Gmail vs AOL Mail
They tie on privacy, they tie on price and Gmail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- AOL Mail is the better pick if you want a company with a longer track record (since 1993).
| Feature | Gmail | AOL Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month | Free Free |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB shared with Drive | Yes |
| Storage | 15 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | No | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | United States |
| Founded | 2004 | 1993 |
| Free trial | Free | Free |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | Yes, or its parent company is |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Plus addressing only | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- Gmail's cheapest plan is Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month); AOL Mail's is Free (Free).
- For free, Gmail gives you a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive), and AOL Mail a free plan ().
- Gmail comes with 15 GB of storage and AOL Mail with storage not confirmed.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with Gmail, and in the United States with AOL Mail.
- For extra addresses, Gmail has plus addressing only and AOL Mail has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Gmail or AOL Mail?
They score the same for privacy: 0 out of 5 each. The differences are in the details, such as where your mail is kept (the United States and worldwide for Gmail, the United States for AOL Mail).
Which is cheaper, Gmail or AOL Mail?
Their cheapest plans cost about the same: Gmail Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month, AOL Mail Free.
Do Gmail and AOL Mail work with my own domain?
No, neither lets you use your own domain, so your address stays on theirs.
Where do Gmail and AOL Mail keep my email?
Gmail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. AOL Mail keeps it in the United States.
Recent price changes
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Gmail news · AOL Mail news.
Alternatives to Gmail and AOL Mail
Gmail vs mailbox.org · AOL Mail vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Posteo · AOL Mail vs Posteo · Gmail vs Proton Mail · AOL Mail vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Gmail · Moving from Gmail. Or see all my switching guides.