The 7 best Gmail alternatives in 2023

Gmail is practically synonymous with email. And not just because it’s owned by Google (though that helps)—it’s also a highly competent email app. But it’s far from the only highly competent email app out there. So if you’ve been using Gmail just because it’s Gmail, it might be worth seeing if something else suits you better.

The Zapier team has done extensive testing on apps for basically every device, and we’ve also conducted head-to-head comparisons of Gmail with a handful of other email apps. The result is the following list of Gmail alternatives, so you can decide which one is best for your inbox.

And hey, if the answer is stick with Gmail, at least you know.

7 alternatives to Gmail 

• Microsoft Outlook for Microsoft users

• Yahoo Mail for storage

• ProtonMail for security

• Apple Mail for iPhone and Mac users

• Windows Mailfor Windows (free)

• Mailbirdfor Windows (premium)

• Edison Mail for Android

• Other Gmail alternatives

The best Gmail alternatives at a glance

A Gmail alternative for Microsoft users

Microsoft Outlook

Outlook pros:

• Works great on a lot of devices (including Apple devices)

• Deep integration with Microsoft

Outlook cons:

• Free version has vaguely annoying ads

• Spam blocker and search aren’t as good as Gmail’s

Both Outlook and Gmail are reliable, multi-functional email services used by millions, so it’s not surprising that they’d have more than a few things in common. Both offer free options that provide plenty of functionality. Both offer paid business plans for expanded capabilities and storage. Both allow you to import contacts from other providers. And both interfaces can be customized to your liking. In addition, in both Gmail and Outlook, you’ll find predictive text options, reminders, email scheduling, and message templates. 

None of those similarities is going to help you make a decision on which one best fits your needs, though. If storage is a concern for you, Outlook may be the way to go. While both offer 15GB of storage space for free, your Gmail storage is also shared with Google Drive and Google Photos, so it may disappear more quickly. When it comes to user interfaces on the free version, Gmail’s advertising is far subtler than Outlook’s, which plasters ads onto your screen rather than tucking them into your tabs. Gmail also offers a more robust search function (it is Google, after all) as well as a more reliable spam blocker. 

If you live in Microsoft 365 24/7, though, Outlook is the way to go. That’s because Gmail and Outlook integrate with different software suites (Microsoft 365 for Outlook, Google Workspace for Gmail). Considering which software you use most can help point you toward one service or the other.

One last thing: if you’re worried about compatibility with Apple devices, don’t—Outlook is one of our picks for the best email apps for both iOS and macOS.

Outlook price: Free (you’ll get more features with a Microsoft 365 subscription)

Read more: Gmail vs. Outlook

A Gmail alternative for more storage

Yahoo Mail

Yahoo Mail pros:

• 1 TB of storage, blowing Gmail out of the water

Yahoo Mail cons:

• Obtrusive ads

• Lacks some important features and integrations

Another option worth considering is Yahoo Mail. If that’s surprising to you, there are roughly 200 million monthly Yahoo Mail users who would like a word. That many people must mean that Yahoo’s doing something right. 

Let’s start with how they’re similar. Both Gmail and Yahoo are modern email clients that provide you with an intuitive web app, as well as a mobile app that works well on either iOS or Android. Both inboxes are easy to organize, and both allow you to easily opt out of those annoying marketing emails.

Yahoo departs from Gmail, though, in a number of key ways. In addition to suffering from the same obnoxious ad placements as Outlook, Yahoo’s integration with other apps tends to fall short. The Yahoo version of Google Workspace is a lackluster calendar, a basic notes app, and a contacts app that, while functional, can’t really compete with all the Google offerings. Gmail also offers scheduled sending and smart replies, while Yahoo doesn’t. Finally, Yahoo Mail has been the victim of several high-profile hacking attacks. Gmail offers more peace of mind when it comes to security. 

So why go with Yahoo? In addition to Yahoo’s adequate, if not jaw-dropping, features, I’d answer this question with one word: storage. Instead of Gmail’s measly 15 GB, which is likely to be eaten up by Google Drive and Google Photos, Yahoo Mail offers a whopping 1 TB of email storage. If you like to keep every email you’ve ever gotten without being prompted to fork out a monthly fee to boost your available space, then Yahoo is your go-to.

Yahoo Mail price: Free

Read more: Gmail vs. Yahoo

A Gmail alternative for secure email

ProtonMail

ProtonMail pros:

• Much more private and secure than Gmail at its baseline

• Also offers James Bond-level security features

ProtonMail cons:

• Free plan is less generous than Gmail

• User interface isn’t as friendly

If the thought of a perfect stranger rummaging through your mailbox puts you on edge, you might want to check out ProtonMail. It’s an email service that’s built for security and privacy. Based in Switzerland, ProtonMail is subject to much stricter privacy laws than Gmail, which falls under U.S. regulations. Unlike Gmail, ProtonMail won’t ask for any personal information during signup, and it won’t track your IP or metadata. 

On top of this, ProtonMail’s encryption is much more robust than Gmail’s. While Google keeps the encryption keys to your data, nobody at ProtonMail has that sort of access. That’s not to suggest that your Gmail inbox is an open book, but your data can be accessed by Google’s algorithms (and, of course, whomever Google decides to grant access to). ProtonMail also provides you with some optional, James Bond-level security features like password-protected emails and emails that self-destruct (really they just self-delete, but self-destruct sounds cooler). 

