Best Free Email Accounts (10+ Examples)

Email provides one of the most efficient ways to communicate, with individuals utilizing their accounts for both personal and business use. Various tasks can be accomplished outside of simply drafting messages, including managing your calendars and chatting with colleagues.

While there are paid email services that come at a monthly or annual premium, there are numerous free email providers that are just as powerful. For example, when you think of Microsoft Outlook, you might envision an expensive email client that features add-ons and integrations geared toward larger businesses.

On the contrary, there are plenty of free email options – including one from Outlook itself – that allow you to connect to your favorite apps, organize folders, and set up customizations.
Find out the best free email service providers and what to expect once you have created your free email address.

Why You Need Free Email

With email being a primary mode of communication within the workplace, for networking opportunities, and connecting socially, it’s important to choose a provider.

Typically, your employer will provide you with a free email address, with the account used solely for company correspondence and updates. The same applies if you are a business owner and have addresses assigned to yourself and employees.

You will often have the capability to sync your work and personal calendars, send meeting invites, and configure personalized email signatures. There may be secure email encryption or two-step authentication for added security.

In any instance, your free business email is vital to your everyday workflow.

You also need a free email account for personal use, keeping in mind that you can create multiple addresses and use several providers. Your free address can be used for just about anything, whether it’s to send pictures to family members, sign up for subscriptions, or strictly to apply and respond to job postings.

Email is a necessity because it is often the quickest way to reach your intended recipient, not to mention it may be a requirement for verifying other accounts or enrolling in certain services.

Top 10 Free Email Services

1. Gmail. Gmail is a webmail provider brought to you by Google, which is responsible for other products and tools that many people use every day. Because of this, Gmail makes for one of the most popular free email services for businesses and individuals alike.

   The Google apps and integrations make it an excellent option for most, as you can easily share docs with Google Drive, send payments with Google Pay, and sync all of your upcoming events with Google Calendar.

   You can choose a username, and your free email address will end in the site’s domain, which is “@gmail.com.”

   Key features to highlight:

   • Receive 15 GB total of storage for emails, photos, and all your files

   • Labels help to organize and sort emails

   • Numerous add-ons and apps like Google Photos, Google Docs, and Google Meet

   • Numerous layouts and themes to personalize your user interface

   • Spam filter and the ability to easily block or unsubscribe from senders

2. Microsoft Outlook. Not exclusively for businesses or paid subscribers, Microsoft’s free Outlook.com email is worth signing up for. You have the trusted Microsoft name, which means you will also get one-click integrations with many of their popular services.

   Since many people have used the paid email service within the workplace, it makes adjusting to the free version easy – it is relatively the same. This email service was built to be intuitive, automatically sorting higher priority emails into a Focused Inbox and then standard emails into the Other Inbox.

   You also can create additional folders, flag messages, and sort emails using various filters for further organization. When it comes to security, Outlook.com is another free email service that offers two-step verification to keep your free email account even more secure.

   Do you want to use a specific email address for job applications but would rather avoid several accounts? Take advantage of using aliases.

   Your email from this provider will end in either @outlook.com or @hotmail.com, the latter of which you may have also heard of.

   Key features to highlight:

   • More than 100 add-ins, such as Skype, Trello, Boomerang, and PayPal

   • Create up to 10 aliases per account, with all emails conveniently received in one inbox

   • Get 15 GB of storage for your emails

   • Apply rules to filter and categorize emails efficiently

   • Manage your events and schedule meetings with Outlook Calendar

   • Customize your interface, selecting custom color schemes and moving the reading pane

3. Yahoo Mail. Setting up a free email account with Yahoo Mail only takes a few minutes. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll have access to one of the more unique mail service providers.

   While it comes with standard features such as virus protection, email forwarding, and easy mobile access, Yahoo stands out when it comes to file management. It’s one of the best free emails you can have if you send and receive a large volume of graphics or files, as their history feature makes it easy to lookup old media.

   Yahoo Mail also provides detailed contact cards for the people on your email list, as you can opt in to have the service synced with your LinkedIn account.

   Of course, you have to give Yahoo permission, but the option is valuable for job seekers and professionals looking to have the most up-to-date networking information. All of your free email accounts will end in @yahoo.com.

   Key features to highlight:

   • You get 1 TB of free storage, substantially more space than most free providers

   • Block email unwanted email senders in a few clicks

   • Find specific files, photos, or calendar invites with the search feature

   • Simultaneously toggle between Yahoo notes and your email inbox

   • Advanced customizations for your account appearance, from changing the font size to using a picture as the background

   • Create disposable email addresses that can be automatically forwarded to your preferred account

4. Zoho. Zoho is a versatile email provider, fitting the needs of small businesses, freelancers, and small business owners looking for secure webmail. The interface is more simplistic than some of the more mainstream email services; however, it comes with everything you need.

   The Forever Free plan allows for up to five users to create accounts, and each user has a 25 MB limit for attachments. An attractive perk for those with businesses is that your free account permits email hosting for one domain.

   One potential downside to keep in mind is that Zoho’s free email hosting plan does not include IMAP or POP, and email forwarding is not available. This means that you are limited to webmail or downloading their mobile app in order to access the service.

   A new personal email address from Zoho will end in @zohomail.com, unless you opt to add your custom domain for a free business email.

