Gmail vs iCloud Mail
On privacy it's iCloud Mail. On price it's a tie. On features it's iCloud Mail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 22 October 2026.
Gmail or iCloud Mail: which should you choose?
- Gmail suits you best if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; features the other lacks, like POP3 as well as API; and more years of history: it started in 2004.
- iCloud Mail suits you best if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; an address on your own domain; and more space for your mail: 50 GB.
| Feature | Gmail | iCloud Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB shared with Drive | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain |
| Storage | 15 GB | 50 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Up to 5 |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | United States and worldwide |
| Founded | 2004 | 2011 |
| Free trial | Free | Free (5 GB) |
| 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 | Hide My Email |
| 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 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: Gmail Free (Google One 100 GB for more space), Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month. iCloud Mail iCloud+ 50 GB, £0.99 a month.
- For free, Gmail gives you a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive), and iCloud Mail a free plan (5 GB, no own domain).
- Gmail comes with 15 GB of storage and iCloud Mail with 50 GB of storage.
- iCloud Mail lets you bring your own domain name; Gmail doesn't.
- Only Gmail is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, Gmail has plus addressing only and iCloud Mail has hide my email.
Gmail and iCloud Mail: your questions
Which is more private, Gmail or iCloud Mail?
iCloud Mail scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and Gmail 0. iCloud Mail gives you a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Which is cheaper, Gmail or iCloud Mail?
Gmail costs nothing to start (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month). iCloud Mail's cheapest plan, iCloud+ 50 GB, is £0.99 a month. iCloud Mail has a free plan too: 5 GB, no own domain.
Do Gmail and iCloud Mail work with my own domain?
Only iCloud Mail does (Up to 5). With Gmail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Gmail and iCloud Mail keep my email?
Both keep it in the United States and worldwide.
Price changes and news
- 1 July 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.99 (UK price rise, 2023)
- 1 June 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.79
The latest headlines: Gmail news · iCloud Mail news.
Also worth a look
Gmail vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · Gmail vs Proton Mail · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Ready to move? My step-by-step guides cover your mail, contacts, forwarding and your own domain: Gmail to iCloud Mail · iCloud Mail to Gmail.