Best alternatives to Gmail to protect your privacy
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While Gmail is the go-to email service for many due to its user-friendly interface, the way it deals with user privacy is concerning. As the role of Google grows, more and more email users are starting to look for alternatives.
In this article, we will share the best emailing platforms to use instead of Gmail. Without further ado, let’s see what’s so concerning about Gmail, and what other platforms users could opt for instead.
Short on time? Today’s best Gmail alternatives
- Proton Mail – built for privacy with end-to-end encryption
- StartMail – secure email with one-click encryption
- Surfshark Alternative ID – highly secure Gmail alternative
- Zoho Mail – best easy-to-use email service
- Tutanota – best email for privacy-conscious
Gmail privacy concerns: reasons to use more secure email alternative
While Gmail is the world’s favorite email service due to its user-friendliness and integrations, when it comes to privacy, Gmail users suffer.
Gmail users have had their privacy compromised on multiple occasions. The most well-known case occurred in 2018, a year after Google’s announced it would stop scanning user emails for targeted ads, when The Wall Street Journal published an article revealing otherwise.
According to The Wall Street Journal, hundreds of third-party app developers received access to scan and share data from users’ inboxes.
By scanning Gmail users’ inboxes, third-party apps started offering automated travel itinerary suggestions, price comparisons, and more. Google did not comment on the case immediately, and this case proved how vulnerable free email accounts like Gmail are to being compromised. Therefore, looking for an alternative email service is something every Internet user should at least consider.
Aside from privacy concerns, here are the main reasons to look for a more secure email service:
- Gmail only allows 15GB of storage space
- It doesn’t have end-to-end encryption on emails
- It’s based in the US
- It doesn’t offer anonymous sign-up and payment alternatives
Best Gmail alternatives for keeping 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
- Personal information-free sign-up
- No ads
- Custom domains for businesses
In the list below, you’ll find the best alternatives to Gmail available today.
1. Proton Mail – best email for encrypted communication
| Free version: | Yes |
| Storage: | Up to 500 GB |
| Current deal: | Save 40% OFF today! |
Proton Mail was founded back in 2014, and today it is one of the best known Gmail alternatives. As it hosts its servers in Switzerland, user data is safe under strict Swiss privacy laws.
Privacy-friendly location aside, Proton Mail offers end-to-end encryption to make sure that no one else reads your emails. It also works cross-platform, so you can send secure emails even to the users who use other providers.
What’s important to know is that all new users get 500MB of storage free, and if additional storage space is needed, they can opt for one of the three Premium plans. That way, you can expand your storage up to 1TB and use custom domains.
Moreover, the Proton Mail inbox is modern and easy-to-use; therefore it’s a go-to in terms of user-friendliness. It also has tools to import the most important data from your Gmail account.
2. StartMail – best user-friendly email service
| Free version: | No |
| Storage: | Up to 20 GB |
| Current deal: | Get StartMail, now 50% OFF! |
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 isn't a true end-to-end encryption setup, as it's only implemented server-side. However, it should be safe enough for most usage cases. You can even add features like two-factor authentication to increase the overall security of your account.
The email also has fully integrated burner emails. If you want to create an online account somewhere and you're worried about spam, you can use them instead of your proper address. That can be useful for online stores, as well.
The major drawback when compared to Gmail is that StartMail has no proprietary mobile apps. It does support IMAP and SMTP. With them, you'll be able to retrieve emails through Apple Mail or Outlook.
You can test StartMail with a 7-day free trial. It includes an email address with a StartMail domain or one custom domain, 20GB of encrypted cloud storage, and unlimited email aliases. If you'd like to start with premium services, plans start at $2.50/month.
3. Surfshark Alternative ID – highly secure Gmail alternative
| Free version: | included in Surfshark free trial |
| Storage: | unlimited storage |
| Current deal: | Get Surfshark Alternative ID, now up to 80% OFF! |
Surfshark’s Alternative ID comes with Surfshark VPN. It maintains a strict no-logs policy despite being based in the Netherlands – a member of the Nine Eyes alliance. While the jurisdiction could theoretically lead to government surveillance, Surfshark’s independently audited no-logs practices and RAM-only servers help ensure that no user data is stored or accessible.
