Gmail vs IONOS Mail
IONOS Mail wins on privacy, Gmail wins on price and Gmail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Gmail suits you best if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; to try it free first; and 15 GB of storage.
- IONOS Mail is the better pick if you want your email to stay in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed; a provider with no advertising business behind it; and to use your own domain, like you@yourname.co.uk.
| Feature | Gmail | IONOS Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Features | 4.0 | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month | Mail Basic About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed) |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB shared with Drive | No |
| Storage | 15 GB | 2 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | Germany |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed |
| Founded | 2004 | 1988 |
| Free trial | Free | Unknown |
| 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 | No |
| Aliases | Plus addressing only | Yes |
| Open-source apps | No | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How Gmail and IONOS Mail differ
- Cheapest plans: Gmail Free (Google One 100 GB for more space), Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month. IONOS Mail Mail Basic, About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed).
- For free, Gmail gives you a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive), and IONOS Mail no free plan.
- Gmail comes with 15 GB of storage and IONOS Mail with 2 GB of storage.
- Gmail keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while IONOS Mail keeps it in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
- Gmail is based in the United States and IONOS Mail in Germany, so different privacy laws apply.
- IONOS 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 IONOS Mail has yes.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Gmail or IONOS Mail?
IONOS Mail scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and Gmail 0. IONOS Mail gives you your email to stay in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed and a provider with no advertising business behind it.
Which is cheaper, Gmail or IONOS Mail?
Gmail costs nothing to start (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month). IONOS Mail's cheapest plan, Mail Basic, is About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed).
Do Gmail and IONOS Mail work with my own domain?
Only IONOS Mail does (Yes). With Gmail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Gmail and IONOS Mail keep my email?
Gmail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. IONOS Mail keeps it in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
Price changes and news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Gmail news · IONOS Mail news.
Also worth a look
Gmail vs mailbox.org · IONOS Mail vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Posteo · IONOS Mail vs Posteo · Gmail vs Proton Mail · IONOS Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to Gmail · Moving from Gmail. Or see all my switching guides.