iCloud Mail vs Microsoft 365 Business
Microsoft 365 Business wins on privacy, iCloud Mail wins on price and they tie on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
iCloud Mail or Microsoft 365 Business: which should you choose?
- iCloud Mail suits you best if you want a provider with no advertising business behind it; a cheaper plan, at £0.99 a month; and to try it free first.
- Microsoft 365 Business is the better pick if you want your email to stay in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) and features the other lacks, like POP3 as well as API.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | Microsoft 365 Business |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 2.5 |
| Features | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Business Basic £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | 50 GB |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) |
| Founded | 2011 | 2011 |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | One month free on some plans |
| Funded by advertising | No | Yes, or its parent company is |
| 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 | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 22 October 2026 |
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The key differences
- On price: iCloud Mail iCloud+ 50 GB at £0.99 a month, against Microsoft 365 Business Business Basic at £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT.
- For free, iCloud Mail gives you a free plan (5 GB, no own domain), and Microsoft 365 Business no free plan.
- Data location: United States and worldwide for iCloud Mail, UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) for Microsoft 365 Business.
- Only Microsoft 365 Business is part of an advertising business.
- For extra addresses, iCloud Mail has hide my email and Microsoft 365 Business has yes.
Common questions
Which is more private, iCloud Mail or Microsoft 365 Business?
Microsoft 365 Business scores 1 out of 5 for privacy and iCloud Mail 0.5. Microsoft 365 Business gives you your email to stay in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham).
Which is cheaper, iCloud Mail or Microsoft 365 Business?
iCloud Mail is cheaper. Its iCloud+ 50 GB plan is £0.99 a month, against £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT for Microsoft 365 Business's Business 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 Microsoft 365 Business work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. iCloud Mail: Up to 5. Microsoft 365 Business: Yes.
Where do iCloud Mail and Microsoft 365 Business keep my email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Microsoft 365 Business keeps it in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham).
Price changes and news
- 27 July 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £5.40 (UK price change from 1 July 2026)
- 1 June 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £4.90
- 1 July 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.99 (UK price rise, 2023)
- 1 June 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.79
The latest headlines: iCloud Mail news · Microsoft 365 Business news.
Also worth a look
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Microsoft 365 Business vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · Microsoft 365 Business vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · Microsoft 365 Business vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Switching takes an evening to set up. Follow the steps for your direction: iCloud Mail to Microsoft 365 Business · Microsoft 365 Business to iCloud Mail.