In addition to its security and no-logs policy, Surfshark uses a range of advanced security features, including a kill switch and MultiHop, which add extra layers of protection for your online activities. These tools help maintain your anonymity and prevent any accidental data leaks while browsing or streaming.
Because Surfshark comes with unlimited storage, you are not limited to how many emails you can send. More so, the service works with all popular platforms, both desktop and mobile, such as Windows, MacOS, iOS, and Android. Due to this and the unlimited simultaneous connections, you can send and receive emails on various devices at the same time.
In terms of the interface, Surfshark Alternative ID is very user-friendly, and you will be able to create your account in no time. Ultimately, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee that will let you first test its services.
4. Zoho Mail – best easy-to-use email service
| Free version: | Yes |
| Storage: | Up to 200 GB |
| Current deal: | Get Zoho Mail for just $1/month! |
Created with a focus on businesses, Zoho Mail also offers its services to individuals. You might have heard about the provider's password manager, but it also offers a secure email service.
Your mailbox comes equipped with end-to-end encryption support for S/MIME, but it also uses SSL or TLS. To increase your mailbox safety, you can add two-factor authentication via Touch ID, TOTP, or other means. However, if convenience is just as important to you, Zoho Mail has apps for most platforms with calendar and notes integrations.
When facing any issue related to your Zoho Mail account, you can rely on 24/7 customer support. Opting for this email service, you get to take advantage of their top-notch security and privacy features, as well as a reliable 99.9% uptime.
When choosing this Gmail alternative, you can expect up to 50GB of storage per user, with the option to purchase additional storage in 25GB, 50GB, 100GB, and 200GB increments. If your mailbox grows beyond 200GB, you can contact [email protected] with your storage needs, and the support will provide you with the appropriate pricing.
5. Tutanota – best email for privacy-conscious
| Free version: | Yes |
| Storage: | Up to 10 GB |
| Current deal: | Get up to 20% OFF Tutanota! |
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.
Tutanota is highly popular because its software is open-source, and anyone can inspect its source code on GitHub. This transparency helps a great deal and makes this service trustworthy.
Moreover, Tutanota follows a business model that relies on user donations and Premium subscriptions solely. The company excludes earning money through advertisements.
It’s one of the top choices for international activists and journalists dealing with sensitive information and fighting for privacy. Tutanota also offers a business plan that helps NGOs and organizations ensure private and secure internal communication.
When users get their Tutanota email, they get 1GB of storage. However, due to email compression, free storage increases to 10GB.
6. GMX – the biggest Gmail competitor
| Free version: | Yes |
| Storage: | up to 65GB |
| Current deal: | - |
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, GMX uses TLS/SSL, the same type of encryption that Gmail uses to protect your emails while they’re in transit. Unlike Gmail, however, your emails won’t be scanned for keywords to be used for advertising purposes later.
Together with a mailbox, users get to take advantage of a free calendar, spam filter, and foolproof antivirus. As GMX now has over 11 million active users, it stands out as one of the biggest competitors to Gmail.
After getting a GMX account, users can enjoy 65GB of storage space per account. Therefore, if you need more storage space, you can always create another GMX account. Plus, the maximum email attachment size is 50MB, so there are fewer restrictions if you’re coming from a Gmail account.
7. Mailbox.org – the biggest email storage
| Free version: | free 30-day trial |
| Storage: | up to 25GB |
| Current deal: | - |
Founded back in 2014 in Germany, Mailbox is a well-known Gmail alternative for both individuals and businesses. Its users get an ad-free and protected emailing experience, as well as a built-in calendar, cloud storage, and contact lists.
When registering for this service, you don’t have to provide any personal details. It also applies to paid plans as well, so you can pay anonymously.
In terms of security, your emails have SSL/TLS encryption. There’s also support for PGP, so you’ll be able to maintain the privacy of your communications.
What’s great about Mailbox is that it offers email inboxes that are easy-to-remember and are recognizable worldwide. Most importantly, a strong focus on privacy and security sets Mailbox apart from its competitors.
As Mailbox.org operates on a pre-paid credit scheme, you get to choose how much storage you need. You can get 100GB of mail storage and 2TB of cloud storage, max.
8. iCloud Mail – the best option for Apple users
| Free version: | Yes |
| Storage: | 5GB of free storage |
| Current deal: | - |
There’s nothing more anti-Google than going with Apple. 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 cannot access their email via an app if they don’t own an iPhone.
