iCloud Mail vs Rackspace Email
They tie on privacy, iCloud Mail wins on price and they tie on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose iCloud Mail if you want to pay less: £0.99 a month; a free plan before you pay anything; and 50 GB of storage.
- Rackspace Email is the better pick if you want a company with a longer track record (since 1998).
| Feature | iCloud Mail | Rackspace Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 3.0 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 2.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month | Rackspace Email $10 per mailbox a month (from March 2026) |
| Free plan | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain | No |
| Storage | 50 GB | 25 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 | United States and UK |
| Founded | 2011 | 1998 |
| Free trial | Free (5 GB) | 14 days free |
| 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 | No |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | ✓ Yes |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- iCloud Mail's cheapest plan is iCloud+ 50 GB (£0.99 a month); Rackspace Email's is Rackspace Email ($10 per mailbox a month (from March 2026)).
- iCloud Mail has a free plan (5 GB, no own domain); Rackspace Email has no free plan.
- Space: iCloud Mail gives 50 GB of storage, Rackspace Email 25 GB of storage.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with iCloud Mail, and in the United States and UK with Rackspace Email.
- Aliases: iCloud Mail offers hide my email, Rackspace Email yes.
Questions people ask
Is iCloud Mail more private than Rackspace Email?
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 and UK for Rackspace Email).
Is iCloud Mail cheaper than Rackspace Email?
iCloud Mail is cheaper. Its iCloud+ 50 GB plan is £0.99 a month, against $10 per mailbox a month (from March 2026) for Rackspace Email's Rackspace Email. iCloud Mail also has 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 Rackspace Email?
Yes, both do. iCloud Mail: Up to 5. Rackspace Email: Yes.
Where is my email stored with iCloud Mail and Rackspace Email?
iCloud Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Rackspace Email keeps it in the United States and UK.
Prices and the latest news
- 1 March 2026 Rackspace Email: $10 (March 2026 rise)
- 1 January 2026 Rackspace Email: $3
- 1 July 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.99 (UK price rise, 2023)
- 1 June 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.79
The latest headlines: iCloud Mail news · Rackspace Email news.
Not sold on either? Try these
iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Rackspace Email vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · Rackspace Email vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail · Rackspace Email vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to iCloud Mail · Moving from iCloud Mail. Or see all my switching guides.