Microsoft 365 Business vs AOL Mail
In short: Microsoft 365 Business wins on privacy, AOL Mail wins on price, and Microsoft 365 Business wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 22 October 2026.
Should you pick Microsoft 365 Business or AOL Mail?
- Microsoft 365 Business suits you best if you want your mailbox stored in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) and email at your own domain name.
- AOL Mail suits you best if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; a free plan to start on; and more years of history: it started in 1993.
| Feature | Microsoft 365 Business | AOL Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 2.0 |
| Privacy | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Price | 2.5 | 5.0 |
| Features | 5.0 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Business Basic £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT | Free Free |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Storage | 50 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | ✓ Yes | No |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) | United States |
| Founded | 2011 | 1993 |
| Free trial | One month free on some plans | Free |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | Yes, or its parent company is |
| Works in any mail app | ✓ IMAP and SMTP | ✓ IMAP and SMTP |
| Calendar and contacts | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Aliases | Yes | 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
- Cheapest plans: Microsoft 365 Business Business Basic, £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT. AOL Mail Free, Free.
- For free, Microsoft 365 Business gives you no free plan, and AOL Mail a free plan ().
- Microsoft 365 Business comes with 50 GB of storage and AOL Mail with storage not confirmed.
- Your mail is stored in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham) with Microsoft 365 Business, and in the United States with AOL Mail.
- Microsoft 365 Business lets you bring your own domain name; AOL Mail doesn't.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Microsoft 365 Business or AOL Mail?
Microsoft 365 Business scores 1 out of 5 for privacy and AOL Mail 0. Microsoft 365 Business gives you your mailbox stored in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham).
Which is cheaper, Microsoft 365 Business or AOL Mail?
AOL Mail costs nothing to start (Free). Microsoft 365 Business's cheapest plan, Business Basic, is £5.40 per user a month, yearly, ex VAT.
Do Microsoft 365 Business and AOL Mail work with my own domain?
Only Microsoft 365 Business does (Yes). With AOL Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Microsoft 365 Business and AOL Mail keep my email?
Microsoft 365 Business keeps it in the UK data centres for UK tenants (London, Cardiff, Durham). AOL Mail keeps it in the United States.
Prices and the latest news
- 27 July 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £5.40 (UK price change from 1 July 2026)
- 1 June 2026 Microsoft 365 Business: £4.90
The latest headlines: Microsoft 365 Business news · AOL Mail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Microsoft 365 Business vs mailbox.org · AOL Mail vs mailbox.org · Microsoft 365 Business vs Posteo · AOL Mail vs Posteo · Microsoft 365 Business vs Proton Mail · AOL Mail vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Microsoft 365 Business · Moving from Microsoft 365 Business. Or see all my switching guides.