The Best Alternatives to the Default Gmail App: Why the Competitors Have More to Offer
Gmail may be Google’s default email app, and you may have been using it for some time – but there are many alternatives out there that are well worth exploring.
While Gmail remains popular for its ease of use and accessibility, there may be an email app that’ll better serve your needs and, if you run a business, can have you and your team working more productively.
Below is our pick of the best alternatives to Gmail and why you should consider switching to one of them!
Spike
Spike is the world’s first conversational email app that combines the functionality of ‘traditional’ email with the ‘natural’ flow of instant messaging. The platform’s innovative style of email chat has become incredibly popular for its range of features and tools that can make collaborative work a breeze. Users can switch between emailing, messaging, and video conferencing in-app, so there’s no need for the annoyance of switching between screens and apps so that the flow of conversation or work remains uninterrupted.
This email client also offers its users file management tools, dynamic tasks, to-do lists, and calendars, and the ability to set up groups for quick, easy virtual huddles.
ProtonMail
Like Gmail, ProtonMail is really easy to use, and there are both free and paid options. This email client has developed a solid reputation for being one of the most secure platforms around, largely due to its enhanced end-to-end encryption techniques and its superior password protection.
If you’re using ProtonMail for personal use, or run a small business, then its generous 500Mb of storage space – on its free tier – and 150 message limit per day may well be sufficient for your needs.
Alternatively, you could sign-up for the paid tier for just a few dollars a month, which will give you access to lots of useful additional features as well as enhanced customer support services.
Outlook
Outlook is Windows’ take on an email platform and remains popular for its accessibility and highly user-friendly interface. It integrates with many other Windows tools and apps, which is helpful in keeping things streamlined and can sync with OneNote, OneDrive, your contacts, and your calendar.
For light users, or very small businesses, Outlook is super easy to use – you can be up and running within minutes. The relatively low storage and file size limits, however, may not make this the best option for heavier users or larger businesses.
Fastmail
If you’re fed up with being bombarded by ads and spam while checking your email, then Fastmail is a great alternative platform to consider. There is a small monthly fee to use this client, but, for many, the lack of advertisements and junk mail makes this imminently worthwhile. Fastmail also guarantees that your details won’t be sold for targeted ads.
Signing up for this app is extremely quick and easy, and the minimalist style of its interface is appealing to many users. Still not sure if it’s right for you? Take advantage of the free trial on offer to see if Fastmail will suit you before committing.
GMX Mail
If you’d ideally like more storage space than Gmail offers, consider GMX mail, where users can store over half a million emails at any one time and send and receive attachments of up to 50Mb.
This option will also work on the vast majority of platforms and has a mobile app available, too. Users will have access to a calendar and associated tools and can add email aliases to their accounts if they wish. Best of all? It’s a completely free service.
Hushmail
For Gmail users that would like a higher level of security, designed specifically for those who regularly need to send and receive sensitive files, then Hushmail could be the way to go. This option boasts a range of encryption and security services as well as contract support to enable users to deploy electronic signatures to keep data and information even safer.
If you already own a domain address, you can integrate this into your new Hushmail account, and users will get 10Mb of storage space, too.
Yahoo Mail
This email client has been around for years yet still boasts a massive user base. It offers plenty of options for customization and an easy-to-use interface. For a free platform, it offers an impressive amount of storage space: users can store up to 1,000Gb emails and can send and receive attachments of up to 100Mb.
The downside? This client’s spam filters aren’t the greatest, so if the presence of ads and junk mail is a deal-breaker for you, you may be best considered one of the other options above.
It can be easy to sign-up for an email app or platform and continue using it for years without giving any thought to whether there’s a better option out there for us. Why not have a look at one or more of the email clients above to get an idea of whether an alternative could help you work smarter or for your home life to run more smoothly?
