The most popular email in the world is Gmail. Users prefer it for many reasons. It is free of charge and convenient. It has a large mailbox size, an anti-spam system, high service availability, and other useful features. Yet, it also has disadvantages. The most significant ones include surveillance and collecting personal data or confidential information.
According to many Internet users, it transfers information to third parties. Thus, there are better options than Gmail. You should look for the safest email provider if privacy is your concern. There are a lot of different email providers. Many of them provide more privacy options than Gmail.
When choosing mail storage, we should consider some factors. The most important ones are privacy, storage capacity, and other beneficial features.
In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the best Gmail alternatives. Each of these providers offers a different set of features. So be sure to compare them before choosing one.
Gmail Privacy Concerns: Reasons to Use a more Secure Email Alternative
You can consider using a more secure email alternative to Gmail for several reasons:
One reason is that Gmail is well-known for scanning emails for keywords to target ads. This means that your messages are not as private as you could think. While this concern is not a big deal for some people, others can consider it a privacy violation.
Another Gmail privacy concern is that Google has access to your email data:
- This includes the contents of your messages and any attachments.
- Gmail’s access to your email data is possible through an IMAP feature.
- IMAP allows Gmail to connect to your email account and download your messages. This means that Gmail can see everything in your email account.
- It can be any sensitive information like financial records or health information.
- Even so, Gmail can provide you with more email features.
- These features include search and organization tools unavailable with other email providers.
If you’re concerned about your Gmail privacy, you should do a few things:
- You can adjust your Gmail settings. It can limit the amount of information coming to advertisers.
- You can disable IMAP in your Gmail settings. It will limit some of the features that Gmail offers.
- And, of course, you can also use a different email service that doesn’t scan your emails for keywords.
Features to Expect From the Safest Email Service Providers
When choosing an email service, there are many qualities to look for. A secure email provider will offer:
- End-to-end encryption
- Two-factor authentication
- IMAP and POP protocols support
- Large file storage capabilities
- Calendar integration
- Advanced search capabilities
- Virus scanning options
- Mobile access/ synchronization
- Automated backups for emails and contacts (in case of a data loss)
- Customization options for folder organization
- An intuitive and straightforward user interface to make it easy to send emails
- Reliable uptime and support services to ensure your constant email access when needed
These Gmail alternative features will ensure secure data with an enjoyable user experience. No matter which email provider you choose, ensure you take steps to protect your privacy. You should use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. These measures will help to keep your account protected.
12 Best Gmail Alternatives for Keeping your Emails Private
When choosing the best email provider, you should consider the highest safety degree, reliability, and ease of use. These best services offer end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication, and other advanced security features. They ensure the data sent through their platforms remains confidential. So if you’re looking for an alternative to Gmail, then any of these services would be a great choice.
- ProtonMail
ProtonMail is an open-source email provider based in Switzerland. This Gmail alternate email provider offers top-of-the-line security measures and features. ProtonMail provides two-factor authentication. It can help keep your confidential information safe from hackers and cybercriminals.
It uses zero-access encryption. It means all messages stored on its servers are encrypted. It makes it impossible for anyone to read your emails.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| ProtonMail offers custom domainsIt has encrypted contact listsIt includes customizable filtersIt has the ability to create and use more addresses (aliases)It provides 24/7 customer support | ProtonMail does not offer POP3/IMAP protocols. It means you won’t be able to sync emails with other email programs or servicesWithout a paid upgrade, it is incompatible with Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail clientsDue to its encryption algorithms, downloading attachments can take longer than usual |
- Zoho Mail
Zoho Mail is the best alternative to Gmail. It provides a secure, reliable, and feature-rich email service. Zoho Mail’s advanced security features include two-factor authentication and data encryption.
This Gmail alternative can be a great option for personal users who want an easy way to manage their emails. But there are better options for businesses or organizations. Since they need comprehensive support and strong features.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| It has built-in antivirus protectionIt offers spam filteringZoho Mail provides offline accessIt has email schedulingIt includes mail rules and filtersIt has advanced spam filterIt includes POP/IMAP supportZoho Mail provides 24/7 customer support | Some mobile features are missing compared to the desktop versionProtonMail does not offer many customization options |
- Outlook
Outlook is one of the most popular email services. It offers a variety of features that make it the best alternative to Gmail. Outlook has better security than Gmail. It includes two-factor authentication and data encryption.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| Outlook allows users to customize their inboxes and organize emails by categorizationThe service also offers a great calendaring system. It has synchronization with other calendars apps and has powerful search capabilitiesIt allows users to connect many accounts in one place. It makes it easier to stay organized and connected to several emails | One of the main drawbacks of Outlook email is its complexityDespite being a reliable and powerful productivity tool, understanding its features and functions can take time and effortAdditionally, Outlook email can be quite resource-intensive. It makes running on some older computer systems or mobile devices difficult |
- Tutanota
Tutanota is one of the safest email providers. It offers end-to-end encryption for all emails sent and received through the platform. It makes it almost impossible to access the content of your messages.
