The 8 Best Gmail Alternatives of 2023

Privacy, security, and special features make alternate email services popular

By
Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen
Writer
  • Swansea University, Staffordshire University
Jennifer Allen has been writing about technology since 2010. Her work has appeared in Mashable, TechRadar, and many more publications.
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Updated on January 13, 2023

Gmail is a popular email service provider but it isn't the only one out there. In fact, when it comes to privacy protection, data security, and other concerns, an alternative email account might serve your needs better. Here's a look at our favorite Gmail alternatives and how each of them compares to Google's service. 

01
of 08

Best for Sensitive Content: Hushmail

Hushmail
What We Like

  • Sends encrypted emails.

  • Supports your own domain names.

  • Support for signing documents.

What We Don't Like

  • Overkill for many users.

  • It's not free. 

Do you send a lot of sensitive files and documents? Hushmail prides itself on being a service that many professionals use because of its encrypted security features and its contract support. The latter means you can send through documents and use electronic signatures on contracts within the app providing peace of mind. 

It's a bit over the top for the average user who just wants to use an alternate email service but it's definitely worthwhile for those looking for some high-end security. You can tie it into any existing domain names you own too so you won't have to worry about an ugly email address. 10GB storage is a good starting point too.

02
of 08

Best for Security: ProtonMail

Protonmail
What We Like

  • Highly secure.

  • Free option.

  • Easy to use.

What We Don't Like

  • Paid service has the most features.

  • Limited customer support on free service.

Over the years, ProtonMail has built up a reputation for being highly secure. It's often considered one of the most secure ways to send emails thanks to its end-to-end encryption feature and tightened password protection services. 

For free, you get 500MB of storage space with a limit of 150 messages per day, so the Plus service for a few dollars a month is superior. With the paid service, you get the option to set up folders, labels, and custom filters, as well as better customer support. Whatever you choose though, ProtonMail is very secure. With a priority on security, you won't have to worry about anyone accessing your emails. Even ProtonMail itself can't read them. 

03
of 08

Best for iOS users: iCloud Mail

iCloud
What We Like

  • Apple users already have an account.

  • Easy to use. 

  • Free.

What We Don't Like

  • Not available to Android users.

Own an iPhone or Mac? You almost certainly already have an iCloud email address from signing up to various services. The iCloud.com domain name isn't the most exciting but it is entirely free to use and very convenient. The interface looks a lot like a simpler version of Gmail which makes it all the easier to use. That's reflected in its features with no mention of strong encryption or anything more than the basics being covered. 

You only get 5GB of free iCloud storage to start with but it's a decent plan entirely for free. Tied into all your Apple devices, you won't have to worry about complex set up either. For Apple owners, it's the perfect starting place for changing email providers.

04
of 08

Best for Personalization: Mail.com

A screenshot of the Mail.com website.
What We Like

  • Lots of choices for domain names.

  • 30MB attachment limit.

  • Spam filter.

What We Don't Like

  • Only 2GB storage on free plan.

  • No POP3 support. 

Mail.com is one of the oldest names in the field and it has some very cool personalization features. That's down to the ability to choose from a huge selection of domains for your email address. You don't have to be stuck with an @mail.com domain. Instead, you can reflect your personality with fun options like elvisfan.com, graduate.com, or techie.com. 

The free plan works for many but if you want more flexibility like the ability to send emails from different apps or providers through POP3 support, you'll need to pay. Mail.com also only has a 2GB file storage limit. Still, if you're only planning on exchanging messages, the domain names are a great way to have a little fun. It's ideal for a frivolous account. 

05
of 08

Simplest to Use: Outlook

Outlook
What We Like

  • Simple interface.

  • Integrates with Windows. 

  • Syncing options.

What We Don't Like

  • Low file size limit.

  • Low storage.

The Windows equivalent of iCloud, Outlook keeps things simple. Its interface is extraordinarily simple making it perfect for novices and those that just want to be able to send a few emails. It integrates with Windows really well so it's an endearing product to use if you're an extensive Windows user. It also syncs your calendar, contacts, OneDrive, and OneNote, tying itself neatly into your daily activities. 

As an email service though, it's a little basic at times. It only has 5GB of storage which isn't the lowest here, but still isn't great. Also, you can only send files up to 5MB in size. For convenience though, Windows users can't go wrong here.

06
of 08

Most Minimalist: Fastmail

Fastmail
What We Like

  • Ad-free.

  • Simple interface.

  • Good spam filter.

What We Don't Like

  • Limited features.

  • Not free.

Want an entirely ad-free service? Fastmail is perfect for this. It's simple to use and you won't have to worry about your emails being sold for targeted advertisements. Fastmail also offers great spam filters that actually work and keep the unwelcome content out.

You do need to pay for the privilege, though. It's a relatively small fee each month with the amount depending on how much storage space you want, but it does mean that you won't be using this as a throwaway account. A free trial means you can try it out and we really do love the minimalist themes involved. Everything from set up to signing in takes mere seconds which is great to see. 

07
of 08

Best for Space: GMX Mail

GMX
What We Like

  • Huge storage space.

  • Allows large attachments.

  • Mobile apps.

What We Don't Like

  • No encryption.

  • Need to enter more details than other services.

  • Lots of ads.

GMX is an entirely free email service that's supported by a lot of advertisements. That means it's not immediately appealing to look at but it does offer plenty of storage space. That's because it allows you to store over half a million emails at any one time, and it accepts attachments up to 50MB. That's far superior to many other email providers and is sure to be useful if you're a heavy user. 

It also works across pretty much every platform imaginable with mobile apps also available. Other features include an online calendar so you get Gmail style features thrown in too. And you can add email aliases to GMX if desired.For simple, non-essential email, GMX has it covered. 

08
of 08

Best Themes: Yahoo Mail

Yahoo Mail
What We Like

  • Plenty of customization features.

  • Easy to use interface.

  • Large attachments allowed.

What We Don't Like

  • Spam issues.

  • Lots of ads.

Yahoo Mail has been around for a long time which comes with some pros and cons. On a positive note, it's incredibly easy to use. Its interface is the closest to Gmail's which is ideal for simply sending a few emails. It also has plenty of different themes available to you so you can get the interface looking just how you like it. Yahoo Mail also allows for up to 1000GB of emails and for you to send attachments up to 100MB, which is impressive.

Where it falters is its spam issues. Due to its age and mediocre spam filters, you're liable to receive a lot of spam through the service. It's also pretty heavy on ad content which isn't great to see. Despite that, it is very simple to use though.

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