Gmail
Popular email service by Google with advanced features and integration with Google Workspace.
Recommended Alternative
ProtonMail
End-to-end encrypted email service with strong privacy focus.
Other Alternatives
Here are other EU-based alternatives that provide similar functionality...
Mailbox.org
EUPrivacy-focused email with office features.
Tutanota
EUOpen-source encrypted email with calendar.
More info about Gmail
Gmail
Gmail is a free email service developed by Google. Launched in 2004, it has become one of the most widely used email services worldwide, known for its storage capacity, search capabilities, and integration with other Google services.
Key Features
- Free 15GB of storage (shared with Google Drive and Photos)
- Advanced email organization with categories, labels, and filters
- Integration with Google Meet for video conferencing
- Smart features like Smart Compose and Smart Reply
- Robust spam and malware protection
- Available on all major platforms
Privacy and Security
Gmail is operated by Google, which has a business model primarily centered around data collection and targeted advertising. While Gmail offers security features like two-factor authentication, its privacy practices involve scanning email content for various purposes.
Data Concerns
- Google scans email content for feature purposes (and previously for advertising)
- Data is stored primarily on U.S. servers
- Subject to U.S. surveillance laws
- User data can be used for personalization across Google services
- Google's privacy policy allows for extensive data collection
- Not designed with EU data protection standards as the primary focus
- May not fully comply with data sovereignty requirements
Why Gmail is Problematic
Scans email content for data mining and targeted ads
Stores data on US servers subject to surveillance laws
Shares your data across Google services
Privacy policy allows extensive data collection
Not GDPR-compliant by design, only by adaptation
Your emails can be analyzed by AI systems