iCloud Mail vs IONOS Mail
On privacy it's IONOS Mail. On price it's iCloud Mail. On features it's iCloud Mail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- iCloud Mail suits you best if you want a cheaper plan, at £0.99 a month; to try it free first; and 50 GB of storage.
- IONOS Mail is the better pick if you want your mailbox stored in the UK data centre in Worcester; and where email sits not confirmed and a provider that's been going since 1988.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | IONOS Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Mail Basic About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed) |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | 2 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | Germany |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed |
| Founded | 2011 | 1988 |
| 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 | No |
| 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 | 22 October 2026 |
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How iCloud Mail and IONOS Mail differ
- On price: iCloud Mail iCloud+ 50 GB at £0.99 a month, against IONOS Mail Mail Basic at About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed).
- For free, iCloud Mail gives you a free plan (5 GB, no own domain), and IONOS Mail no free plan.
- iCloud Mail comes with 50 GB of storage and IONOS Mail with 2 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with iCloud Mail, and in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed with IONOS Mail.
- iCloud Mail is based in the United States and IONOS Mail in Germany, so different privacy laws apply.
- For extra addresses, iCloud Mail has hide my email and IONOS Mail has yes.
iCloud Mail and IONOS Mail: your questions
Which is more private, iCloud Mail or IONOS Mail?
IONOS Mail scores 2.5 out of 5 for privacy and iCloud Mail 0.5. IONOS Mail gives you your mailbox stored in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
Which is cheaper, iCloud Mail or IONOS Mail?
iCloud Mail is cheaper. Its iCloud+ 50 GB plan is £0.99 a month, against About £1–£2 a month (not confirmed) for IONOS Mail's Mail Basic. iCloud Mail also has a free plan. Check the renewal price before you pay, as some first-year prices go up.
Do iCloud Mail and IONOS Mail work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. iCloud Mail: Up to 5. IONOS Mail: Yes.
Where do iCloud Mail and IONOS Mail keep my email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. IONOS Mail keeps it in the UK data centre in Worcester; where email sits not confirmed.
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 · IONOS Mail news.
Also worth a look
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · IONOS Mail vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · IONOS Mail vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · IONOS Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.