Top 5 Best Email Providers in 2024 (is #1 a surprise?)

Summary

In this tech review, the host evaluates the top 5 email providers: ProtonMail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and iCloud Mail. Each is rated on security, cost, and ease of use. ProtonMail excels in privacy with end-to-end encryption but has a limited free version. Gmail offers robust security and a generous free tier, yet it mines data for ads. Outlook's security features are mostly paid, earning it the lowest security score. Yahoo provides a terabyte of free storage but lacks basic security notifications. iCloud Mail is user-friendly and offers excellent pricing plans, though it lacks customization. The host favors ProtonMail for its comprehensive security.

Takeaways

• 🔒 ProtonMail is praised for its top-notch security and privacy, utilizing public-key cryptography and zero-access encryption.
• 💸 ProtonMail offers a free version with limited features and a premium version at a moderate cost, providing more storage and customization.
• 📧 Gmail is known for its balance of security and convenience, with end-to-end encryption and effective spam filtering, but it mines user data for ads.
• 💼 Outlook's security features are mostly premium-based, lacking some basic protections like email scanning for threats in its free version.
• 📊 Yahoo Mail provides a generous amount of free storage but has weaker security measures, not notifying users of new device or IP access.
• 📱 iCloud Mail is integrated well with Apple devices, offering basic security features and a simple setup process, with competitive pricing plans.
• 🌐 Gmail stands out for its cost-effectiveness, offering a generous free tier and various paid plans, making it accessible for various user needs.
• 📊 Outlook's pricing is less competitive, with a significant price jump for additional storage and features, which might not be justifiable for all users.
• 📝 The ease of use varies among providers, with Gmail and iCloud Mail offering straightforward interfaces, while Yahoo and Outlook have some limitations.
• 🏷️ ProtonMail's free version has limitations on email organization with only three tags allowed, which could be a drawback for heavy email users.

Q & A

What are the top 5 email providers discussed in the script?

The top 5 email providers discussed are ProtonMail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and iCloud Mail.

What is the primary concern of the reviewer when evaluating email providers?

The primary concern of the reviewer is security, as they value privacy and do not want service providers to access their mail.

How does ProtonMail rate in terms of security according to the script?

ProtonMail rates very highly in terms of security, earning 5 FBI Manhunts out of 5, due to its use of public-key cryptography and zero-access encryption.

What are the pricing options for ProtonMail, and how does the reviewer rate its cost?

ProtonMail offers a free version and a premium version at $5 per month or $48 per year. The reviewer rates its cost at two terabytes out of 5, finding the free version underwhelming.

How user-friendly is ProtonMail according to the review?

ProtonMail is considered easy to use, with a setup process that involves choosing a username, creating a strong password, and passing a Captcha. The reviewer gives it four chain emails out of 5 for ease of use.

What is the reviewer's opinion on Gmail's security and privacy?

The reviewer gives Gmail a middling 3 FBI Manhunts out of 5 for security, noting that while it offers end-to-end encryption, it mines user data for ads and is based in the US where privacy policies are less strict.

What are the storage options and pricing plans for Gmail?

Gmail offers 15 GB of storage for free, shared across Google apps, and has four different paid plans ranging from $6 to $18 per month, with the Business Plan allowing customization of domain names.

How does the reviewer rate Gmail's ease of use?

The reviewer rates Gmail's ease of use at three chain emails out of 5, noting that while it's easy to create an account, the lack of a desktop app is a downside.

What is the reviewer's assessment of Outlook's security features?

Outlook receives 0 FBI Manhunts out of 5 for security and privacy because many of its essential security features are locked behind a paywall, and it doesn't check emails for threats in the free version.

What are the pricing options for Outlook, and how does the reviewer rate its cost?

Outlook offers a free version with 15 GB of storage and two paid plans at $69.99 and $99.99 per year. The reviewer rates its cost at two terabytes out of 5, noting the high price hike for additional storage.

How does the reviewer rate Yahoo's security and what is its score?

The reviewer rates Yahoo's security at 1 FBI Manhunt out of 5, criticizing it for lacking basic features like notifications when the account is accessed from a new IP or device.

What storage does Yahoo offer in its free version, and how does the reviewer rate its pricing?

Yahoo offers one terabyte of storage in its free version. The reviewer rates its pricing at five terabytes out of 5, praising the generous storage and additional features in the web client.

