Outlook.com
Outlook.com: A capable free email service with useful organization tools and Microsoft 365 upgrades. Ranked #2 of 115 in Personal Email Services by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for people who use Microsoft services.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forPeople who use Microsoft services
- Free planYes
- Mailbox storage100 GB
- Founded1975 · Redmond, Washington, USA
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
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.
Our verdict on Outlook.com
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 rules, aliases, Sweep, and archive tools give users several ways to sort and manage messages. It suits people who want email alongside Microsoft services, though it also connects to Box and Dropbox for file access and sharing.
The free tier covers core personal email needs, while Microsoft 365 subscriptions add storage and remove ads. Microsoft 365 Basic includes a 100 GB mailbox, ad-free Outlook email and calendar, and 100 GB of cloud storage. Microsoft 365 Personal includes the same mailbox capacity and ad-free experience, plus 1 TB of cloud storage and desktop Office apps. Both paid tiers increase mailbox storage from the free plan's 15 GB; the choice between them depends on whether the additional cloud space and desktop apps matter to you.
Outlook.com works across web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and supports OneDrive sharing as well as connected Box and Dropbox accounts. That breadth makes it a practical fit for people already working across Microsoft's email, calendar, and storage tools, while its aliases and rules also serve users who want to separate and filter incoming mail. The trade-offs are that custom domains are not supported and the free mailbox is smaller than the paid options. Choose it for a free personal inbox with organization features and room to upgrade; look elsewhere if a custom domain is essential.
Your product? Our editors can test Outlook.com in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Outlook.com pricing
All 3 Outlook.com plans and prices →
Outlook.com fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Mailbox storage | 100 GB |
| Attachment limit | 25 MB |
| Custom domain | No |
| Email aliases | Yes |
| Ad-free inbox | Yes |
| Platform access | Web_mobile_desktop |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android |
| Integrations | 3 integrations: OneDrive, Box, Dropbox |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | outlook.live.com |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
Outlook.com integrations
Outlook.com lists 3 integrations on its own site.
- OneDrive
- Box
- Dropbox
Alternatives to Outlook.com
- GmailA capable free inbox with shared Google storage and a paid path to more space.9.4
- Proton MailA privacy-focused email service with strong encryption, migration tools, and broad platform coverage.9.0
- iCloud MailA practical email service for Apple users, with aliases and larger attachments through Mail Drop.8.8
See all Outlook.com alternatives →
Outlook.com vs the competition
- Outlook.com vs Gmail
- Outlook.com vs Proton Mail
- Outlook.com vs iCloud Mail
- Outlook.com vs Zoho Mail
- Outlook.com vs Fastmail Masked Email
- Outlook.com vs Fastmail Email
Compare Outlook.com with any tool side by side →
Used Outlook.com? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Outlook.com for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Outlook.com is listed in our Personal Email Services directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/outlook-com/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/outlook-com.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update