Hoody Reviews the Best Privacy-Friendly Gmail Alternatives

Why do you need alternatives to Gmail?

There are more than 4.1 billion email users worldwide and the Alphabet-owned inbox is home to 1.8 billion of them. Gmail is so popular that it has become synonymous with emailing in the same way “Google it” has become synonymous with searching via the internet. Gmail's slick and intuitive inbox with additional features keeps casual users and email hounds alike happy.

But at what cost?

Answer: Your data and your privacy.

What data does Gmail collect?

Google's email service is just one tiny part of the massive data-gobbling Google machine. It scans your emails, monitors who you email, the exact dates and times, and the topics you email about. Not exactly safe emailing practices.

In 2021, when Google finally added what data it collects to Apple's App Store privacy label, it caused quite a stir. It revealed that Gmail was collecting the following data points:

• Purchase history
• Location
• Email address
• Photos and videos
• Audio data
• User ID
• Device ID
• Usage data
• Search history
• Crash data
• Advertising data
• Performance data

Gmail is basically an open window into your entire life.

The Gmail privacy policy states this data is only used* to enhance their services with such things as autocomplete or populating your calendar with planned meetings or vacation bookings. But are those “smart features” really necessary? We've all managed to type full words before.

*When they say "only used" it's always not true. It is ALSO shared with governments on requests. Data collected = data that ends up in the government's hands.

Think about this for a moment...

If the regular postal service kept a record of what we sent, who to, when, what we talked about, the photos we shared, and the paper we wrote on, there would be uproar. But for some reason, when it comes to digital services, the majority of users simply shrug and carry on regardless.

But some netizens, like you, are starting to see the dangers and injustice of Google's data-hungry ways. It's time to stop Gmail from using your freely-given email data to add to its trillion-dollar empire. It's time to find a safe emailing solution. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives to Gmail out there.

What to consider when choosing alternatives to Gmail

Not all alternatives to Gmail are made equally. Some email providers are just as bad! Microsoft's Outlook and Yahoo Mail operate in much the same way, gathering user data and sharing it for a profit. So, what should you look out for when you're in the market for a safe emailing experience?

Here are our top three things to consider:

End-to-end encryption

The first thing on your wish list should be end-to-end encryption (E2EE). E2EE means that your messages are encrypted before they leave your device and can only be decrypted by the recipient(s). Your messages may pass through the provider's servers but thanks to E2EE, they aren't able to decrypt them, and neither can anyone else.

If you want to know why encryption is so important, check out our Hoody article: Why Global Encryption Day Should be Celebrated

Jurisdiction

Email may be a virtual service but the location of the provider's servers will have a huge impact on user privacy and safe emailing. For example, if the servers are located in one of the “five/nine/fourteen eyes” countries, then they may be forced to give up your personal data for government surveillance. That, or stop doing business. As was the case for the Texas-based email service, Lavabit.

In 2013, Ladar Levison, founder of Lavabait closed down the company instead of complying with a US government court order to conduct surveillance on its customers.

But don't be fooled, most email providers don't care that much about your privacy! That's why choosing a Gmail alternative with E2EE is key. With E2EE, regardless of the jurisdiction laws, the email service can't disclose email content. They can't give what they don't have.

Ability to import Gmail messages and contacts

If you've been a Gmail user for a long time or use it for business, then this might be an essential feature in your search for alternatives to Gmail. Having the ability to easily import all your Gmail messages and contacts will definitely make the switch much easier.

Review of the best privacy-friendly alternatives to Gmail

Keep in mind that while we have picked providers offering better email service than Gmail, they aren't going to be absolutely perfect. Everybody wants and needs different things. But we've picked the best privacy-focused email providers and explored their pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision when looking for safe emailing.

Proton

Swiss-based, ProtonMail is an encrypted email provider created in response to Edward Snowden's NSA revelations. After launching in 2014, Proton was dubbed by Forbes as “the only email system the NSA can't access”.

It's open-source, has 1GB storage on the free plan, and features E2EE and self-destructing emails— emails that automatically delete themselves from the recipient's inbox after a set period of time.

Being based in Switzerland also means that it's not within the jurisdiction of the 5, 9, or 14-eyes. That's not to say that the country doesn't ever cooperate with surveillance requests. But when you consider how much data Google hands over to law enforcement without a warrant, Proton is still a much better Gmail alternative.

ProtonMail is available through your browser and an app for Android and iOS, with both paid and free versions. It also has a handy easy switch service to make it your Gmail alternative with one click.

Pros:

• User-friendly
• E2EE
• Swiss-based
• Easy migration from Gmail or other email providers
• Sign up without giving any personal information
• Sign up without personal info

Cons:

• Unlimited plan is expensive
• Email subject lines not encrypted
• Personal info required to verify new accounts
• Has previously passed an IP address to Swiss authorities

Zoho

Businesses often need extra security for emails, especially if they deal with sensitive data. In that case, check out Zoho Mail, a secure email service marketed toward organizations. It includes a password manager, hassle-free migration, and an array of tools for cyber threat protection. It also uses multiple forms of encryption, including encryption at rest, in transit, and S/MIME to ensure safe emailing.

