Outlook.com vs Forward Email
Forward Email wins on privacy, Outlook.com wins on price and Forward Email wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 25 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Outlook.com if you want a mailbox that costs nothing; 15 GB of storage; and a company with a longer track record (since 1996).
- Go for Forward Email if you'd like email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts; an address on your own domain; and more built in, including catch-all address as well as CalDAV and CardDAV sync.
| Feature | Outlook.com | Forward Email |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Price | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 15 GB | 10 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | No | Optional (PGP or encrypted storage) |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | United States |
| Founded | 1996 | 2017 |
| Free trial | Free | Free plan |
| 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 | ✓ Yes |
| Sign up without ID | No | No |
| White label | No | No |
| Reader offer | None | None |
| Last checked | 22 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- On price: Outlook.com Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) at Free, against Forward Email Enhanced Protection at $3 a month.
- For free, Outlook.com gives you a free plan (15 GB), and Forward Email a free plan (forwarding only).
- Outlook.com comes with 15 GB of storage and Forward Email with 10 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States and worldwide for Outlook.com, United States for Forward Email.
- Outlook.com doesn't encrypt mail end to end; Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- Forward Email lets you bring your own domain name; Outlook.com doesn't.
- Only Outlook.com is part of an advertising business.
Outlook.com and Forward Email: your questions
Which is more private, Outlook.com or Forward Email?
Forward Email scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. Forward Email gives you email from a company that doesn't make money from adverts and open-source apps anyone can check.
Which is cheaper, Outlook.com or Forward Email?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). Forward Email's cheapest plan, Enhanced Protection, is $3 a month. Forward Email has a free plan too: forwarding only.
Do Outlook.com and Forward Email work with my own domain?
Only Forward Email does (Unlimited). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where do Outlook.com and Forward Email keep my email?
Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
I haven't seen either change its price since I started checking on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Outlook.com news · Forward Email news.
Also worth a look
Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · Forward Email vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs Posteo · Forward Email vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail · Forward Email vs Proton Mail
Moving your email
Moving to Outlook.com · Moving from Outlook.com. Or see all my switching guides.