/en/internet-tips/understanding-urls/content/
how to choose an email service
an email address is a big part of your online identity.
You need an email address to do just about anything on the web, from sending messages to banking online to creating a Facebook account. In the early days of the Internet, the easiest way to get a personal email address was through your Internet Service Provider (ISP). For example, if your internet connection was provided by AOL, your email address might look like this:
[protected email]
Today, there are many different options when it comes to choosing an email service.
we recommend getting an address through a free webmail provider instead of your isp.
webmail refers to any email service that you can access through your web browser (think internet explorer or google chrome). Some of the more popular webmail providers include Gmail, Outlook.com (formerly known as Hotmail), and Yahoo! mail.
all these services are free to use. Because you can access them through your web browser, you can check your email virtually anywhere: at home, at work, or on the go!
why shouldn’t i use an isp email address?
providing email service is not a high priority for many isps; as a result, the technology they use is not always up to date, which presents some potential problems. for example:
- if you move or change your isp, you may need to get a new email address. For some people, this might just be a minor inconvenience; for those with hundreds of old contacts and messages, it could be a huge headache.
- you may have a l limited amount of storage space for your mails electronics. may also have a relatively small file size limit for email attachments.
- the interface may be difficult to use or may not work with your web browser; some providers may require you to use a desktop application to view your email, making it difficult to access messages on the go.
Another thing to note: ISP email addresses have become much less common in recent years. While there’s nothing wrong with using an email address from your ISP, some may assume you’re a bit old-fashioned.
free webmail benefits
These are some of the advantages of free webmail over isp email:
- You will always have the same email address, even if you need to change your isp.
- All these services offer a large amount of storage space. free (15gb or more). there will also be fewer limitations on the size of attachments.
- all of these services use a clear and simple interface, making it easy to send new messages and search for old messages.
- an account with the above services includes many other benefits, such as an online calendar, photo storage and online maps.
disadvantages of free webmail
These webmail services have a lot of great features, but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. To help offset the cost of their free service, all providers listed above will display advertising in your email inbox.
For some services, like gmail, this means a computer will search your email messages for keywords to show you relevant ads. this doesn’t mean that no one is reading your private messages, but it makes some users uncomfortable.
alternatives to gmail, outlook and yahoo!
In our opinion, the convenience of free webmail outweighs its drawbacks. still, if you prefer to use a webmail service that doesn’t display ads, we recommend one of the services below. however, please note that these services are not free to use.
- secret mail
- zoho mail
- fast mail
okay, how do I get a new email address?
If you’re ready to get started with a new email provider, simply visit their website and look for an option to sign up or create an account. If you want to see step by step instructions, you can review this lesson in our gmail tutorial. the process will be relatively similar for other webmail services.
Do you want to know more?
Are you ready to learn more about how email works and how to use webmail services like gmail? check out our email 101 and gmail tutorials!
/en/internet-tips/forgot-your-password/content/