If you are looking for a free email service, you can be picky.
Your chosen free email service will reward you with plenty of storage, effective spam filtering, a fast and productive interface, desktop email program as well as mobile access, and more. Find the top 15 free email services reviewed here.
PS: Looking for free email, you may also be interested in
- which free email service others use (and why),
- the best free email service in the About.com 2013 Readers' Choice Awards
- free POP3 and IMAP email services,
- free Windows email programs or
- free Mac email programs.
(Updated January 2013)
1. Gmail - Free Email Service
Gmail is the Google approach to email and chat. Practically unlimited free online storage allows you to collect all your messages, and Gmail's simple but very smart interface lets you find them precisely and see them in context without effort. POP and powerful IMAP access bring Gmail to any email program or device.
Gmail puts contextual advertising next to the emails you read.
Gmail Review | Gmail Resources | Top 50 Gmail Tips | All Gmail Tips
Gmail puts contextual advertising next to the emails you read.
Gmail Review | Gmail Resources | Top 50 Gmail Tips | All Gmail Tips
2. Zoho Mail - Free Email Service
ZOHO Corp.
Zoho Mail is a solid email service with ample storage, POP and IMAP access, some integration with instant messaging and online office suites.
Aimed at professional users, Zoho Mail could be even more helpful organizing mail, identifying key messages and contacts, and sending oft-used replies.
Zoho Mail Review | Zoho Mail Tips
Aimed at professional users, Zoho Mail could be even more helpful organizing mail, identifying key messages and contacts, and sending oft-used replies.
Zoho Mail Review | Zoho Mail Tips
3. AIM Mail - Free Email Service
AOL Inc
AIM Mail, AOL's free web-based email service, shines with unlimited online storage, very good spam protection and a rich, easy to use interface.
Unfortunately, AIM Mail lacks a bit in productivity (no labels, smart folders and message threading), but makes up for some of that with very functional IMAP (as well as POP) access.
AIM Mail Review | AIM Mail Tips
Unfortunately, AIM Mail lacks a bit in productivity (no labels, smart folders and message threading), but makes up for some of that with very functional IMAP (as well as POP) access.
AIM Mail Review | AIM Mail Tips
4. iCloud Mail - Free Email Service
Apple Inc.
iCloud Mail is a free email service from Apple with ample storage, IMAP access and an elegantly functional web application.
That interface at icloud.com does not offer labels or other more advanced tools for productivity and for organizing mail, though, and does not support accessing other email accounts. POP access to iCloud Mail is missing, too.
iCloud Mail Review | iCloud Mail Tips
That interface at icloud.com does not offer labels or other more advanced tools for productivity and for organizing mail, though, and does not support accessing other email accounts. POP access to iCloud Mail is missing, too.
iCloud Mail Review | iCloud Mail Tips
5. Outlook.com - Free Email Service
Microsoft
Outlook.com serves free email with practically unlimited storage accessible on the web with a rich and helpful interface or using POP and Exchange ActiveSync in email programs on desktop and mobile device.
Unfortunately, IMAP access is not part of the mix, and Outlook.com could offer more help with composing in addition to organizing mail.
Outlook.com Review | Outlook.com Tips
Unfortunately, IMAP access is not part of the mix, and Outlook.com could offer more help with composing in addition to organizing mail.
Outlook.com Review | Outlook.com Tips
6. Windows Live Hotmail - Free Email Service
Microsoft
Windows Live Hotmail is a free email service that gives you unlimited storage, fast search, solid security, POP access and an interface easy as a desktop email program.
When it comes to organizing mail, Windows Live Hotmail includes many a helpful shortcut and automation. It's a pity IMAP access to all online folders is missing.
Windows Live Hotmail Review | Windows Live Hotmail Resources | Windows Live Hotmail Tips
When it comes to organizing mail, Windows Live Hotmail includes many a helpful shortcut and automation. It's a pity IMAP access to all online folders is missing.
Windows Live Hotmail Review | Windows Live Hotmail Resources | Windows Live Hotmail Tips
7. Yahoo! Mail - Free Email Service
Yahoo! Inc.
Yahoo! Mail is your ubiquitous email program on the web, Windows 8 and mobile devices with unlimited storage, SMS texting, social networking and instant messaging to boot.
While Yahoo! Mail is generally a joy to use, free-form labeling and smart folders would be nice, and the spam filter could catch junk even more effectively.
Yahoo! Mail Review | Yahoo! Mail Resources | Yahoo! Mail Tips
While Yahoo! Mail is generally a joy to use, free-form labeling and smart folders would be nice, and the spam filter could catch junk even more effectively.
Yahoo! Mail Review | Yahoo! Mail Resources | Yahoo! Mail Tips
8. Mail.com and GMX Mail - Free Email Services
GMX Internet Services
Mail.com and GMX Mail are reliable email services filtered well of spam and viruses whose unlimited online storage you can use with a rich web interface and mobile apps. POP and iMAP access are available as a paid add-on.
More and smarter ways to organize mail could be nice.
Mail.com and GMX Mail Review | Mail.com and GMX Mail Tips
More and smarter ways to organize mail could be nice.
Mail.com and GMX Mail Review | Mail.com and GMX Mail Tips
9. Shortmail - Free Email Service
410 Labs
Shortmail emphasizes easy, fast and effective communication with an email service limited, essentially, to 500 characters per message.
Longer emails can be forwarded, and Shortmail offers simple but effective tools to organize and find mail. Still, hassling senders the way Shortmail does is not without peril, and you may wish for better productivity tools.
Shortmail Review | Shortmail Tips
Longer emails can be forwarded, and Shortmail offers simple but effective tools to organize and find mail. Still, hassling senders the way Shortmail does is not without peril, and you may wish for better productivity tools.
Shortmail Review | Shortmail Tips
10. BigString.com - Free Email Service
Heinz Tschabitscher
BigString.com is a free 2 GB email service that includes rich secure and certified mail services and lets you password-protect, expire or edit sent messages, for example.
Unfortunately, BigString.com is not equally well equipped for handling incoming mail and lacks organizing tools.
BigString.com Review
Unfortunately, BigString.com is not equally well equipped for handling incoming mail and lacks organizing tools.
BigString.com Review
