Outlook.com vs Purelymail
In short: Purelymail wins on privacy, they tie on price, and Outlook.com wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Outlook.com or Purelymail?
- Outlook.com suits you best if you want email without paying for it; a free plan to start on; and calendar and contacts in the same account.
- Choose Purelymail if you want a provider with no advertising business behind it and email at your own domain name.
| Feature | Outlook.com | Purelymail |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Privacy | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| Price | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Features | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| Cheapest plan | Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) Free | Simple $10 a year, any number of users and domains |
| Free plan | Yes, 15 GB | No |
| Storage | 15 GB | Not confirmed |
| Your own domain | No | ✓ Unlimited |
| End-to-end encryption | No | No |
| Company based in | United States | United States |
| Your data is kept in | United States and worldwide | United States |
| Founded | 1996 | Unknown |
| Free trial | Free | Free trial with a small amount of credit (about a month of light use) |
| 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 | No |
| 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
- Outlook.com's cheapest plan is Free (Microsoft 365 Basic for more space) (Free); Purelymail's is Simple ($10 a year, any number of users and domains).
- Outlook.com has a free plan (15 GB); Purelymail has no free plan.
- Space: Outlook.com gives 15 GB of storage, Purelymail storage not confirmed.
- Your mail is stored in the United States and worldwide with Outlook.com, and in the United States with Purelymail.
- You can use your own domain with Purelymail, but not with Outlook.com.
- Outlook.com (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Purelymail doesn't.
Questions people ask
Is Outlook.com more private than Purelymail?
Purelymail scores 0.5 out of 5 for privacy and Outlook.com 0. Purelymail gives you a provider with no advertising business behind it.
Is Outlook.com cheaper than Purelymail?
Outlook.com costs nothing to start (Free). Purelymail's cheapest plan, Simple, is $10 a year, any number of users and domains.
Can I use my own domain with Outlook.com or Purelymail?
Only Purelymail does (Unlimited). With Outlook.com your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Outlook.com and Purelymail?
Outlook.com keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Purelymail keeps it in the United States.
Price changes and news
Neither price has changed since my first check on 22 October 2026.
The latest headlines: Outlook.com news · Purelymail news.
Not sold on either? Try these
Outlook.com vs mailbox.org · Purelymail vs mailbox.org · Outlook.com vs Posteo · Purelymail vs Posteo · Outlook.com vs Proton Mail · Purelymail vs Proton Mail
How to switch
Moving to Outlook.com · Moving from Outlook.com. Or see all my switching guides.