Gmail vs Outlook.com

Gmail9.4Visit Outlook.com9.2Visit

Higher score Gmail #1 in Personal Email Services 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Gmail

vs

Outlook.com #2 in Personal Email Services 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Outlook.com

• Gmail fits best

  People who want free email across web and mobile

• Outlook.com fits best

  People who use Microsoft services

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Side by side

Feature	Gmail 9.4/10 Visit ↗	Outlook.com 9.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.4	9.2
Ranking	#1 in Personal Email Services	#2 in Personal Email Services
Best for	People who want free email across web and mobile	People who use Microsoft services
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$1.99/mo	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud, Mobile	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Integrations	2 integrations	3 integrations
Features Gmail 1/3 · Outlook.com 2/3
Custom domain	—	—
Email aliases	✓	✓
Ad-free inbox	—	✓ (best)
Specs
Mailbox storage	100 GB	100 GB
Attachment limit	25 MB	25 MB
Platform access	Web_mobile_desktop	Web_mobile_desktop
Our review
Pros	Free plan includes 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos Inbox categories, search, labels, and spam and phishing protection Web and mobile access, plus IMAP and POP for compatible clients	Free accounts include 15 GB of mailbox storage. Aliases, inbox rules, Focused Inbox, and Sweep help organize email. Connects with OneDrive, Box, and Dropbox for file sharing.
Cons	Free storage is shared with Google Drive and Google Photos Google One Basic adds shared storage, not a standalone Gmail tier Custom-domain email requires Google Workspace	Free accounts have less mailbox storage than the 100 GB paid tiers. Ad-free email and calendar require a Microsoft 365 subscription. Custom domains are not supported.
Our verdict	Gmail is Google's personal email service for people who want an inbox accessible on the web and on iOS and Android. A free account includes a Gmail address and 15 GB of storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Inbox… Read the review →	Outlook.com is Microsoft's personal email service, available through a browser and Outlook apps. It brings email, calendar, and contacts together with spam filtering and 15 GB of mailbox storage on the free plan. Focused Inbox, inbox… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Gmail — where it wins

  • Free plan includes 15 GB shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos
  • Inbox categories, search, labels, and spam and phishing protection
  • Web and mobile access, plus IMAP and POP for compatible clients

  Where it doesn't

  • Free storage is shared with Google Drive and Google Photos
  • Google One Basic adds shared storage, not a standalone Gmail tier
  • Custom-domain email requires Google Workspace

• Outlook.com — where it wins

  • Free accounts include 15 GB of mailbox storage.
  • Aliases, inbox rules, Focused Inbox, and Sweep help organize email.
  • Connects with OneDrive, Box, and Dropbox for file sharing.

  Where it doesn't

  • Free accounts have less mailbox storage than the 100 GB paid tiers.
  • Ad-free email and calendar require a Microsoft 365 subscription.
  • Custom domains are not supported.

• Gmail9.4/10 · Free plan

  A capable free inbox with shared Google storage and a paid path to more space.

  Visit GmailFull verdict →
• Outlook.com9.2/10 · Free plan

  A capable free email service with useful organization tools and Microsoft 365 upgrades.

  Visit Outlook.comFull verdict →