Outlook.com vs CounterMail
In short: CounterMail wins on privacy, Outlook.com wins on price, and they tie on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Go for Outlook.com if you'd like a mailbox that costs nothing; to try it free first; and more space for your mail: 15 GB.
- Go for CounterMail if you'd like encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail; your mail kept in Sweden; and a provider with no advertising business behind it.
| Feature | Outlook.com | CounterMail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 4.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | Premium, 12 months $4 a month, paid yearly ($49) |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | No |
| Storage | 15 GB | 4 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Yes |
| End-to-end encryption | No | ✓ Built in |
| Company based in | United States | Sweden |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | Sweden |
| Founded | 1996 | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free | Unknown |
| Funded by advertising | Yes, or its parent company is | No |
| 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 | Unknown |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
The key differences
- On price: Outlook.com Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) at Free, against CounterMail Premium, 12 months at $4 a month, paid yearly ($49).
- For free, Outlook.com gives you a free plan (15 GB), and CounterMail no free plan.
- Outlook.com comes with 15 GB of storage and CounterMail with 4 GB of storage.
- Outlook.com keeps your mail in the United States and worldwide, while CounterMail keeps it in Sweden.
- Outlook.com is based in the United States and CounterMail in Sweden, so different privacy laws apply.
- Outlook.com doesn't encrypt mail end to end; CounterMail encrypts mail end to end.
- CounterMail lets you bring your own domain name; Outlook.com doesn't.
- Only Outlook.com is part of an advertising business.
Questions people ask
Which is more private, Outlook.com or CounterMail?
CounterMail scores 4 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. CounterMail gives you encryption that means even the provider can't read your mail, your mail kept in Sweden and a provider with no advertising business behind it.
Which is cheaper, Outlook.com or CounterMail?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). CounterMail's cheapest plan, Premium, 12 months, is $4 a month, paid yearly ($49).
Do Outlook.com and CounterMail work with my own domain?
Only CounterMail does (Yes). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Outlook.com and CounterMail keep my email?
Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide. CounterMail keeps it in Sweden.
Prices and the latest news
No price changes for either since 22 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Outlook.com news · CounterMail news.
Alternatives to Outlook.com and CounterMail
Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · CounterMail vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs Posteo · CounterMail vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail · CounterMail vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Outlook.com · Moving from Outlook.com. Or see all my switching guides.