What is the reviewer's opinion on iCloud Mail's security?

The reviewer gives iCloud Mail 3 FBI Manhunts out of 5 for security, noting that it offers basic security features like two-factor authentication and encryption between iCloud users, but does not go above and beyond in ensuring message protection.

What are the storage options and pricing plans for iCloud Mail?

iCloud Mail offers 5 GB of storage for free to Apple device users and three paid plans at $0.99, $2.99, and $9.99 per month for 50 GB, 200 GB, and two terabytes of storage, respectively.

How does the reviewer rate iCloud Mail's ease of use?

The reviewer rates iCloud Mail's ease of use at three chain emails out of 5, finding the setup process neat but criticizing the lack of flexibility in the filing system.

Outlines

00:00

🔒 ProtonMail: A Privacy-Centric Email Provider

The first paragraph introduces the topic of the video, which is an evaluation of the top 5 email providers with a focus on security, cost, and ease of use. ProtonMail is highlighted as the top pick due to its strong privacy features, such as being based in Switzerland with strict privacy laws and utilizing public-key cryptography for zero-access encryption. The free version, while secure, is criticized for its limited storage and message sending capabilities. The cost section notes the premium version's moderate pricing and additional features, but the free version's restrictions are seen as a drawback. Ease of use is praised, with a straightforward account setup process and an interface that, despite some clutter, is user-friendly.

05:01

📧 Gmail: A Familiar Choice with Mixed Privacy

The second paragraph discusses Gmail, noting its widespread use and decent security features such as end-to-end encryption and spam filtering. However, it also points out the US-based service's less stringent privacy policies, allowing for data mining for advertising purposes. The cost section praises Gmail's free tier for its generous storage and lack of message limits, and its various paid plans, including a business plan for custom domain names. Ease of use is criticized for the lack of a desktop app and a somewhat tired Google aesthetic, but the service is still considered easy to navigate and set up.

10:06

🚫 Outlook: Security Features Behind a Paywall

The third paragraph addresses Outlook, focusing on its security shortcomings, such as the lack of free email encryption and threat detection. The service receives a low rating for privacy and security. On the cost front, Outlook's free version offers a reasonable 15 GB of storage, but its paid plans are seen as overpriced with limited additional benefits. The ease of use is commended for its consistency with other Office apps and a user-friendly setup process, but the overall experience is marred by a lack of advanced features in the free version and a less customizable interface.

Keywords

💡Email Providers

Email providers are services that offer the ability to send and receive electronic mail over the internet. In the video, the host discusses the top 5 email providers, emphasizing the importance of security, cost, and ease of use. Examples include ProtonMail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and iCloud Mail, each evaluated based on these criteria.

💡Security

Security, in the context of the video, refers to the measures taken by email providers to protect user data and privacy. The host rates email providers based on their security features, such as end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication. ProtonMail is highlighted for its strong security measures, including zero-access encryption.

💡Cost

Cost is a critical factor the host considers when evaluating email providers. It involves the pricing plans and the value offered for free or premium services. The discussion covers the affordability and the features included in free and paid versions, such as storage space and message limits.

💡Ease of Use

Ease of use pertains to the simplicity and intuitiveness of setting up and navigating an email service. The host evaluates the user interface and the process of creating an account, as well as the management of emails, such as sorting and tagging, which are essential for a smooth user experience.

💡ProtonMail

ProtonMail is an email service based in Switzerland, known for its strong focus on privacy and security. The video emphasizes its use of public-key cryptography and zero-access encryption, making it a top pick due to its robust security features, despite its moderate cost and underwhelming free version.

💡Gmail

Gmail is a widely recognized email service provided by Google. The video discusses its security and privacy, noting that while it offers end-to-end encryption and spam filtering, it also mines user data for advertising, which raises privacy concerns. Gmail's free tier is praised for its generous storage and lack of message limits.

💡Outlook

Outlook, part of the Microsoft ecosystem, is criticized in the video for having essential security features behind a paywall and lacking basic threat detection in its free version. Despite this, it offers a familiar interface for Microsoft users and is noted for its consistency with other Office apps.

💡Yahoo

Yahoo Mail is described as having a strong free version with a large storage capacity but falls short in security, lacking basic alert features for new device access. The video also mentions its user base, suggesting it is less mainstream and more niche.

