iCloud Mail vs Purelymail
On privacy it's a tie. On price it's a tie. On features it's iCloud Mail. Here's everything side by side, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- iCloud Mail is the better pick if you want to try it free first and calendar and contacts in the same account.
- Purelymail suits you best if you want to pay less: $10 a year, any number of users and domains.
| Feature | iCloud Mail | Purelymail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Simple $10 a year, any number of users and domains |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Up to 5 | ✓ Unlimited |
| 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 | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | Free trial with a small amount of credit (about a month of light use) |
| 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 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
How iCloud Mail and Purelymail differ
- iCloud Mail's cheapest plan is iCloud+ 50 GB (£0.99 a month); Purelymail's is Simple ($10 a year, any number of users and domains).
- For free, iCloud Mail gives you a free plan (5 GB, no own domain), and Purelymail no free plan.
- iCloud Mail comes with 50 GB of storage and Purelymail with storage not confirmed.
- iCloud Mail keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while Purelymail keeps it in the United States.
- For extra addresses, iCloud Mail has hide my email and Purelymail has yes.
iCloud Mail and Purelymail: your questions
Which is more private, iCloud Mail or Purelymail?
They score the same for privacy: 0.5 out of 5 each. The differences are in the details, such as where your mail is kept (the United States and worldwide for iCloud Mail, the United States for Purelymail).
Which is cheaper, iCloud Mail or Purelymail?
Purelymail is cheaper. Its Simple plan is $10 a year, any number of users and domains, against £0.99 a month for iCloud Mail's iCloud+ 50 GB. 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 Purelymail work with my own domain?
Yes, both do. iCloud Mail: Up to 5. Purelymail: Unlimited.
Where do iCloud Mail and Purelymail keep my email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Purelymail 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 · Purelymail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Purelymail vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · Purelymail vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · Purelymail vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.