Yahoo Mail’s Storage Cut Sparks a Search for the Best Free Email Alternatives With Generous Space

For over a decade, Yahoo Mail was the go-to option for people who wanted huge storage without paying a cent. Its generous 1TB limit meant you could stash thousands of messages and attachments without ever worrying about hitting the cap. But with Yahoo slashing free storage down to just 20GB, many longtime users are suddenly scrambling for alternatives. If you’re one of them, you’re not alone , free, reliable, and spacious email services are in high demand again.

Below is a comprehensive look at the best free email providers available today, what they offer, and how much storage you can expect without paying a dime.

1. Gmail – 15GB Shared Across Google Services

Google’s Gmail is still one of the most popular choices worldwide, offering powerful spam filters, a clean interface, and tight integration with Google Drive, Docs, and Calendar. The free plan gives you 15GB of storage, shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. While it’s less than Yahoo’s old 1TB, the ecosystem benefits make it hard to beat for many.

• Free storage: 15GB shared
• Pros: Great search, spam filtering, integrated with Google Workspace
• Cons: Requires phone or recovery email in most cases; shared storage means emails compete with Drive files and Photos

2. Outlook.com – 15GB Free Email Space

Microsoft’s Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail) is another major player with 15GB of storage for free email accounts. It integrates well with OneDrive (5GB free) and the Microsoft Office web apps. The interface is modern, supports rules and categories, and works smoothly with both desktop and mobile apps.

• Free storage: 15GB email + 5GB OneDrive
• Pros: Solid spam filtering, integrates with Office online, easy alias creation
• Cons: Ads in the free version, occasional push for Microsoft 365 upgrades

3. Proton Mail – 1GB With Privacy Focus

For those concerned about privacy, Proton Mail offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and the recipient can read the contents. The free plan gives you 1GB of storage and allows 150 messages per day. While it’s not generous compared to big tech options, the privacy features make it popular with security-conscious users.

• Free storage: 1GB
• Pros: Strong encryption, based in Switzerland with strict privacy laws
• Cons: Limited storage, sending restrictions on the free plan, can trigger account flags if used for bulk sign-ups

4. Tuta (formerly Tutanota) – 1GB Secure & Ad-Free

Tuta is another privacy-first email service with end-to-end encryption and no ads. The free version offers 1GB of storage, a single email address, and limited search capabilities. You can upgrade for more storage and features, but the free plan is enough for light personal use.

• Free storage: 1GB
• Pros: No ads, privacy-first, open-source client apps
• Cons: Small storage limit, slower interface compared to Gmail/Outlook

5. iCloud Mail – 5GB With Apple Ecosystem

Apple’s iCloud Mail comes with 5GB of free storage, shared with iCloud Drive and backups. It’s available to anyone with an Apple ID, and the interface is clean and ad-free. If you already own Apple devices, it integrates seamlessly with Mail, Calendar, and Contacts.

• Free storage: 5GB shared
• Pros: Ad-free, reliable, works across Apple devices
• Cons: Shared storage, limited appeal for non-Apple users

6. Zoho Mail – 5GB Business-Friendly Free Plan

Zoho Mail offers 5GB of storage per user in its free personal plan, along with POP/IMAP support, a clean interface, and zero ads. It’s well-suited for those who want a professional-looking email address without paying for hosting.

• Free storage: 5GB
• Pros: No ads, supports custom domains, solid interface
• Cons: Less known than Gmail/Outlook, smaller app ecosystem

7. GMX Mail – 65GB Free

GMX is one of the few remaining providers offering large free storage. With 65GB for email and attachments up to 50MB, it’s a solid alternative for people who store a lot of mail. The downside: the interface can feel dated, and it’s ad-supported.

• Free storage: 65GB
• Pros: Huge free storage, generous attachment size limit
• Cons: Ads in the interface, less refined than competitors

8. Mail.com – 2GB (No Phone Required in Some Regions)

Mail.com offers 2GB of free storage and the unique ability to choose from hundreds of domain names (e.g., @consultant.com, @journalist.com). It’s useful for creating more professional or themed email addresses. Availability can vary by region.

• Free storage: 2GB
• Pros: Custom domains, simple signup
• Cons: Limited space, ads, may be geo-restricted

9. Disroot – 1GB Open-Source & Ethical Email

Disroot is a volunteer-run, privacy-friendly service based in the Netherlands. The free plan includes 1GB of storage, IMAP/POP access, and no ads. It’s slower to set up (manual approval required), but great for those who value open-source ethics.

• Free storage: 1GB
• Pros: Privacy-focused, no ads, supports open protocols
• Cons: Small storage, slower sign-up process

10. Cock.li – Free, Anonymous-Oriented Email

Cock.li is a quirky but functional free email service that emphasizes anonymity, even encouraging TOR usage for sign-ups. It offers standard IMAP/SMTP support and no storage fees, though specifics on capacity aren’t heavily advertised.

• Free storage: Not officially specified (generally small-scale usage)
• Pros: Anonymity-friendly, no phone verification
• Cons: Not professional-looking, occasional downtime

Honorable Mention: Duck.com Email Forwarding

Duck.com, operated by DuckDuckGo, isn’t a full mailbox service but an email protection and forwarding tool. Instead of giving websites your real address, you can create unlimited “@duck.com” aliases that forward messages to your actual inbox after stripping out trackers. It’s free to use, but you’ll still need a primary email account elsewhere for storage.

• Free storage: None (forwards to your existing email)
• Pros: Unlimited aliases, removes email trackers, easy to set up
• Cons: Not a standalone mailbox, requires another email provider for sending and storage

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Final Thoughts

Yahoo’s storage cut has left a gap for people who relied on massive free inboxes. While none of these alternatives match the old 1TB limit without paying, some , like GMX with 65GB or Gmail/Outlook with 15GB , come closest while still being mainstream. Privacy-focused users may prefer Proton Mail or Tuta, while those wanting a familiar ecosystem might lean toward Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud.

If storage is your top priority, you’ll either need to compromise on features or consider paying for extra space. But for most users, combining a main account with email alias services like SimpleLogin or Firefox Relay can stretch free storage further while keeping your inbox organized.