Even if someone were to gain access to your account, they wouldn’t be able to read any of your messages. Unlike Gmail, it never scans or analyzes its users’ content for marketing purposes. Tutanota can delete all metadata from emails. So, third-party companies can’t track you.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| Tutanota has powerful functions for fast email searchIt provides folder support to help keep emails organizedIt allows to share encrypted emails with external recipientsThis service offers an easy-to-use interface to send emails quicklyIt has comprehensive privacy settings to control who can access your data and what activity they can doIt provides fast and straightforward password recoveryIt has a built-in calendar and address book to keep all your important contacts organized | All emails have encryption instead of attachments by defaultThere is no option to recover deleted dataTutanota is not integrated with third-party services and tools like Dropbox or Slack |
- Mailfence
This Gmail’s alternate email service provides users with secure, private, and encrypted email communication. Mailfence is based in Belgium. Thus, it complies with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Mailfence offers end-to-end encryption of emails and attachments. Its encryption can be added to your documents and files in these cloud-storage services for extra security. It also offers two-factor authentication.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| It has calendar synchronizationMailfence Gmail alternative also provides third-party services integration like Dropbox and Google Drive. They allow you to attach files from these cloud storage services to your emailsThe setup process is straightforward. You can create an account in a few clicksMailfence also provides an encrypted file-sharing service. It allows users to send large filesIt supports up to 10GB of file sizeThis safest email provider offers affordable pricing plans. They range from free to paid monthly subscriptions. The free basic plan includes up to five email aliases, and 500 MB of storage | It lacks task management toolsThe interface is not very user-friendly and can confuse some users. Additionally, some features are difficult to find or use due to the cluttered designMailfence does not have a mobile app or push notifications. |
- Yahoo Mail
Yahoo Mail is another great option for those seeking the best alternative to Gmail. It offers end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication to secure your data.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| Its storage is up to 1 terabyteIt has an unlimited number of accounts, aliases, and email forwardingYahoo Mail offers a searchable message archiveIt has attachment previewsIt provides drag & drop supportIt includes POP3 accessYahoo Mail can detect spam and phishing attempts | Its user interface can confuse some users due to its many panels and settingsThere have been reports of unreliable performance when sending large files with attachments |
- Mozilla Thunderbird
Thunderbird includes built-in security features. They are anti-phishing warnings, password management tools, and automatic data backup. It also uses OpenPGP encryption for security when sending sensitive emails or files.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| Users can customize the look of their email by using various themes and extensionsThunderbird Gmail alternative is available on both Windows and Mac OS XAdditionally, it is available on Linux and Android devicesThunderbird supports the IMAP and POP3 | It lacks advanced search capabilities and contact management toolsIt does not include a native calendar feature. It can make managing your appointments, events, or tasks difficultIt does not provide synchronization across various devicesThe official Thunderbird website only offers a little customer support and documentationIt is problematic to learn how to use it without help from an expert |
- Hushmail
Hushmail is the safest email provider. It uses end-to-end encryption and digital signatures to keep your communications private.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| It offers an intuitive user interface. It makes it easy to set up and access your contacts from any device with an internet connection Hushmail has advanced anti-spam filters. So you don’t have to worry about unwanted emails clogging up your inbox | Hushmail does not support PGP encryptionIt has limited search capabilitiesIt doesn’t have an integration with some services |
- iCloud Mail
This Gmail alternate email is a service offered by Apple. It provides email security and spam protection. So users can be sure their emails are safe from cyberattacks. Its automated features make managing emails faster and easier.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| iCloud Mail has the ability to use any third-party client via POP3It is available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devicesIt offers message sorting and filteringIt has contact managementiCloud Mail provides auto-reply | It offers 5 GB of free storage. It can quickly become overloaded to those who send and receive many emails or attachmentsIt does not include an integrated spam filter |
- Gandi Mail
Gandi Gmail alternative offers a secure, simple, and affordable solution. It is suitable for businesses of any size that need email accounts.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| Gandi has easy to use webmail interface with drag-and-drop file attachmentsIt includes autocompleting email addresses and keyword searchesIt provides built-in anti-spam/antivirus protection for your messagesIt helps create custom domains and email accounts with your brandingIt has the ability to use third-party email clients, like Outlook or ThunderbirdGandi provides reliable hosting services with 99.9% uptime and 24/7 customer support | It has a limited storage capacityGandi does not provide IMAP or POP3 supportIt has limited customer service options, including no phone supportSome users have experienced slow performance and reliability issues |
- Mailbox
This Gmail alternative provider uses encryption and other security measures to protect user data from unauthorized third parties. They also provide two-factor authentication.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| Mailbox offers up to 10 GB of storage space It has a user-friendly interface and plenty of features like message filtersIt includes contact managementIt provides message tagging or auto-replyingMailbox offers various third-party mail clients via POP3 and IMAPIt helps access email accounts from several devicesIt has a built-in spam filter | Mailbox does not offer extra features such as calendar or task managementUser experience can sometimes be slow due to its reliance on cloud technologyTechnical problems or outages could cause service disruption |
- Mail.com
This Gmail alternate email offers many features. For starters, it allows the addition of multiple email addresses into one account. It gives users more flexibility when managing multiple accounts or sending emails from different accounts.
