Alternatives to Gmail
Google's free mail with the best search
Gmail ranks #12 of 12 in Email services, with an Alt Score of 48. It is proprietary, freemium from €6.80/month and available on Web, iOS and Android. 9 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Individuals and businesses who need a free or business-grade email service, from personal users to organizations using Google Workspace.
A web-based email inbox with strong spam and phishing protection, AI (Gemini) features like drafting suggestions and thread summaries, and built-in chat, video calling (Meet), and document collaboration. It supports offline access, cross-device sync, and Confidential Mode for restricted, expiring messages.
Users sign in with a Google account to send, receive, and organize email in the browser or mobile app, and can connect Gmail to third-party clients like Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird.
Where Gmail stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Gmail
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Gmail compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Email services checklist | Gmail | Proton Mail | Tuta | mailbox.org | Posteo | Zoho Mail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| E2E encryption | ||||||
| Custom domain support | ||||||
| Storage (free tier) | ||||||
| Aliases included | ||||||
| Calendar & contacts | ||||||
| IMAP/SMTP access | ||||||
| Jurisdiction | ||||||
| Independent audit published | ||||||
| Catch-all addresses | ||||||
| Ad-free | ||||||
| Import from competitors | ||||||
| Anonymous signup |
Every fact and feature listed for Gmail is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
Secure custom business email [email protected]
https://workspace.google.com/pricing?hl=en -
Starts at €6.80/month verified 2026-07-11
€6.80 / user per month
https://workspace.google.com/pricing?hl=en -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-11
Each Google Account includes up to 15 GB of storage, which is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/9312312 -
Platforms Web, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
At the top, click the Accounts and import tab. Click Import mail and contacts.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/21289?hl=en -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Start meetings in Google Meet, find times to meet in Google Calendar, add to-dos in Tasks, and start conversations in Google Chat without ever having to leave Gmail.
https://workspace.google.com/products/gmail/?hl=en -
E2E encryption No verified 2026-07-11
All Gmail messages use TLS automatically.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6330403 -
Custom domain support Yes verified 2026-07-11
Secure custom business email [email protected]
https://workspace.google.com/pricing?hl=en -
Storage (free tier) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Each Google Account includes up to 15 GB of storage, which is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/9312312 -
Calendar & contacts Yes verified 2026-07-11
Start meetings in Google Meet, find times to meet in Google Calendar, add to-dos in Tasks, and start conversations in Google Chat without ever having to leave Gmail.
https://workspace.google.com/products/gmail/?hl=en -
IMAP/SMTP access Yes verified 2026-07-11
IMAP access is always turned on in Gmail, and your current connections to other email clients aren't affected.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/7126229 -
Jurisdiction No verified 2026-07-11
Google LLC C/O Custodian of Records 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043
https://support.google.com/faqs/answer/6151275?hl=en -
Ad-free No verified 2026-07-11
When you open Gmail, you'll see ads that were selected to show you the most useful and relevant ads.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6603 -
Import from competitors Yes verified 2026-07-11
At the top, click the Accounts and import tab. Click Import mail and contacts.
https://support.google.com/mail/answer/21289?hl=en -
Anonymous signup No verified 2026-07-11
To help protect you and stop spammers, before you create an account or sign in, sometimes phone verification is required to confirm you're a real person.
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/114129?hl=en
FAQ
Yes. Proton Mail, Tuta and Zoho Mail have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Proton Mail and Tuta — every license claim links its source.