iCloud Mail vs Firefox Relay
On privacy it's Firefox Relay. On price it's a tie. On features it's iCloud Mail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick iCloud Mail or Firefox Relay?
- iCloud Mail is the better pick if you want an address on your own domain; more space for your mail: 50 GB; and freedom to use the mail app you already like.
- Firefox Relay suits you best if you want to pay less: $0.99 a month and open-source apps.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | Firefox Relay |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | Not rated |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Premium $0.99 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | Yes, 5 aliases |
| Storage | 50 GB | Forwards only |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | Own subdomain only |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United States (Mozilla) |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | United States |
| Founded | 2011 | 2020 |
| 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 | 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.
Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: iCloud Mail iCloud+ 50 GB, £0.99 a month. Firefox Relay Premium, $0.99 a month.
- For free, iCloud Mail gives you a free plan (5 GB, no own domain), and Firefox Relay a free plan (5 aliases).
- iCloud Mail comes with 50 GB of storage and Firefox Relay with no storage, as it forwards mail on.
- iCloud Mail keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while Firefox Relay keeps it in the United States.
- iCloud Mail is based in the United States and Firefox Relay in the United States (Mozilla), so different privacy laws apply.
- iCloud Mail lets you bring your own domain name; Firefox Relay doesn't.
- iCloud Mail works in any mail app over IMAP, and Firefox Relay only works in its own apps.
- For extra addresses, iCloud Mail has hide my email and Firefox Relay has unlimited aliases.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, iCloud Mail or Firefox Relay?
Firefox Relay scores 1 out of 5 for privacy and iCloud Mail 0.5. Firefox Relay gives you open-source apps.
Which is cheaper, iCloud Mail or Firefox Relay?
Firefox Relay is cheaper. Its Premium plan is $0.99 a month, against £0.99 a month for iCloud Mail's iCloud+ 50 GB. Firefox Relay 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 Firefox Relay work with my own domain?
Only iCloud Mail does (Up to 5). With Firefox Relay your address stays on its own domain.
Where do iCloud Mail and Firefox Relay keep my email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Firefox Relay keeps it in the United States.
Do iCloud Mail and Firefox Relay work in other mail apps?
iCloud Mail works in any mail app over IMAP. Firefox Relay 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 · Firefox Relay news.
Alternatives to iCloud Mail and Firefox Relay
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Firefox Relay vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · Firefox Relay vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · Firefox Relay vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.