Gmail vs Forward Email
Forward Email wins on privacy, Gmail wins on price and Forward Email wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Gmail or Forward Email?
- Go for Gmail if you'd like email without paying for it; more space for your mail: 15 GB; and a company with a longer track record (since 2004).
- Forward Email is the better pick if you want email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts; an address on your own domain; and open-source apps.
| Feature | Gmail | Forward Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB shared with Drive | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 15 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | United States |
| Founded | 2004 | 2017 |
| Free trial | Free | Free plan |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | No |
| 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 | ✓ Yes |
| 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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The key differences
- On price: Gmail Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) at Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month, against Forward Email Enhanced Protection at $3 a month.
- Gmail has a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive); Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only).
- Space: Gmail gives 15 GB of storage, Forward Email 10 GB of storage.
- Gmail keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
- On encryption, Gmail doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- You can use your own domain with Forward Email, but not with Gmail.
- Gmail (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Forward Email doesn't.
- Aliases: Gmail offers plus addressing only, Forward Email yes.
Questions people ask
Is Gmail more private than Forward Email?
Forward Email scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and Gmail 0. Forward Email gives you email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts and open-source apps.
Is Gmail cheaper than Forward Email?
Gmail costs nothing to start (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month). Forward Email's cheapest plan, Enhanced Protection, is $3 a month. Forward Email has a free plan too: forwarding only.
Can I use my own domain with Gmail or Forward Email?
Only Forward Email does (Unlimited). With Gmail your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Gmail and Forward Email?
Gmail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Forward Email 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 · Forward Email news.
Also worth a look
Gmail vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Posteo · Gmail vs Proton Mail · Forward Email vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to Gmail · Moving from Gmail. Or see all my switching guides.