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❎ |
| Mail.com provides enough storage space for emails and attachments without extra costsThe platform offers powerful filters. They help you organize your inbox and block unwanted messagesMail.com offers a streamlined, user-friendly interfaceWith all these features combined, it’s no wonder why Mail.com is the best alternative to Gmail | This service does not support POP3Mail.com does not offer a mobile app |
How can I Keep my Email Safe from Hackers?
You can do a few things to protect your email from hackers:
- Use the most reliable VPN providers.
- Use a strong password and change it regularly.
- Do not click on links or attachments from unknown senders.
- Be careful when using public Wi-Fi to check your email.
- Install security software on your computer and keep it up-to-date.
- Beware of phishing scams.
Following these tips, your Gmail alternate email should be safe from hackers. However, if your account has been compromised, change your password immediately. Then contact your email provider for help.
How can Quality VPN Service Help?
Using a reliable VPN provider can help protect your email from hackers in several ways:
- It encrypts the data between your computer and the VPN server. And it makes it impossible for any third party to intercept.
- Quality providers offer extra features like multi-factor authentication. It protects your Gmail alternative account.
- It helps prevent malicious traffic from your network.
- It can also help improve your online experience.
- Encrypting your data can help prevent throttling from your internet service provider.
- It allows you to access geo-restricted content.
How to Use a Strong Password to Protect your Email from Hackers?
A strong password should:
- Include at least 12 characters.
- Contain a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Be unique and do not include personal information.
It would be best to periodically change your password to protect your email account. Don’t tell your password to anyone, even if this person is trustworthy.
How to Safely Check your Gmail Alternate Email when Using Public Wi-Fi?
When using public Wi-Fi, you should use:
- A Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your data and helps protect it from hackers.
You should also:
- Use a secure (HTTPS) connection when accessing your email service provider.
- Log out of your account after each session.
- Avoid saving any passwords on the public Wi-Fi network.
What kind of Security Software should you Install?
The best security software for protecting your email from hackers is:
- Antivirus software. It can detect and remove malicious programs.
You should also install:
- A firewall to block unauthorized traffic from entering or leaving your network.
Finally, regular password changes are essential to protect your safest email provider.
How to Protect your Email from Phishing Scams?
To protect your email from phishing scams, you should:
- Never click on links or open attachments in suspicious emails.
- Always check for spelling errors or typos.
- Verify the sender’s identity before responding.
- Ensure your email account has a strong password and two-factor authentication.
- Be aware of current phishing scams and check for any updates from your email provider.
A Word from vpnXpert
Privacy is a big email concern for many people. Gmail is one of the most popular email providers. But Gmail has come under fire for its lack of privacy protection.
There are many safest email providers. But how to keep your email secure? The best VPN is the simplest and most effective way. Moreover, it keeps your information safe and has many significant advantages.
FAQ
Can someone read my email?
Someone can track the traffic and read your email if you use an unsecured Wi-Fi connection. Your ISP can also read your email as part of its business model. Though most companies say, they do not do this. They can do it if you use a web-based email service.
Can I create an anonymous Gmail account?
Yes, you can use a fake name and a temporary email address. But your anonymity can be at risk. Gmail requires users to provide a phone number for account verification. So it is impossible to anonymize a Gmail account completely.
What is the safest email service?
There are many different email services. Each has its advantages and disadvantages in security. Even so, some popular email services include ProtonMail, Tutanota, Zoho Mail, Outlook, and others.
How often are encryption methods updated to stay current with emerging threats?
The safest email service providers update their encryption methods regularly to stay current with emerging threats. They can also use advanced security measures and protocols. This can range from two-factor authentication to encryption algorithms. Many providers also offer their users the ability to audit these measures. It can ensure your data is secure.
What features does email calendar integration include?
It includes syncing emails, events, and contacts between calendars. It can provide customizable views for different users. And it has an integration with other calendar tools.
What should I do if I receive an email from an unknown sender?
If you receive an email from an unknown sender, do not click on any links or attachments within the email. Instead, delete the email and report it as spam if necessary.
How can I know if a link or attachment from an unknown sender is safe?
If you are uncertain about the source of an email and its link or attachment, do not open it. If you open it, you should use an antivirus program to scan the link/attachment before opening it.
