Gmail vs Purelymail
Purelymail wins 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 Purelymail?
- Gmail is the better pick if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; to try it free first; and your diary and address book in one place with your email.
- Purelymail suits you best if you want email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts and to use your own domain, like you@yourname.co.uk.
| Feature | Gmail | Purelymail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 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 | Simple $10 a year, any number of users and domains |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB shared with Drive | No |
| Storage | 15 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Unlimited |
| 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 | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free | Free trial with a small amount of credit (about a month of light use) |
| 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 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- Gmail's cheapest plan is Free (Google One 100 GB for more space) (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month); Purelymail's is Simple ($10 a year, any number of users and domains).
- For free, Gmail gives you a free plan (15 GB shared with Drive), and Purelymail no free plan.
- Gmail comes with 15 GB of storage and Purelymail with storage not confirmed.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with Gmail, and in the United States with Purelymail.
- Purelymail 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 Purelymail has yes.
Gmail and Purelymail: your questions
Which is more private, Gmail or Purelymail?
Purelymail scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and Gmail 0. Purelymail gives you email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts.
Which is cheaper, Gmail or Purelymail?
Gmail costs nothing to start (Free; 100 GB about £1.59–£1.99 a month). Purelymail's cheapest plan, Simple, is $10 a year, any number of users and domains.
Do Gmail and Purelymail work with my own domain?
Only Purelymail does (Unlimited). With Gmail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Gmail and Purelymail keep my email?
Gmail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Purelymail keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Gmail news · Purelymail news.
Alternatives to Gmail and Purelymail
Gmail vs mailbox.org · Purelymail vs mailbox.org · Gmail vs Posteo · Purelymail vs Posteo · Gmail vs Proton Mail · Purelymail vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Gmail · Moving from Gmail. Or see all my switching guides.