In true Apple fashion, iCloud Mail has a user-friendly interface, making it easy to transition from Gmail. While this email service is not packed with exceptional features, it is a reliable platform to use. It will be an excellent alternative to Gmail for everyone using Apple devices and willing to increase their privacy online.
Just like opting for Outlook, you get 5GB of free storage. It would be enough for the basic internet user, but we would like to see the storage space increased.
9. Yahoo! Mail – the most similar service to Gmail
| Free version: | Yes |
| Storage: | 1TB |
| Current deal: | - |
Just like Gmail, Yahoo! Mail is an email synonym for many. As of today, it has over 200 million users. As Yahoo! Mail has an interface similar to Gmail’s, it’s an excellent email service to opt for if you’d like a smooth transition.
Previously, Yahoo! allowed creating an account with an international and national domain (e.g., @yahoo.fr or @yahoo.es). However, currently, you can only create an account using the international @yahoo.com domain.
Compared to Gmail and other competitors on the market, Yahoo! Mail provides its users with 1TB of storage space, which is more than enough even for the neediest users. However, it also has many of the same problems Gmail has in terms of privacy.
The worst part is that Yahoo Mail has experienced a severe hack in the past. So, if you’re very picky about the safety measures that your email service uses, take note.
10. Fastmail – the best ad-free option
| Free version: | free 30-day trial |
| Storage: | 50GB |
| Current deal: | - |
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’re looking for a minimalistic email service, Fastmail is your best pick! In a sense, it's one of the best Gmail alternatives as it is completely ad-free. However, do keep in mind that your messages are stored in unencrypted form and in one of the worst locations when it comes to privacy.
When you opt for the Individual plan, you get 60GB of storage space per user. With the Duo plan, you get 120GB (60GB per person), and with the Family plan, you get up to 360GB (60GB per person). Those who opt for the latter plan can also take advantage of unlimited archiving space.
11. Posteo – lightweight, but secure email provider
| Free version: | No |
| Storage: | up to 20GB |
| Current deal: | Get Posteo for just $1.2/month! |
The last Gmail alternative we offer today is Posteo. This email service is based 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 choice for those seeking a safer emailing experience. It is packed with top-notch security features, including server-side email encryption. When your emails are in transition, it uses TLS to make sure that no one can benefit from intercepting them. There’s 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 to minimize spam and annoying newsletters. It also makes your mailbox a lot tidier and more organized.
When opting for Posteo, you get 2GB of email storage space. If you ever need more, you can purchase additional gigabytes up to a maximum of 20GB.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right Gmail alternative ultimately depends on your specific needs – whether it's enhanced privacy, better organization, or a more user-friendly interface. Services like Proton Mail and StartMail stand out for their strong commitment to privacy, offering encrypted email options that are perfect for those who prioritize security.
On the other hand, Surfshark Alternative ID and Zoho Mail provide excellent flexibility with additional features, such as integrated VPN services or extensive business tools. For those seeking a balance between simplicity and security, Tutona offers a solid option with a focus on user privacy.
With a variety of alternatives available, users now have several options for reliable, secure, and efficient email services.
FAQ
Is Gmail the best mailbox you can use?
It depends on what you're looking for. Gmail is undoubtedly the most popular email service today. It has plenty of storage and offers a full suite of features along with the email account. However, when it comes to privacy, it's one of the weakest options available.
What is the safest email service?
Safe email services, like Proton Mail and StartMail, use encryption, respect your privacy, and don’t serve ads. Usually, this combination means the service is paid. So if you're looking for a secure mailbox, choose one that meets these criteria.
Can I create an anonymous Gmail account?
Yes, you can create a relatively anonymous Gmail account by avoiding the use of your real name, location, birthday, phone number, or other identifying details during sign-up. However, true anonymity is hard to achieve, as Google may still collect data like your IP address and device info. For stronger privacy, consider secure alternatives like Proton Mail, Tutanota, or Surfshark Alternative ID.
Can someone read my email?
Yes, someone can read your email, depending on your email provider's security and privacy. For example, Gmail may allow access to your emails under certain conditions, or hackers could compromise your account. Using a strong password, enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), and opting for a privacy-focused provider like Proton Mail can help protect your emails.
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