While gmail is the go-to email service for many due to its easy-to-use interface, the way it handles user privacy is concerning. As Google’s role grows, more and more email users are starting to look for alternatives.
In this article, we will share the best email platforms to use instead of gmail. Without further ado, let’s see what’s so concerning about gmail and what other platforms users might choose instead.
lack of time? today’s best gmail alternatives
- protonmail – the best email for encrypted communications
- zoho mail – the best user-friendly email service
- startmail – the best private email for users beginners
- tutanota: best email for privacy-conscious people
- gmx: gmail’s biggest competitor
📢 limited offer: save 20% on protonmail with the 1-year offer!
gmail privacy issues: reasons to use a more secure email alternative
While Gmail is the world’s favorite email service due to its ease of use and integrations, when it comes to privacy, Gmail users suffer.
The privacy of gmail users has been compromised several times. The most famous case took place in 2018, when a year after Google announced that it would stop scanning users’ emails for targeted ads, the Wall Street Journal published an article proving otherwise.
according to the wall street journal, hundreds of third-party app developers were given access to scan and share data from users’ inboxes.
By scanning users’ gmail inboxes, third-party apps began offering automatic travel itinerary suggestions, price comparisons, and more. Google did not immediately comment on the case, and this case demonstrated just how vulnerable free email accounts like gmail are. therefore, looking for an alternative email service is something every Internet user should at least consider.
In addition to privacy concerns, here are the top reasons to look for a more secure email service:
- gmail only allows 10gb of storage space
- does not have end-to-end encryption on emails
- it is us based. uu.
- does not offer anonymous registration and payment alternatives
the best gmail alternatives to keep your emails private
To avoid putting your most sensitive information at risk, consider using alternative email services. When choosing a reliable gmail alternative, make sure it offers at least some of the following:
- end-to-end encryption.
- anonymous payment options.
- privacy-friendly jurisdiction.
- open source code.
- registration without personal information.
- no ads.
- custom domains for businesses.
In the list below, you will find the best alternatives to gmail available today.
1. protonmail: the best email for encrypted communications
protonmail was founded in 2013, and today it is one of the best known gmail alternatives. Since it hosts its servers in Switzerland, user data is safe under strict Swiss privacy laws.
Location privacy aside, the service itself offers end-to-end encryption to make sure no one else reads your emails. It also works cross-platform, so you can send secure emails even to users using other providers.
The important thing to know is that all new users get 500MB of free storage and if they need additional storage space, they can opt for one of three premium plans. that way you can expand your storage up to 20gb and use custom domains.
also, the protonmail inbox is modern and easy to use, making it a choice in terms of ease of use. It also has tools to import the most important data from your gmail account.
visit protonmail
2. zoho mail: the best easy-to-use email service
Created with a focus on businesses, Zoho Mail also offers its services to individuals. You might have heard about their password manager, but they also offer a secure email service.
Your mailbox comes equipped with end-to-end encryption support for s/mime, but also uses ssl or tls. To increase the security of your mailbox, you can add two-factor authentication through Touch ID, TOTP, or other means. however, if convenience is just as important to you, they have apps for most platforms with calendar and note integrations.
When you face any problem related to your zoho mail account, you can rely on 24/7 customer support. By opting for this email service, you can take advantage of its top-notch security and privacy features, as well as a reliable 99.9% uptime.
When choosing this gmail alternative, expect to get up to 1tb of storage, which is more than other gmail alternatives usually offer.
visit zoho mail
3. startmail: the best easy-to-use email service
SmartMail is very comparable to Gmail. It provides a polished user experience with full PGP integration if you’re privacy-conscious. This means that you can privately communicate with other users that also use PGP.
This is not a true end-to-end encryption setup as it is only implemented on the server side. however, it should be secure enough for most use cases. You can even add features like two-factor authentication to increase the overall security of your account.
email also has fully integrated recording emails. If you want to create an account online somewhere and are worried about spam, you can use that instead of your correct address. that can also be useful for online stores.
the main drawback compared to gmail is that the service does not have proprietary mobile applications. supports imap and smtp. With them, you can recover emails through apple mail or outlook.
You can try the service with a 30-day free trial. includes limit of 5 emails/day and 10 GB of encrypted cloud storage.
visit startmail
4. tutanota: the best email for privacy-conscious people
Tutanota is widely known for being the first email service to offer end-to-end encryption. It was founded back in 2011 in Germany, and now has millions of users worldwide.
Much of its popularity is due to the fact that its software is open source and anyone can inspect its source code on github. this transparency helps a lot and makes this service trustworthy.
In addition, tutanota follows a business model that is based solely on user donations and premium subscriptions. the company excludes earning money through advertisements.
is one of the best options for international activists and journalists who handle sensitive information and fight for privacy. tutanota also offers a business plan that helps NGOs and organizations ensure private and secure internal communication.
