supports attachment up to 50 MB
Cons
- Not a user-friendly interface
- It does not support 2FA.
8. Tutanota
Tutanota is a free open-source Gmail alternative that is one of the most well-known and secure email providers. It protects your data by encrypting all of your emails and contacts in your mailbox. The Premium plan costs €12 per year, which is around $14.
Why Tutanota:
- End-to-end encrypted emails with two-factor authentication (2FA)
- Compatible with iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, and Android
- Free encrypted contacts, and calendars
- The free version lets you enjoy storage of up to 1 GB
Pros
- No personal information (including phone number) required to signup
- Secure and easy to use, open-source email provider
- Works on macOS, Windows, Linux, Browser, iOS, and Android
- Totally ad-free
Cons
- You are required to upgrade your plan to avail high-quality services.
9. Posteo
Posteo is a secure email company located in Germany that offers an alternative to Gmail with top-notch security standards enforced by European privacy legislation. Each account will cost you $1 per month. You’ll need to upgrade with a premium deposit if you want extra storage space.
Why Posteo:
- Server-side email encryption
- Open PGP encryption
- Supports IMAP encryption, thus, allowing flexibility and easier accessibility
- Up to 50MB, attachment is possible
- Secure and ad-free
Pros
- Storage up to 2GB is available. For additional space, you need to upgrade to a better plan
- Anonymous payment is possible
- Two-factor authentication (TOTP) is possible
- No personal details are required upon signing up
Cons
- There is no feature for a custom domain email
- Lack of spam folders
10. Mailfence
Mailfence is a free Gmail alternative platform that allows you to sign up for free and benefit from Belgian legal and privacy protection. With its free plan, you receive 500MB of email storage as well as 500MB of document storage. It supports two-factor authentication. The Entry plan costs 2 EUR and includes 5GB of email storage, 12GB of document storage, 3 groups, and a personalised email domain.
Why Mailfence:
- Lets you migrate your domain
- Mailfence offers OpenPGP encryption
- Contacts, messages, documents, and calendar features are available
Pros
- There are no ads, no spams, no trackers, and no backdoors
- Enables you to send encrypted emails to recipients that don’t support OpenPGP encryption
- Mailfence is a browser-based app supporting all screens. No plug-ins, no add-ons are necessary
- Shares transparency report on the blog
Cons
- No open-source code
- It uses the sender’s and recipient’s addresses, IDs, and IP addresses that can be disclosed on the court’s order
11. SmartMail
SmartMail is a privacy-protecting Gmail alternative located in the Netherlands. It is one of the top email services that prioritises privacy protection in accordance with Dutch regulations. It merely keeps your IP address and other information till the end of your browsing session, such as device model, country name, and so on. The Personal account costs $29.99 for the first year, while the Business account costs $59.95 each year.
Why SmartMail:
- The IP address saved is also encrypted and anonymously stored for three days
- Provides an unlimited number of aliases that you can use when you don’t want to share your permanent email ID while sending emails
- It supports IMAP and SMTP protocols
- You can use your own domain email
- Tracking the cookies is prohibited
- Encryption is done on the server-side instead of the browser-side
Pros:
- SmartMail offers PGP encryption
- You can easily create a ‘temporary email on the fly
- Subscription can be either through cards or cryptocurrency
Cons:
- Only a 7-day free trial is available
- Costly compared to other Gmail alternative
12. Yahoo Mail
Yahoo Mail, a fantastic Gmail replacement, features a comparable interface to Gmail. For people who want smooth transitions, the secure email service provider is the perfect option.
Why Yahoo Mail:
- Offers 1 TB storage space along with custom domain email
- Affordable and easy to setup
- Trusted by millions of users
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Easy customization
- Supports large attachments
Cons:
- You have to pay $3.49/month to enjoy an ad-free inbox with priority customer support
Conclusion
We’ll wrap off this article by presenting you with the top 11 Gmail alternatives that will help you manage, sort, and improve your life.
You’ll have access to the services you need to preserve your privacy whenever and wherever you want. Make an informed decision!
