Yahoo Mail vs Forward Email
In short: Forward Email wins on privacy, Yahoo Mail wins on price, and Forward Email wins on features. The full comparison is below, last checked 25 October 2026.
Should you pick Yahoo Mail or Forward Email?
- Go for Yahoo Mail if you'd like email without paying for it; more space for your mail: 20 GB; and more years of history: it started in 1997.
- Forward Email suits you best if you want a provider with no advertising business behind it; email at your own domain name; and apps whose code is public.
| Feature | Yahoo Mail | 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 (Mail Plus ad-free, 200 GB) Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price) | Enhanced Protection $3 a month |
| Free plan | Yes, 20 GB | Yes, forwarding only |
| Storage | 20 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 | 1997 | 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 | 25 October 2026 | 25 October 2026 |
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Where they differ
- Cheapest plans: Yahoo Mail Free (Mail Plus ad-free, 200 GB), Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price). Forward Email Enhanced Protection, $3 a month.
- Yahoo Mail has a free plan (20 GB); Forward Email has a free plan (forwarding only).
- Space: Yahoo Mail gives 20 GB of storage, Forward Email 10 GB of storage.
- Data location: United States and worldwide for Yahoo Mail, United States for Forward Email.
- On encryption, Yahoo Mail doesn't encrypt mail end to end, whereas Forward Email offers optional encryption (PGP or encrypted storage).
- You can use your own domain with Forward Email, but not with Yahoo Mail.
- Yahoo Mail (or its parent company) makes money from advertising; Forward Email doesn't.
Yahoo Mail and Forward Email: your questions
Is Yahoo Mail more private than Forward Email?
Forward Email scores 2 out of 5 for privacy and Yahoo Mail 0. Forward Email gives you a provider with no advertising business behind it and apps whose code is public.
Is Yahoo Mail cheaper than Forward Email?
Yahoo Mail costs nothing to start (Free; Plus £4.99 a month (2020 price)). Forward Email's cheapest plan, Enhanced Protection, is $3 a month. Forward Email has a free plan too: forwarding only.
Can I use my own domain with Yahoo Mail or Forward Email?
Only Forward Email does (Unlimited). With Yahoo Mail your address stays on its own domain.
Where is my email stored with Yahoo Mail and Forward Email?
Yahoo Mail keeps it in the United States and worldwide. Forward Email keeps it in the United States.
Recent price changes
No price changes for either since 25 October 2026. I check regularly and add any change here with its date.
The latest headlines: Yahoo Mail news · Forward Email news.
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Moving your email
Moving between any two providers works the same way. Pick your two providers for the steps.