Despite the recent rise in office messaging platforms, email is still one of the preferred methods of communication. Besides just sending and receiving emails, online email accounts are also used to download resources, subscribe to various platforms, set meetings and reminders, and much more. Continue reading to discover a few of the best free email services that you can start using right now.
Types of Email Accounts
There are mainly two types of email services, known as email clients and webmail. The biggest difference between these types of accounts is how they’re used and accessed. Let’s take a closer look at how each of these email providers works and what makes them different.
Email Clients
Email clients require software applications to be installed on your device. This means that to use email clients, you’ll need to download and install the necessary app to your device. Popular email clients that you might already be familiar with include Microsoft Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, and Apple Mail.
Webmail
As you’ve probably already guessed, webmail is an online application that you can access from any browser. Some of the best email providers of webmail-type services include Google’s Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, and Hotmail.
While these are the technical differences between the types of email providers, the lines are becoming much more blurry. Many traditional email clients now also have a browser version that can be used to access your account from any device. For example, the Outlook Web Access portal. Similarly, many traditional web clients are also releasing apps or desktop versions so that you can access your emails even when offline, such as with the Gmail mobile app.
5 Free (and Private) Email Accounts
The best free email service should provide users with a clean and simple interface, decent storage, useful features, and, above all else, privacy. When it comes to your communications, privacy is very important. Let’s take a look at the best free email providers that also respect your privacy.
Overview of Gmail
Gmail is one of the most popular free email providers to use. Gmail is versatile, easy to use, and offers many integrations and syncs with other Google apps. Because of Google Workspace, you also have access to numerous useful collaboration, document creation, and file management tools – all for free. It also includes free storage of up to 15GB. With Gmail, you can also create multiple email accounts for free.
Pros and Cons of Gmail
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Gmail.
Pros:
- Unsend feature available
- Protection from spam
- Text suggestions
- Anti-phishing filters
Cons:
- Storage is shared across all Google apps
- Maximum attachment size is 25 MB/email
Overview of AOL
AOL was purchased by Verizon in 2015, and since then, the webmail provider has made subtle improvements to produce a great free email service. It comes with good spam filters and virus protection. One thing that differentiates it from other services is that it offers unlimited storage, which is rare for free email services.
Pros and Cons of AOL
Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of AOL for email.
Pros:
- Unlimited storage
- Ability to import contacts in numerous formats
- Uses the latest security technology
- Supports over 70 languages
Cons:
- Lacks some features
Overview of Outlook
Outlook is another popular email client and is often used when you link websites with email. Outlook also includes a calendar and message filter similar to Gmail. However, it offers many more integrations. With Outlook, you can connect your Skype, PayPal, Facebook, and PowerPoint accounts.
Pros and Cons of Outlook
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of Outlook:
Pros:
- Simple interface
- Many integrations offered
- Provides aliases for added privacy
- Great email organization
Cons:
- Maximum attachment size of 20 MB/email
Overview of Yahoo! Mail
Yahoo! Mail is a good option if you’re looking at free email providers. Like many of the options on this list, it offers a simple, clean interface. It offers an amazing one terabyte of storage. While this isn’t the unlimited storage offered by AOL, it’s much more than other providers on this list. It also offers fantastic email, document, and file organization.
Pros and Cons of Yahoo! Mail
Let’s take a look at a few of the pros and cons of Yahoo! Mail.
Pros:
- 1TB of storage
- Clean interface
- Connects and syncs with Yahoo! Calendar
Cons:
- Spam filter isn’t as effective as others
Overview of iCloud Mail
iCloud Mail is the best email service for keeping all of your Mac apps on one system. This email client makes integrating all Apple apps easy. It also offers the best data encryption for added privacy. With iCloud Mail, you get 5GB of free storage, and this is used across all of your Apple apps.
Pros and Cons of iCloud Mail
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of iCloud Mail.
Pros:
- Integrates with other Apple products and apps
- Advanced encryption
- VIP flagging
- One-click unsubscribe button
Cons:
- Free storage is limited and shared across Apple apps
Which Is the Best Option?
After all these options, you may wonder what the best free email account is. While there are many great free email providers, choosing the best one for you will depend on your needs. Do you need access to your emails offline? Or do you need to access your emails while on the go from multiple devices? Or do you need a free email service that integrates with other apps?
That being said, certain benefits from the above providers might make them perfect for you. Here’s a summary of the best uses for our top three:
- Gmail – Best for offline use
- Outlook – Best for multiple app integrations
- Yahoo! Mail – Best for lots of storage
Final Thoughts
When it comes to sending emails, there’s no need to pay for good-quality email providers. Nor do you need to wonder what is the best email service. Some of the best emails to use offer a free email account. Not only are these email services feature-rich and easy to use, but they’re also private.
If you’re looking for a better way to track your emails, you should consider the Free Email Tracker for Gmail browser extension. It works straight in your Gmail inbox and shows you when your emails have been read.
