iCloud Mail vs CounterMail
In short: CounterMail wins on privacy, iCloud Mail wins on price, and iCloud Mail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose iCloud Mail if you want the lower price (£0.99 a month); a free plan before you pay anything; and more room (50 GB, against 4 GB).
- CounterMail is the better pick if you want encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail and your mail kept in Sweden.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | CounterMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 4.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Premium, 12 months $4 a month, paid yearly ($49) |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | 4 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | ✓ Built in |
| Company based in | United States | Sweden |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | Sweden |
| Founded | 2011 | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | No | No |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Hide My Email | 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.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: iCloud Mail iCloud+ 50 GB, £0.99 a month. CounterMail Premium, 12 months, $4 a month, paid yearly ($49).
- iCloud Mail has a free plan (5 GB, no own domain); CounterMail has no free plan.
- Space: iCloud Mail gives 50 GB of storage, CounterMail 4 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States and worldwide for iCloud Mail, Sweden for CounterMail.
- The companies sit under different laws: iCloud Mail in United States, CounterMail in Sweden.
- On encryption, iCloud Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas CounterMail encrypts mail end to end.
- Aliases: iCloud Mail offers hide my email, CounterMail yes.
iCloud Mail and CounterMail: your questions
Is iCloud Mail more private than CounterMail?
CounterMail scores 4 out of 5 for privacy and iCloud Mail 0.5. CounterMail gives you encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail and your mail kept in Sweden.
Is iCloud Mail cheaper than CounterMail?
iCloud Mail is cheaper. Its iCloud+ 50 GB plan is £0.99 a month, against $4 a month, paid yearly ($49) for CounterMail's Premium, 12 months. iCloud Mail also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Can I use my own domain with iCloud Mail or CounterMail?
Yes, both do. iCloud Mail: Up to 5. CounterMail: Yes.
Where is my email stored with iCloud Mail and CounterMail?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. CounterMail keeps it in Sweden.
Recent price changes
- 1 July 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.99 (UK price rise, 2023)
- 1 June 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.79
The latest headlines: iCloud Mail news · CounterMail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · CounterMail vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · CounterMail vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · CounterMail vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.