Gmail vs DuckDuckGo Email Protection
They tie on privacy, they tie on price and Gmail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Gmail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
- Gmail is the better pick if you want more space for your mail: 15 GB; to read your mail in any app, such as Apple Mail, Outlook or Thunderbird; and calendar and contacts in the same account.
| Feature | Gmail | DuckDuckGo Email Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | Not rated |
| 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, unlimited @duck.com aliases |
| Storage | 15 GB | Forwards only |
| 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 | 2021 |
| 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 | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Plus addressing only | Unlimited aliases |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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How Gmail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection differ
- Gmail's cheapest plan is Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month); DuckDuckGo Email Protection's is Free (Free).
- For free, Gmail gives you a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive), and DuckDuckGo Email Protection a free plan (unlimited @duck.com aliases).
- Gmail comes with 15 GB of storage and DuckDuckGo Email Protection with no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Gmail keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while DuckDuckGo Email Protection keeps it in the United States.
- Gmail works in any mail app over IMAP, and DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
- For extra addresses, Gmail has plus addressing only and DuckDuckGo Email Protection has unlimited aliases.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Gmail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
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 DuckDuckGo Email Protection).
Which is cheaper, Gmail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
Their cheapest plans cost about the same: Gmail Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month, DuckDuckGo Email Protection Free.
Do Gmail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work with my own domain?
No, neither lets you use your own domain, so your address stays on theirs.
Where do Gmail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection keep my email?
Gmail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. DuckDuckGo Email Protection keeps it in the United States.
Do Gmail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work in other mail apps?
Gmail works in any mail app over IMAP. DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
Recent price changes
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Gmail news · DuckDuckGo Email Protection news.
Also worth a look
Gmail vs mailbox.org · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Posteo · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Posteo · Gmail vs Proton Mail · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to Gmail · Moving from Gmail. Or see all my switching guides.