The best email services, according to hackers
17 email services recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedFastmail388 people recommend it
- Built to lastYahoo Mailowners report a median of 29 years
- Least regretPurelymail36 recommend, 2 criticize
- Free and lovedHotmail6 people recommend it
All email services
- FastmailA paid email service praised for its fast web app, custom domain and alias support, easy migration and responsive human support, though critics worry about US legal reach.388recommend
- GmailRecommended for strong spam filtering, a fast, reliable interface and flexible labels, though critics warn about sudden account lockouts, intrusive AI features and confusing settings.295recommend
- Proton MailA privacy-focused, ad-free alternative to Gmail that stores little usable data and bundles extras like VPN and storage; critics cite feature gaps, outages and limited encryption.196recommend
- Tuta MailRecommended for privacy-focused end-to-end encrypted email with no ads or tracking and a generous cheap tier, though critics say it lacks IMAP and needs its own client.49recommend
- mailbox.org emailRecommended for private European email with custom domains, IMAP access and cheap paid plans; people say it works reliably. Common caveat: clunky webmail and slow support replies.45recommend
- PurelymailCheap custom-domain email with unlimited mailboxes and domains for about $10 a year, with easy setup and reliable delivery. Main caveat: worries about a management change.36recommend
- MigaduRecommended for cheap, reliable custom-domain email with unlimited domains and addresses and responsive support. Main caveat: low outgoing mail limits and no 2FA.35recommend
- Zoho MailPeople recommend Zoho Mail for free email on your own domain that has worked reliably for years, with paid plans around $1 a month; the most common caveat is that IMAP access needs bridges or workarounds.29recommend
- iCloud MailFree with an Apple account, and it supports custom domains and IMAP with good spam filtering for many users. Critics say it silently filters legitimate mail.24recommend
- HEY email by BasecampPeople recommend it for the Screener sender whitelist, a smooth web experience and a usable private email address. Critics mostly object to its lack of IMAP and the founder's views.23recommend
- Posteo emailCheap, simple email with encrypted address books that people have used for years without trouble. Main caveat: custom domains are not supported.21recommend
- RunboxRecommended for responsive support, reasonable prices and Norwegian servers, though critics cite reliability problems and poor communication during outages.14recommend
- Outlook.comRecommended for a fast web interface with folders, rules, shared mailboxes and calendar. Common caveat: mail to its addresses is often blocked or delayed.13recommend
- MXRoutePeople recommend MXRoute as a low-cost custom domain email host with easy switching and pricing they find sensible, including lifetime plans sold around Black Friday.9recommend
- Rootshell email serviceRecommended as an independent, non-corporate end-to-end encrypted email service that passed an email privacy tester. Critics say emails are decrypted on the server, undermining the E2EE claim.7recommend
- HotmailFree Microsoft email account with a long history, though critics most often report account lockouts, wiped mailboxes, and messages that never reach Hotmail inboxes.6recommend
- Yahoo MailFree web email with a long history, called more reliable than Proton by some; critics report lost mail, spam filtering trouble and a poor browser experience with ads.5recommend