Since Zoho targets businesses with paid email services they don't rely on selling your data to third parties which also keeps your email inbox ad-free. This alone immediately makes them a better email service than Gmail.

But they do provide a free version that allows up to 5 users with 5GB storage per user. If you're a small start-up that really wants a privacy-focused business email, then it might be the best Gmail alternative for you.

If you go for one of the paid plans (which start at just $1 a month), you can get so much more than a secure and private email. For example, Zoho's workplace plan offers loads of integrated features such as an online file manager, presentation software, and instant messaging.

Pros

• Easy migration
• Flexible pricing
• Multiple encryption protocols
• Multiple add-on features ideal for larger organizations
• Use your own domain name
• Ability to customize

Cons

• Free version is a bit limited
• Has a learning curve to get to grips with it
• Not great for personal use

Tutanota

A favorite of journalists and activists, Tutanota was one of the first email service providers to implement end-to-end encryption. The German-based company is open-source and has an alternative business model that relies on premium subscriptions and donations. No revenue from advertising. No selling your data to advertisers.

Where other privacy-focused email providers dropped certain features in favor of privacy, Tutanota found a way to encrypt and keep them. For example, the encrypted email search function. Tutanota includes an encrypted search index that decrypts emails locally and allows you to search. They also have an encrypted calendar with encrypted notifications.

The one downside you might have picked up on is that Tutanota is based in Germany, one of the 14 eyes countries. This doesn't automatically mean they will give up your data at a drop of a hat. They have created a tight encrypted ship, so anything personal is wrapped up nicely. They are also regulated by Bundesdatenschutzgesetz (BDSG), Germany's own version of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Pros

• No-logs policy
• Encrypted calendar
• Available on any device
• Open-source and expert checked
• Email aliases
• Sign up without personal info

Cons

• Fourteen Eyes country
• Free version has limited features and no direct support
• Expensive extra storage

Posteo

For any privacy-concerned email user that wants to protect their privacy and the planet, then Posteo will be the best of the alternatives to Gmail options. The Berlin-based provider power's all of its servers with green electricity from Green Planet Energy, has a recycling program, makes no business flights, and uses energy-efficient hardware.

The sustainable email provider is open source and offers anonymous sign-up, alias addresses, and spam and virus filters. It also packs in a whole host of encryption features, including an encrypted calendar and address book.

One thing worth noting is that although Posteo offers a very secure infrastructure for your emails, end-to-end encryption is not offered by default. Posteo users need to be a little more involved in their own privacy protection. To enjoy safe emailing, you'll first need to install the browser add-on, Mailvelope, and create a key pair. It's not so complicated and Posteo has published easy-to-follow instructions.

Posteo is a paid service and 100% independent giving users an ad-free service. The cost starts at 1EUR a month, so it's a small price to pay for privacy. Your secure email inbox comes with 2GB of free storage which can be increased at 0.25 EUR/month per gigabyte.

Pros

• Powered by green energy
• Robust encryption features
• Anonymous sign-up and payments
• Migration service- 3 migrations per account
• Ability to have 2FA

Cons

• No live support
• 14-eyes country
• No trial or free version
• No crypto payment option

StartMail

If you're looking for a better email service than Gmail that packages premium features with ease of use, then the Dutch offering, StartMail should tick the box.

StartMail's self-hosted servers are located in the Netherlands meaning your data is protected by Dutch privacy legislation and the wider scope of the EU's GDPR. But the Netherlands is also part of the 14 eyes coalition. That said, StartMail does use start-of-the-art encryption methods to ensure that the data they have access to and could potentially share is as limited as possible.

StartMail uses PGP encryption but you can still send encrypted emails to non-PGP users as long as the recipient knows the password you set for them.

While StartMail works on any device, it doesn't offer any mobile apps but the web page is optimized for mobile view.

StartMail is more expensive than the other privacy-friendly alternatives to Gmail on our list. And you have to pay for the year upfront. But, if you want to see if it's worth it, then you can make use of their 7-day free trial. It also allows payment by crypto, but only Bitcoin so far.

Pros

• Unlimited aliases
• 2FA enabled
• 10GB email storage
• Quick and easy setup
• Supports IMAP and SMTP protocols

Cons

• More expensive than other Gmail alternatives
• No mobile apps
• No calendar function

Which of the best alternatives to Gmail will you choose?

We've presented five of the best alternatives to Gmail, weighing up their pros and cons. Some are better suited for businesses while others are a great choice for the privacy-concerned individual who just wants a safe emailing experience.

We purposefully focused on email service providers that use end-to-end encryption, as we think this is a non-negotiable. But which one is best for you will depend on your circumstances and what's more important to you. Do you prefer a full-featured, customizable email hub like Zoho? Or will a more simple yet robust secure email like StartMail be enough? It's up to you!

If you do decide to give any of these Gmail alternatives a go, head over to Hoody's Twitter page and tell us what you think! We'd love to hear about your experiences.