Everyone needs email. As a means of communication, it’s a modern-day necessity. And while it is tempting to look only at free email services, there are other things to consider before choosing between paid email hosting and free webmail.
Before choosing a free email service, be aware of its possible drawbacks. Most free email services are paid for by advertising, so you may see ads while you use your inbox, and your account may be used to personalize the ads you see. With a paid email hosting service, your subscription pays for the service, so there are no ads to distract you.
Another issue with free email is that your address uses the provider’s name, like [email protected], rather than your own domain. For a business, an address like [email protected] looks far more professional and builds trust. Storage can also be an issue. Free accounts include a limited amount of space, often shared with other services such as online file storage, so if you receive lots of documents and pictures, your account can fill up, and new messages may bounce back to the sender.
The final issue is privacy. Some free email providers have scanned the contents of users’ messages, for example to target ads. Paid business email services usually offer stronger privacy commitments and more control over your data.
The good news is that most web hosting plans include email accounts at your own domain at no extra cost, and many businesses use dedicated business email services such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.