💡iCloud Mail

iCloud Mail is Apple's email service, which comes bundled with other Apple services. The video notes its basic security features and the convenience of its integration with Apple devices. It stands out for its pricing plans, offering large storage capacities at relatively low costs.

💡Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is a security measure discussed in the video, where users provide two forms of identification before accessing their accounts. It adds an extra layer of security, which is praised as a positive feature in email providers like Gmail and ProtonMail.

💡End-to-End Encryption

End-to-end encryption ensures that messages are encrypted on the sender's device and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient, preventing third parties from accessing the content. The video highlights this feature as a key aspect of secure email communication, particularly in ProtonMail and Gmail.

Highlights

Introduction to the top 5 email providers and the criteria for evaluation: security, cost, and ease of use.

ProtonMail is rated highly for security with end-to-end encryption and zero-access encryption.

ProtonMail's free version is criticized for limited storage and message sending capabilities.

ProtonMail's premium version offers more storage and customization features at a moderate cost.

Ease of use for ProtonMail is praised, with a straightforward account setup and user-friendly interface.

Gmail's security is deemed average, with end-to-end encryption and spam filtering but data mining for ads.

Gmail offers a generous 15 GB of free storage and various paid plans with business-oriented features.

Gmail's user interface is familiar but lacks a desktop app, which is seen as a drawback.

Outlook's security features are largely limited to paid users, receiving a low rating.

Outlook's free tier includes 15 GB of storage, with paid plans offering increased storage and a family plan.

Outlook's interface is consistent with other Microsoft Office apps, making it easy for users to adapt.

Yahoo's security is criticized for lacking basic alert features and is given a low rating.

Yahoo offers a free tier with one terabyte of storage and a business plan for a low monthly cost.

Yahoo's interface is easy to use but has limitations in folder management and is plagued by bugs.

iCloud Mail provides basic security features and is integrated with Apple devices for ease of use.

iCloud offers competitive pricing with plans starting at $0.99 per month for 50 GB of storage.

iCloud Mail's filing system is seen as limited, lacking customization options for folders.

Final recommendation leans towards ProtonMail for its comprehensive package, especially for security.

Transcripts

“Forward this email to 10 people or the  girl from the Ring will come to haunt you.” 

“Pshh. What is this 2002? DELETE!

Hey everyone, welcome back to the  channel where we spill the tea,  

dish the goss and give hard-hitting FACTS -  on the latest tech trends. In today's episode,  

we're going to be looking at the top  5 - email providers available today.

But first…  

Please like and subscribe to make  all of this worth it, please.

let's look at the best email providers

We’ve got ProtonMail, Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo  and iCloud Mail. You know, the usual suspects

I should start by explaining a little  bit about how I'm going to be rating  

these. There are three key features  that I look for in an email provider.

Number one - above all else is security.  I'm a guy who likes his privacy, and I  

don't need some service provider  going through my mail. I’d also love  

it if it could keep a certain ghost from  tracking well water all over my studio.

Number two is cost. Specifically, I like to know  exactly what I'm paying for. Following that,  

I also want to be assured that the free  version of any email provider is up to par.

Finally, number three -is the ease of use.  This may not be a big deal for some people,  

but as of today, I’d like  to be able to just create  

an account and start forwarding spam  emails to people I know right away.

Alright, first up, we've got ProtonMail.

So, how does ProtonMail hold up to this super  strict criteria with all of that in mind?

Honestly, pretty well. It’s kind of our top pick.

So, let's start with privacy.  ProtonMail is like a thick steel  

vault when it comes to your emails. For  starters, it's based in Switzerland,  

where privacy policies are much stricter than  other countries like - say - the US. Beyond that,  

however, ProtonMail goes a step further by using  public-key cryptography to encrypt your messages.

This means that nobody - and I mean nobody -  but you can view your private messages. This is  

due to the zero-access encryption of public-key  cryptography. Also - all of your communications  

between you and other ProtonMail  users are encrypted from end-to-end.

Which means no long haired  ghosts can escape my tv screen.

So, in terms of privacy and security, I will  give ProtonMail 5 FBI Manhunts out of 5.

Now let's take a look at the cost.

ProtonMail offers you a free version (more on  that soon) and a premium version at $5 per month,  

or $48 per year. Now, these prices  are fairly moderate - I wouldn't go  

so far as to say that they're a bargain,  but they are more reasonable than some  

other premium email providers. The paid  version offers you more storage space,  

more messages per day, and a handful of other  useful features to personalize the experience.

