iCloud Mail vs DuckDuckGo Email Protection
In short: iCloud Mail wins on privacy, they tie on price, and iCloud Mail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- iCloud Mail is the better pick if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; an address on your own domain; and more room (50 GB, against none).
- DuckDuckGo Email Protection suits you best if you want a mailbox that costs nothing.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | DuckDuckGo Email Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Free Free |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | Yes, unlimited @duck.com aliases |
| Storage | 50 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | No |
| 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 | 2011 | 2021 |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | Free |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| 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 | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| 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.
How iCloud Mail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection differ
- Cheapest plans: iCloud Mail iCloud+ 50 GB, £0.99 a month. DuckDuckGo Email Protection Free, Free.
- For free, iCloud Mail gives you a free plan (5 GB, no own domain), and DuckDuckGo Email Protection a free plan (unlimited @duck.com aliases).
- iCloud Mail comes with 50 GB of storage and DuckDuckGo Email Protection with no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with iCloud Mail, and in the United States with DuckDuckGo Email Protection.
- iCloud Mail lets you bring your own domain name; DuckDuckGo Email Protection doesn't.
- iCloud Mail works in any mail app over IMAP, and DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
- Only DuckDuckGo Email Protection is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, iCloud Mail has hide my email and DuckDuckGo Email Protection has unlimited aliases.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, iCloud Mail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
iCloud Mail scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and DuckDuckGo Email Protection 0. iCloud Mail gives you a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Which is cheaper, iCloud Mail or DuckDuckGo Email Protection?
DuckDuckGo Email Protection costs nothing to start (Free). 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 iCloud Mail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work with my own domain?
Only iCloud Mail does (Up to 5). With DuckDuckGo Email Protection your address stays on its own domain.
Where do iCloud Mail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection keep my email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. DuckDuckGo Email Protection keeps it in the United States.
Do iCloud Mail and DuckDuckGo Email Protection work in other mail apps?
iCloud Mail works in any mail app over IMAP. DuckDuckGo Email Protection only works in its own apps.
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: iCloud Mail news · DuckDuckGo Email Protection news.
Not sold on either? Try these
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · DuckDuckGo Email Protection vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.