When users receive their email from tutanota, they get 1GB of storage. however, due to email compression, the free storage is increased to 10GB.
visit tutanota
5. gmx: gmail’s biggest competitor
Based in Germany, Global Mail Exchange (GMX) is a reliable Gmail alternative. As it was founded back in 1997, it offers time-tested and high-quality services.
for protection, it uses tls/ssl, the same type of encryption that gmail uses to protect your emails while in transit. however, unlike gmail, your emails will not be scanned for keywords that will be used for advertising purposes later.
Along with a mailbox, users can take advantage of a free calendar, a spam filter and a foolproof antivirus. As gmx now has over 11 million active users, it stands out as one of gmail’s biggest competitors.
After getting a gmx account, users can enjoy 65gb of storage space per account. so if you need more storage space you can always create another gmx account. Also, the maximum email attachment size is 50mb, so there are fewer restrictions if it comes from a gmail account.
visit gmx
6. mailbox.org: the largest email store
Founded in 2014 in Germany, mailbox is a well-known gmail alternative for both individuals and businesses. your users get a protected ad-free email sending experience, as well as an integrated calendar, cloud storage and contact lists.
When registering for this service, you do not have to provide any personal data. also applies to paid plans, so you can pay anonymously.
In terms of security, your emails are ssl/tls encrypted. pgp is also supported, so you can keep your communications private.
What’s great about mailbox is that it offers email inboxes that are easy to remember and recognizable around the world. More importantly, a strong focus on privacy and security sets Mailbox apart from its competitors.
As mailbox.org operates on a prepaid credit scheme, you can choose how much storage you need. you can get 100gb of mail storage and 2tb of cloud storage, max.
visit mailbox.org
7. icloud mail: the best option for apple users
There’s nothing more anti-Google than going with Apple. Their iCloud Mail is an optional part of your iCloud account, which you must create to use any Apple device fully. Windows users will need to install iTunes to set up an account, and they won’t be able to access their email via an app if they don’t own an iPhone. Keep this in mind.
In true apple style, their apps have a user-friendly interface, making the transition from gmail easy. While this email service is not packed with outstanding features, it is a reliable platform to use. It will be a great alternative to gmail for everyone who uses apple devices and is willing to increase their online privacy.
just like opting for outlook, you get 5gb of free storage. it would be enough for the basic internet user, but we would like it to increase the storage space.
visit icloud mail
8. yahoo! mail – the most similar service to gmail
same as gmail, yahoo! mail is a synonym for email for many. today, it has more than 200 million users. like yahoo! mail has a similar interface to gmail, it’s a great email service to opt for if you want a smooth transition.
formerly, yahoo! allowed to create an account with an international and national domain (for example, @yahoo.fr or @yahoo.es). however, currently, you can only create an account using the international domain @yahoo.com.
compared to gmail and other competitors in the market, yahoo! mail provides its users with 1TB of storage space, which is more than enough for even the most needy users. however, it also has many of the same issues that gmail has in terms of privacy.
To make things even worse, they have even experienced severe hacking in the past. so if you’re very picky about the security measures your email service uses, take note.
visit yahoo! mail
9. fastmail: the best option without advertising
Fastmail focuses on providing both individuals and organizations with high-quality paid email accounts. The company is located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and now offers its services in over 30 languages. Back in 2010, Fastmail was acquired by Opera Software only later to become an independent organization.
If you are looking for a minimalist email service, fastmail is your best option! In a sense, it is one of the best gmail alternatives as it is completely ad-free. however, keep in mind that your messages are stored unencrypted and in one of the worst locations when it comes to privacy.
When you go for the basic plan, you get 2gb of storage space per user. with the standard plan you get 25 gb , and with the professional plan 100 gb of storage space. those who opt for the latter plan can also take advantage of unlimited file space.
visit quick mail
10. posting: lightweight but secure email provider
The last Gmail alternative we offer today is Posteo. This email service is in Berlin, Germany, and it is known for offering paid email accounts for both individuals and businesses.
This open source gmail alternative is a great option for those looking for a more secure email experience. it’s packed with first-rate security features, including server-side email encryption. when your emails are in transition, it uses tls to make sure no one can benefit from intercepting them. there is even support for s/mime or openpgp.
With one account, you can set up different aliases as if you had separate email addresses. this helps minimize spam and annoying newsletters. it also makes your mailbox much neater and more organized.
By opting in to Post, you get 2GB of email storage space. if you ever need more, you can purchase additional gigabytes up to a maximum of 20gb.
visit the post
final thoughts
All in all, gmail’s privacy issues are a good reason to look for alternatives. what you have to decide is how advanced you want your new mailbox to be and if you prefer a minimal service or one that offers many customization options. To learn how to delete your gmail account forever, read our guide.
Also, if you want to further understand how to send an anonymous email, please read our article here.