Outlook.com vs iCloud Mail
ICloud Mail wins on privacy, they tie on price and iCloud Mail wins on features. Every fact below was checked on or before 22 October 2026.
Which should you choose?
- Outlook.com is the better pick if you want email without paying for it; more built in, including POP3 as well as API; and a company with a longer track record (since 1996).
- Choose iCloud Mail if you want a company that isn't funded by advertising; an address on your own domain; and more space for your mail: 50 GB.
| Feature | Outlook.com | iCloud Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | iCloud+ 50 GB £0.99 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | Yes, 5 GB, no own domain |
| Storage | 15 GB | 50 GB |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Up to 5 |
| 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 worldwide |
| Founded | 1996 | 2011 |
| Free trial | Free | Free (5 GB) |
| 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 | Hide My Email |
| 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 |
Want to add another? Open this in the compare tool.
Where they differ
- Outlook.com's cheapest plan is Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) (Free); iCloud Mail's is iCloud+ 50 GB (£0.99 a month).
- Outlook.com has a free plan (15 GB); iCloud Mail has a free plan (5 GB, no own domain).
- Space: Outlook.com gives 15 GB of storage, iCloud Mail 50 GB of storage.
- You can use your own domain with iCloud Mail, but not with Outlook.com.
- Outlook.com (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; iCloud Mail doesn't.
- Aliases: Outlook.com offers yes, iCloud Mail hide my email.
Common questions
Is Outlook.com more private than iCloud Mail?
iCloud Mail scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. iCloud Mail gives you a company that isn't funded by advertising.
Is Outlook.com cheaper than iCloud Mail?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). iCloud Mail's cheapest plan, iCloud+ 50 GB, is £0.99 a month. iCloud Mail has a free plan too: 5 GB, no own domain.
Can I use my own domain with Outlook.com or iCloud Mail?
Only iCloud Mail does (Up to 5). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Outlook.com and iCloud Mail?
Both keep it in the United States and worldwide.
Recent price changes
- 1 July 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.99 (UK price rise, 2023)
- 1 June 2023 iCloud Mail: £0.79
The latest headlines: Outlook.com news · iCloud Mail news.
Also worth a look
Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · iCloud Mail vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs Posteo · iCloud Mail vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail · iCloud Mail vs Proton Mail
Switching between them
Ready to move? My step-by-step guides cover your mail, contacts, forwarding and your own domain: Outlook.com to iCloud Mail · iCloud Mail to Outlook.com.