On the other hand, the free version is…  well, let's just call it underwhelming.

For starters, you only get 500  megabytes worth of space and can  

only send 500 messages per day. That may  be enough for some, but it's a problem  

for people like me who tend to let their  unread messages pile up to obscene heights

Also, the free version only lets  you add three tags to your emails,  

so you can only sort them into three  broad categories. The paid version  

lifts this restriction, of course, but  why do I have to pay to tag my emails?

So, when it comes to cost,  

ProtonMail kind of drops the ball.  I'm giving it two terabytes out of 5.

Finally, let's take a look  at how this baby handles.

Setting up a ProtonMail account is pretty easy.  Just pick a username like then come up with a  

strong password like and you're pretty much good  to go. You'll have to pass a Captcha as well.

The interface looks pretty attractive, but  it can seem cluttered at times. Before doing  

anything else, we recommend going to your settings  and enabling two-factor authentication to get  

OTPs whenever you want to access  your account or private messages.

Other than some clutter on the homepage,  ProtonMail is still nice to look at and  

easy to use. I could start forwarding  my spam mail to my friends and family  

members straight away with no hassle.  I'm giving it four chain emails out of 5.

Before we move on, we have links  in the description so you knock  

a few bucks off that already  affordable subscription plan.

Up next is Gmail.

Gmail needs no introduction. Pretty much  everyone has at least 3 or 4 inactive Gmail  

accounts in addition to their primary  account. But exactly how good is Gmail?

Security and privacy are up first,  and honestly, they're both alright.

Like ProtonMail, Gmail offers  end-to-end encryption when  

communicating with other Gmail users. You  can also enable two-factor authentication,  

adding a security layer to your messages.

Beyond that, Gmail is good at catching spam  messages and filtering them accordingly.  

Of course, it isn't perfect, and  it doesn't always get it right,  

but it learns from its mistakes. You can even  add additional spam filters for maximum effect.

Wish i’d gotten the memo earlier  because now I have to look for a  

ghost exterminator. If only there was  a special word for that kind of thing?

Of course, Gmail is based in the US,  

whose privacy policies are… eh. The company  can't make you show them your messages,  

but a lawyer with a subpoena can. Gmail also  mines your messages for data to recommend ads,  

which is gross. All of it is legal and technically  above board, so what are you going to do?

I'd give Gmail's security features  a middling 3 FBI Manhunts out of 5.

Now let's take a look at the cost,  and this is where Gmail shines.

Gmail's free tier offers you 15 GB of storage  (shared across all of your Google apps,  

like Google Drive) and doesn't limit how  many messages you can send. Beyond that,  

Gmail has four different pricing plans  ranging from $6 per month to $18 and beyond.

These plans have their own set of features  and restrictions, but the Business Plan,  

in particular, is pretty cool because it  allows you to customize your domain name  

to suit your business. You could have an email  address like "[email protected]" for example.

Overall, I'm giving Gmail's pricing  options a solid four terabytes out of 5.

Finally, let's take a look at Gmail's ease  of use. What is there to say? It's Gmail.  

You create an account in three steps, open up your  Gmail app, and get immediately bombarded by spam.

Gmail has that Google aesthetic  - which is… eh. Honestly,  

I've just gotten a bit sick  of Google's whole look.

Honestly, though, the worst part  about using Gmail is that there's  

no desktop app. You have to open it up  in your browser, which is just gross.

Overall, I'm giving Gmail's ease of use  three respectable chain emails out of 5.

Now if you’re a Google workspace user, you  can find a link in the description that’ll  

get you a subscription at a pretty neat discount.

Alright. Next, we'll be looking at Outlook.

So, Outlook exists in the Microsoft  Cinematic Universe as its email provider.

A lot of Outlook's essential security  features are locked behind a paywall.  

This includes email encryption which is  a huge knock to the service. Outlook also  

doesn't check your emails for potential  threats unless you pay for a subscription.

Damnit Outlook!

In terms of security and privacy, we're  giving Outlook 0 FBI Manhunts out of 5. Ouch.

When it comes to pricing, Outlook offers three  plans, including the free version, which gives  

you 15 GB worth of storage space, the calendar  feature, and access to the Android and iOS apps.  