   Key features to highlight:

   • Tons of collaboration features, including Streams where you can share specific media with groups

   • Get 5 GB of storage for each user

   • With Tasks, you can easily create subtasks, assign due dates, and schedule reminders for projects

   • If you’re a fan of sticky notes, the Notes module lets you make virtual post-its with text, photos, and attachments

   • Powerful tools such as Zoho Docs, which includes a word processor and spreadsheets

   • The Zoho App gallery houses 550+ apps for everything from boosting productivity to email marketing

5. iCloud Mail. iCloud is a cloud storage product from Apple that stores documents, videos, photos, and more. The iCloud Mail email client is popular amongst Apple users, as mail settings apply across all Mac devices such as your laptop, iPad, and iPhone. It is one of the best free email providers that give access to IMAP.

   Your account will come with 5 GB of storage, which includes space for emails, photos, videos, and any other files. The email service’s overall functionality is very user-friendly, with search filters and VIP labeling options to find your most important messages.

   Email addresses from Apple’s iCloud will end in @icloud.com.

   Key features to highlight:

   • Can be accessed from the Mail app on Mac devices or via the web on a computer

   • Clean organization and streamlined functionality that Apple products are known for

   • Allows email forwarding to another email account

   • Unsubscribe button to quickly remove yourself from email lists

   • Email files directly from your iCloud Drive, or use third-party apps like DropBox

   • Additional cloud storage space can be purchased

6. AOL Mail. Previously known for being a dial-up internet provider, AOL’s free email service is an option worth exploring. AOL Mail brings you the features you need in a dependable email provider, such as a user-friendly interface, virus protection, spam filters, and numerous customization options.

   You can also easily view your calendar to manage events, note appointments, and even set reminder notifications. This provider also makes it simple to access Today on AOL, which showcases the latest news and happenings across the globe.

   When signing up for a free account from AOL, you should be aware of a few caveats. First, it is not an ad-free service, and it tends to have more ads than most. Second, when sending email attachments, the files must come directly from your computer rather than apps like OneDrive or Dropbox.

   Overall, AOL Mail covers the basics, but it does come with one notable bonus – unlimited storage. Your address will end in @aolmail.com.

   Key features to highlight:

   • Choose from several different themes

   • Built-in spell checker to proof emails before sending

   • Send files up to 25 MB per email

   • Create multiple calendars for your professional and personal events (only available on desktop)

   • Can set up instant notifications when using the AOL app

   • Unlimited storage

7. ProtonMail. If your chief concern is security and privacy, ProtonMail may be one of the best free email accounts you can create. With encryption at its core, you will receive two encryption keys after signing up.

   Your private and public key will ensure end-to-end encryption when sending and receiving emails. You just have to select the option to encrypt the message before pressing send.

   Giving an added layer of security, users can set an expiration deadline for emails. This can be anywhere from an hour to 28 days after sending. If your workflow involves sensitive information or you just want a highly secure email account, ProtonMail will be a good fit.

   Keep in mind that only 150 emails can be sent per day, and there is a 500 MB storage cap. The limit is slim, but the level of privacy is unrivaled in a free webmail provider.

   Your free ProtonMail email will end in @protonmail.com.

   Key features to highlight:

   • Anonymous signup without having your IP address tracked

   • Add up to three custom folders in addition to the default seven

   • Two-factor authentication for extra security

   • Use multiple color-coded labels on messages for better organization

8. Mail.com. Mail.com is a free webmail provider with one distinct difference that stands out from competitors – custom domains. When you create your account, you can choose from 200 different domains to make your email more personal to your brand or purpose.

   For example, instead of @mail.com, you could opt for @consultant.com or @engineer.com. A more targeted domain could be beneficial for job seekers, freelancers, or small business owners.

   While the storage capabilities of the service are limited, it still has many great features. You get spam filters, antivirus protection, custom themes, and access from anywhere.

   Key features to highlight:

   • Receive 2 GB of secure file storage

   • Send email attachments up to a total of 30 MB

   • Supports all file formats, including .docx, .pdf, MP4, .txt, and more

   • Sync your calendar through your mobile device or computer

9. Yandex Mail. Yandex provides more than just free email; it offers a complete productivity solution similar to Google and its suite of products. In fact, you can easily integrate your Gmail and other email accounts within your Yandex Mail dashboard.

   You will be able to utilize 10 GB of cloud storage with Yandex.Disk and the service gives you free online access to Microsoft Office. Other selling points of the free email service include advanced email scheduling options, notifications, and inbox personalization.

   Key features to highlight:

   • Schedule email messages in advance

   • Sorts emails from individuals versus businesses and mailing lists

   • Get 10 GB of file storage to use across the platform

   • Fingerprint and PIN access for added security

   • Get notifications when recipients read your email

10. GMX Mail. While you will immediately notice the no-frills design of your inbox, GMX Mail more than makes up for its powerful features. To start, the email service gives you more storage than your average free account, allowing you to send large files up to 50 MB and provides 60 GB worth of storage.

    GMX Mail also gives you tools outside of email, including word processing software to create resumes and other important documents. There is also a calendar app to help manage all of your tasks called Organizer.

    If you want more versatility or have multiple purposes for your email, consider using an alias. GMX allows up to 10 different addresses per account, allowing you to keep all of your emails within a single inbox and main account.

    Key features to highlight:

    • Send attachments up to 50 GB

    • Create documents, presentations, and spreadsheets

    • Receive 65 GB of file storage

    • Up to 10 free email address aliases

    • Ability to use a custom domain

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.