iCloud Mail vs Forward Email
In short: Forward Email wins on privacy, iCloud Mail wins on price, and iCloud Mail wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick iCloud Mail or Forward Email?
- Choose iCloud Mail if you want the lower price (£0.99 a month); more room (50 GB, against 10 GB); and a provider that's been going since 2011.
- Forward Email is the better pick if you want features the other lacks, like catch-all address as well as POP3 and apps whose code is public.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | Forward Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 2.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 50 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | United States |
| Founded | 2011 | 2017 |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | Free plan |
| 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 | ✓ 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. Forward Email Enhanced Protection, $3 a month.
- iCloud Mail has a free plan (5 GB, no own domain); Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only).
- Space: iCloud Mail gives 50 GB of storage, Forward Email 10 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with iCloud Mail, and in the United States with Forward Email.
- On encryption, iCloud Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- Aliases: iCloud Mail offers hide my email, Forward Email yes.
iCloud Mail and Forward Email: your questions
Is iCloud Mail more private than Forward Email?
Forward Email scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and iCloud Mail 0.5. Forward Email gives you apps whose code is public.
Is iCloud Mail cheaper than Forward Email?
iCloud Mail is cheaper. Its iCloud+ 50 GB plan is £0.99 a month, against $3 a month for Forward Email's Enhanced Protection. iCloud Mail and Forward Email also have 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 Forward Email?
Yes, both do. iCloud Mail: Up to 5. Forward Email: Unlimited.
Where is my email stored with iCloud Mail and Forward Email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
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 · Forward Email news.
Also worth a look
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · Forward Email vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.