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Gmail alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Gmail: free storage is shared with Drive and Photos and fills up, and ads in the free inbox and no end-to-end encryption. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Gmail, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Microsoft Outlook currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Proton Mail logoProton MailFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +35 of 562.6
2Zoho Mail logoZoho MailFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 457.2
3Tuta logoTutaFree plan + paidYesWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 455.3
4HEY logoHEYPaidNoWeb, macOS, Windows +35 of 553.6
  1. Proton Mail logo

    1. Proton MailTop pick

    Best for: Privacy-minded people and teams who want encrypted email without running servers

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gmail

    End-to-end encrypted email based in Switzerland for people leaving Google over privacy.

    Pros

    • End-to-end and zero-access encryption by default
    • Open-source, audited apps on every major platform
    • Bundles with Proton VPN, Drive, Calendar and Pass

    Cons

    • Free plan has little storage and one address
    • Search and third-party integrations are more limited than Gmail
    • Using desktop clients needs the paid Bridge app
    Visit Proton Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Proton Mail a good Gmail alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Mail Plus price
    $4.99/month, or $3.99/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Jurisdiction
    Switzerland
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes, independently audited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026proton.me(opens source in a new tab)
    License (web clients)
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Zoho Mail logo

    2. Zoho Mail

    Best for: Small businesses that want cheap, ad-free email on their own domain

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gmail

    Ad-free business email with a free plan for small teams on their own domain.

    Pros

    • Free plan for a few users on a custom domain
    • Much cheaper than Google Workspace or Microsoft 365
    • Ties into Zoho CRM and the rest of the Zoho suite

    Cons

    • Free plan lacks IMAP and has limited storage
    • Interface feels crowded
    • Fewer third-party integrations than Google or Microsoft
    Visit Zoho Mail Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Zoho Mail a good Gmail alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Up to 5 users
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan storage
    5 GB per user, one domain
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    TLS, S/MIME, AES-256 at rest
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business customers
    550,000+
    Checked Oct 25, 2026zoho.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Tuta logo

    3. Tuta

    Best for: People who want the most encryption for the least money and accept using Tuta's own apps

    Free plan + paidOpen sourceWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gmail

    Encrypted, open-source email with a free tier for people who want to leave Big Tech.

    Pros

    • Encrypts subjects, contacts and calendars, not just bodies
    • Open-source apps on desktop, mobile and web
    • Low-cost paid plans with custom domains

    Cons

    • No IMAP, so third-party mail apps are not supported
    • Search and filtering are basic
    • Free plan has very little storage
    Visit Tuta Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Tuta a good Gmail alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Storage (Free / Revolutionary / Legend)
    1 GB / 20 GB / 500 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tuta.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    End-to-end, post-quantum
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tuta.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family member add-on
    €3 per user/month (Revolutionary)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026tuta.com(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. HEY logo

    4. HEY

    Best for: People who want to opt in to who can email them and enjoy an opinionated workflow

    PaidWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Gmail

    A paid email service that rethinks the inbox with a screener for first-time senders.

    Pros

    • Screener stops unwanted first-time senders
    • Blocks spy pixels and separates newsletters and receipts
    • Apps on every platform including Linux

    Cons

    • No IMAP, so you must use HEY's own apps
    • Opinionated design that some people find restrictive
    • No free plan after the trial
    Visit HEY Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is HEY a good Gmail alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    HEY for You price
    $99 per year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    HEY for Domains price
    $12 per user/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    37signals
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Screener
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026hey.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Gmail alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Microsoft Outlook logo

Best Gmail alternative for most people

Microsoft Outlook

The other big free webmail, a better fit if you already use Microsoft 365 or Windows.

Proton Mail logo

Best Gmail alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Proton Mail

End-to-end encrypted email based in Switzerland for people leaving Google over privacy.

Tuta logo

Best Gmail alternative for open source

Tuta

Encrypted, open-source email with a free tier for people who want to leave Big Tech.

Zoho Mail logo

Best Gmail alternative for Mac

Zoho Mail

Ad-free business email with a free plan for small teams on their own domain.

HEY logo

Best Gmail alternative for Windows

HEY

A paid email service that rethinks the inbox with a screener for first-time senders.

Proton Mail logo

Best Gmail alternative for Linux

Proton Mail

End-to-end encrypted email based in Switzerland for people leaving Google over privacy.

Fastmail logo

Best Gmail alternative for iPhone and Android

Fastmail

Paid, ad-free email with your own domain and a fast web app, without Google scanning your inbox.

Microsoft Outlook logo

Best Gmail alternative for working in the browser

Microsoft Outlook

The other big free webmail, a better fit if you already use Microsoft 365 or Windows.

Gmail alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Gmail?

Microsoft Outlook ranks first right now. The other big free webmail, a better fit if you already use Microsoft 365 or Windows. Proton Mail and Fastmail follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Gmail?

Yes. Microsoft Outlook (free plan + paid), Proton Mail (free plan + paid), Zoho Mail (free plan + paid) and Tuta (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Gmail?

Yes: Proton Mail and Tuta.

Which Gmail alternatives work on Linux?

Proton Mail, Zoho Mail, Tuta and HEY run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Gmail?

The complaints we hear most: free storage is shared with Drive and Photos and fills up; ads in the free inbox and no end-to-end encryption; label-based model feels odd to people used to folders.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Gmail, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.