iCloud Mail vs addy.io
Addy.io wins on privacy, they tie on price and iCloud Mail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Should you pick iCloud Mail or addy.io?
- iCloud Mail is the better pick if you want more space for your mail: 50 GB; the choice of any mail app over IMAP; and a calendar and contacts alongside your mail.
- addy.io suits you best if you want your mail kept in the EU; the lower price (About $1 a month, yearly); and more built in, including PGP encryption as well as catch-all address.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | addy.io |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 3.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Lite About $1 a month, yearly |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | Yes |
| Storage | 50 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United Kingdom |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | EU |
| Founded | 2011 | 2018 |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | Free plan |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | No, its own apps only |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | No |
| Aliases | Hide My Email | Unlimited aliases |
| Open-source apps | No | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | ✓ Yes |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- iCloud Mail's cheapest plan is iCloud+ 50 GB (£0.99 a month); addy.io's is Lite (About $1 a month, yearly).
- For free, iCloud Mail gives you a free plan (5 GB, no own domain), and addy.io a free plan ().
- iCloud Mail comes with 50 GB of storage and addy.io with no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Data location: United States and worldwide for iCloud Mail, EU for addy.io.
- iCloud Mail is based in the United States and addy.io in the United Kingdom, so different privacy laws apply.
- iCloud Mail works in any mail app over IMAP, and addy.io only works in its own apps.
- For extra addresses, iCloud Mail has hide my email and addy.io has unlimited aliases.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, iCloud Mail or addy.io?
addy.io scores 3.5 out of 5 for privacy and iCloud Mail 0.5. addy.io gives you your mail kept in the EU, open-source apps anyone can check and to sign up without proving who you are.
Which is cheaper, iCloud Mail or addy.io?
addy.io is cheaper. Its Lite plan is About $1 a month, yearly, against £0.99 a month for iCloud Mail's iCloud+ 50 GB. addy.io and iCloud Mail also have a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do iCloud Mail and addy.io work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. iCloud Mail: Up to 5. addy.io: Yes.
Where do iCloud Mail and addy.io keep my email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. addy.io keeps it in the EU.
Do iCloud Mail and addy.io work in other mail apps?
iCloud Mail works in any mail app over IMAP. addy.io only works in its own apps.
Prices and the latest news
- 1 July 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.99 (UK price rise, 2023)
- 1 June 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.79
The latest headlines: iCloud Mail news · addy.io news.
Not sold on either? Try these
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · addy.io vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · addy.io vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · addy.io vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.