Safety and security are top of mind these days, especially when it comes to ensuring privacy with email accounts. If you are interested in opening a free email account, you may be wondering which providers are the safest to use, given the vast array of options.
In order to decide which provider to go with, you must understand the types of safety measures these providers use to maximize security for account holders. Some of these features are embedded in their coding, while others require action from the users. Read on for the 11 safest free email accounts.
ProtonMail is one of the most popular choices among those looking for secure private email. Given the company's extensive security measures in protecting and securing user data contents, this is one of your best options for a safe and free email account.
While by no means exhaustive, here are some of the key features that make ProtonMail an optimal choice for those looking to maximize security:
Some users acknowledge that the applications and web interface can feel outdated, but overall, this is one of the best and most secure email providers you can choose.
Tutanota is another extremely robust and popular choice for secure private email. This and ProtonMail are likely the most preferred choices for those looking for highly secure email accounts. Some of the many things that make Tutanota a highly robust platform and solid choice include:
These are just some of the many features that make Tutanota a top choice for people who want to maximize their email security.
Mailfence is a Belgium-based company that was launched in 2013. It is highly customizable given the variety of user options and ways to integrate email with other related features. Some of Mailfence's key features include:
Mailfence's main drawback relative to ProtonMail and Tutanota is that it does store some information about users, including the metadata and IP address, since this is a requirement of Belgian law. However, you can rest assured that the contents of your emails are protected given the robust encryption capabilities.
Mailbox.org was founded in 2014 and is based in Germany. The company has roots back to 1989 related to its founder, Peer Heinlein. As such, the company has stood the test of time and is quite mature. Some of the many benefits of using Mailbox.org include:
Of important note, users new to Mailbox.org will be able to try the platform free for the first 30 days. Beyond that, they will need to pay, but users can choose the amount of storage they want and use pre-paid credit to have greater control over what they are buying.
Hushmail is a Canadian-based secure email service provider that has been operating since 1999. In addition to providing great security measures, the company has a great aesthetic that is easy for users to understand and navigate.
Some of its key offerings include:
One of the main drawbacks is that the storage is quite minimal. Hence, users need to be okay with deleting emails regularly and understand that large attachments will probably not be sent and received successfully.
Also, Canada is not known for having the best privacy protections, but the contents of the emails are always protected given the end-to-end encryption capabilities. It is, therefore, not as highly secure as some of the other options given the features and locale but still a great option.
Zoho Mail is extremely underrated, and this is largely because of its popularity with business clients. However, it is a great option for individuals alike. The interface has a modern and intuitive design, making it one of the easiest email applications to use. Here are some of its key features:
Of note, Zoho Mail does have certain data centers located in China and the United States. So while end-to-end encryption does protect the content of the emails themselves, there are fewer degrees of privacy than you might find with other companies such as those based in Europe.
CounterMail is a Sweden-based company that has been providing secure email services since 2008. And they are one of the most secure options out there. Some of the many security measures the company has taken include:
Like some of the other email providers, CounterMail offers a free trial period but requires users to pay after the period ends. However, users can choose an anonymous payment option if they decide on this route.
It is important to note that Sweden is a Fourteen Eyes country, so users that are ultra-concerned about security need to understand that a portion of their data could be shared. However, as is the case with other similar providers, end-to-end encryption protects the contents of the emails.
NOTE: "Fourteen Eyes" is a surveillance alliance among 14 countries, including Sweden, that coordinates the exchange of military signals intelligence
StartMail is a Netherlands-based secure email provider. While you might not have heard of the company, you may have heard of startpage.com, which is a related search engine that does not track user data. As you can probably guess, these similar principles apply to the SmartMail email platform itself.
StartMail is a great option for people who do not frequently use web applications or, said differently, operate primarily on a desktop. The company does not have any associated web applications to allow users to access email remotely. However, there are many great features:
Similar to some of the other platforms mentioned, this system does not offer long-term free service, but you can sign up for a free 30-day trial and try out the system to see if you like it.
GMX, short for Global Mail Exchange, is one of the lesser-known secure email providers. The company has been operating since 1997 and is becoming a key rival to Gmail for free email service given that they are configured similarly.
While the company does not have as many airtight security measures compared to some of the providers described previously, it still does have robust user protections and many security benefits:
Of important note, GMX is a free advertising-supported email service, which is one of the reasons it is a primary competitor to Gmail. However, these advertisements tend to be less invasive, as you would find on many other platforms.
Outlook is one of the most popular general email forums, as it has more than 400 million users. Outlook is the current name of the email service provided by Microsoft, hence why the email platform is ideal for Windows customers. The platform was formerly named Hotmail.
As a main alternative to using Gmail, Outlook offers customers a highly integrated system and easy account management. Here are some of the primary highlights:
While Outlook is not the most secure free email source, at least compared to some of the other options on this list, there is a reason why it has been and continues to be so popular today. With Microsoft's reputation, robust security measures, and a full suite of integrated functionality, this is a great choice.
Gmail is the most popular general email provider by far, with over 1 billion active monthly users worldwide. One of the biggest reasons it is so popular is that it can be accessed on basically every internet-enabled device, has several different applications, and has many different features.
Security-wise, many people worry about data protection. And while it does not necessarily have security measures that make it the absolute safest for users, there are a number of solid features, both inherent and user-enabled, that can help users feel safe when sending and receiving emails. Some highlights include:
Given the similarities between Gmail and Outlook, many people often wonder which is safer. Really, the answer is that there is no right answer. Both take similar security measures to protect client data, so the better way to differentiate these is probably based on interface and features.
While we have provided some of the best free secure email providers, this list is by no means exhaustive for all the options out there. The decision of which is right for you ultimately comes down to things like how much safety and security you want, the purpose of your email account, and other feature preferences.
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