All that security does come with a few drawbacks to consider. ProtonMail’s free plan limits you to 150 emails a day (there go your plans to spam Klondike to bring back the Choco Taco). You also get just 500MB of storage, with only three folders and labels to manage your otherwise-locked-down data. You can upgrade for more storage and messaging for $5/month, but that won’t fix ProtonMail’s less user-friendly interface, which includes blocks on all the images in your incoming emails (to stop folks from tracking your open rates). Still, if privacy is your priority, ProtonMail is definitely your best bet.

ProtonMail price: Free plan available; subscriptions start at $5/month

Read more: Gmail vs. ProtonMail

A Gmail alternative for iPhone and Mac users

Apple Mail

Apple Mail pros:

• Great native Apple feel

• VIP inbox

Apple Mail cons:

• Just an app, not an email service (iCloud is Apple’s email service)

The main difference between Gmail and Apple Mail is that, while Gmail gives you a full email service (it actually hosts your email), Apple Mail provides you with only an email client (where you read your email). Gmail as an email service is client-agnostic: you can access it via Gmail’s web app, iOS app, or Android app—or you can use a different client altogether, like Microsoft Outlook. Apple Mail is just an app, and it’s only available on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. That last one is important though: Gmail doesn’t have a dedicated desktop app (you have to use the web app).

Apple Mail allows you to use practically any email service with it, including Gmail. Its features, which include VIP Inbox, undo send, customized notifications, and email reminders, are available whether you use iCloud Mail, Outlook, Gmail, or another client. That’s worth keeping in mind if you use multiple accounts with different services. With Apple Mail, you’ll be able to use one interface to access them all.  

Apple Mail works best on an Apple device. Not only will the navigation feel more seamless on iOS or macOS, but Apple Mail will also integrate with your system notifications. If you’re doing most of your work on an Apple device, then Apple Mail can be a great option. But keep in mind that if you’re using Gmail for your email service, some of its most attractive features—like inbox sorting and smart replies—are only available through the Gmail apps. You’ll also need to use those clients to integrate with Calendar, Keep, Meet, Docs, and Google’s other apps.

Apple Mail price: Free

Read more: Gmail vs. Apple Mail

A Gmail alternative for Windows

Mailbird

Mailbird pros:

• Lots of great third-party integrations

• Super customizable

Mailbird cons:

• Very expensive compared to free Gmail

If you’re looking for a Gmail alternative in a native Windows app, Mailbird is a great choice. Its sleek design can be customized to your liking, and it excels in the essentials of email management, with lots of quality-of-life features.

You can snooze emails, undo sent messages, and enjoy a unified inbox, perfect for heavy email users and those with multiple accounts. Mailbird also shines with its third-party integrations, allowing you to incorporate personal and productivity apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Slack, Dropbox, and Google Calendar.

Just keep in mind: you should be ready to invest a bit more—the cheapest plan is $39/year.

Mailbird price: Home Standard plan from $39/year; Business Standard and Home Premium plans from $59/year with third-party integrations

Read more: The best email apps

A free Gmail alternative for Windows

Windows Mail

Windows Mail pros:

• Works well as part of a productivity suite, like Gmail

• Basic but functional

Windows Mail cons:

• Being discontinued in 2024 in favor of Outlook

Another native Windows app, Windows Mail is one of the top basic email apps out there. It follows familiar email conventions and adds a few clever features. The Focused Inbox automatically filters important messages, saving your friends and family from getting lost in the sea of newsletters. It includes a calendar and integrates with Microsoft To Do for a more comprehensive productivity experience. Plus, you’ll find customization options hidden in the settings, allowing you to personalize themes, colors, notifications, and even set up auto-responders in just a few clicks.

If you’re a Windows user looking for a free Gmail alternative, give Mail a shot. It may not offer advanced filters or extensive integrations with other services, but for most people, it does the trick. Just keep in mind that Microsoft has announced that Windows Mail will be replaced with Outlook for Windows in 2024.

Windows Mail price: Free

Read more: The best email apps

A Gmail alternative for Android

Edison Mail

Edison Mail pros:

• Powerful Assistant feature that takes care of all sorts of email management tasks

Edison Mail cons:

• Might be more than you’re looking for if you just want simple email

Edison Mail is fast, modern, and user-friendly: it organizes your inbox into a Focused Inbox for important emails and an Other section for the rest. But that’s just part of what makes it a great Gmail alternative—the real sorting power lies within the Assistant feature.

By default, Edison identifies and tracks your subscriptions, showing you how often you open them and enabling you to unsubscribe or receive daily/weekly summary emails with a single tap. It also extracts travel confirmations, package tracking emails, bills/receipts, event details, and coupons, keeping them easily accessible. Edison automatically surfaces relevant information, such as displaying hotel details before check-in or reminding you of upcoming bills.

Edison Mail price: Free; from $14.99/month for Edison Mail+, which adds more security-focused features. 

Read more: The best email apps

Are there other Gmail alternatives?

You bet. Those are just some of the commonly-compared-to-Gmail apps available. For other Gmail alternatives, take a look at our roundups for the best email apps across all the platforms:

• Best email apps overall

• Best email apps for Android

• Best email apps for iPhone 

• Best email clients for Mac

• Best email clients for Windows

And remember, you can still use Gmail as an email service (meaning, you’d have an @gmail.com account) for almost any email app you choose—the app will just change where you get those emails.

What’s the best Gmail alternative?

Choosing the right email app really comes down to clarifying your priorities. What do you most want out of an email client? Security? Storage? Design? App integration? Each of these apps will deliver each of these features, just to varying degrees and with varying results.

If you’re still on the fence, you might think about downloading a bunch of them to see which option works best. Seeing the same email in a bunch of different clients over the course of a week can give you a really solid idea of which Gmail alternative you like the best.

Related reading:

• The best email hosting services

• How to send an email from a webhook

• The best calendar apps