The tier up from that goes for $69.99 per year,  which is a huge hike in price and doesn't offer  

much other than 50 GB worth of storage. Up from  that is the family plan which also gives you 50  

GB worth of storage but allows up to 6 people  to use it. This goes for $99.99 per year.

Yeah, price-wise, Outlook isn't looking too  great either, but at least it offers you  

15 GB worth of storage in the free plan. I'm  thinking two terabytes out of 5 for this one.

Finally, let's look at the  interface and how easy it is to use.

Outlook is pretty consistent with other  Office apps. That means that anyone  

who has ever used Word before will feel  right at home. It's sleek and attractive.  

Setting up your account is also pretty easy  if you already have a Microsoft account.

Overall, it's a solid four chain emails out of 5.

Okay, now let's take a look at Yahoo.

The only people who use Yahoo nowadays  are edge-lords who "aren't like other  

girls or boys." Let's see if the  service is any good at what it does.

When it comes to security, Yahoo drops  the ball. It offers its version of  

two-factor authentication in the form  of a Yahoo Account Key. Not bad - but  

where Yahoo slips up is not sending  you an email whenever your account is  

accessed from a new IP address or device  or you know, a creepy 10 year old girl.

Seriously, that's one of the  most basic features that any  

email provider offers. But not Yahoo  - uh-uh, Yahoo's too good for that.

Beyond that, Yahoo is pretty good at handling  spam and keeping your inbox clear of clutter,  

but really, it's clear that security isn't their  

primary focus. We're giving  it 1 FBI Manhunt out of 5.

Now let's look at how much  Yahoo thinks it's worth.

Yahoo's free version offers you a  whopping one terabyte of storage which is…  

yeah, okay, that's pretty good. The web  client also has many features baked into it,  

which are all freely accessible. If you  want to step your account up and earn  

that good Reddit gold, you can opt for  a business account at $1.19 per month.

In terms of pricing, we've got to hand  it to Yahoo. Five terabytes out of 5.

Okay, now let's see how easy it is to use.

Making an account is as easy as you'd  expect, so no worries. Beyond that,  

Yahoo offers you a handy filing tool  that seems only half-implemented because  

you can't create any sub-folders.  This can lead to a lot of clutter,  

which will be pretty frustrating for  people who like their email to be clean.

Unfortunately, even though Yahoo email launched  in 2000 BC, it's still plagued by bugs and errors,  

which drags the whole experience down.  We're giving it two chain emails out of 5.

God, here we go again.

Finally, let's take a quick look at iCloud Mail.

This one's for all you scummy iOS users out there  

You know who you are.

Honestly, iCloud Mail is pretty good all around.  In terms of security, it offers you all of the  

basics: two-factor authentication and encryption  between iCloud users. It also features these neat  

little security tokens, which act as an "account  key." These security tokens are linked to your  

account, so your device doesn't need to store your  passwords. Pretty handy in case anyone gets a hold  

of one of your devices. Overall, they don't go  out of their way to ensure that your messages  

are protected, not any more than other email  providers. As such: 3 FBI Manhunts out of 5.

Pricing-wise, I think iCloud may take the cake  here. Anyone with an Apple device automatically  

gets access to an iCloud account with 5 GB  of storage. This may not seem like a lot,  

but keep in mind that you don't even  need to have an Apple device to reap  

the benefits. Once you've got your account,  you can use it on any device you please.

Above that, there are three pricing plans  which are… oh boy, they're good. For just  

$0.99 per month, you get access to 50  GB worth of storage. For $2.99 a month,  

you get 200 GB. And for $9.99, you get an  insane two terabytes worth of storage space.  

Think of all the… family-friendly Christian  documents you could store.For pricing and cost,  

we're giving this a whopping  five terabytes out of 5.

Now let's look at how easy iCloud is  to use and get used to. Once you've  

registered an Apple device, you need to go  into your settings and then select iCloud,  

then Mail, and you'll be prompted to come  up with your email address. Pretty neat.

Beyond that, iCloud Mail doesn't  offer you much flexibility. Sure,  

your account can be accessed from any  device, but I found the filing system to be…  

eh. What can I say? I like it when  an email service lets me customise  

my folders. For ease of use, iCloud Mail  gets a solid three chain emails out of 5.

Okay. So there you have it - that's the list.  I'm leaning towards ProtonMail because it  

offers a better package overall. Plus, you  all know that security is a big deal to me. 

“Samara, if you’re going to stay  here, you need to start paying rent.”