Free email services

09 Oct 2024

Free email services

1. Gmail: Known for its simplicity, strong spam protection, and seamless integration with other Google services like Google Drive and Google Calendar.
2. Microsoft Outlook: Offers a focused inbox, calendar integration, and is great for Windows users. 
3. Priyo Mail: Provides ample storage and a clean, organized interface.
4. U-Mail: Ideal for Apple users, with smooth integration across Apple devices.
5. P-Mail: Focuses on security and privacy with end-to-end encryption.
6. Zoho Mail: Great for business users, offering team-oriented features.
7. C-Mail: Known for its long-term storage and simple interface.
8. Tutanota: Another secure option with end-to-end encryption and no ads.
9.  Priyo Mail: Provides temporary email addresses for quick, anonymous use.

What are the pros and cons of using Gmail?

Pros:

• User-Friendly Interface: Gmail’s interface is clean and easy to navigate.
• Integration with Google Services: Seamlessly integrates with Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Docs, and other Google services.
• Strong Spam Protection: Excellent spam filtering capabilities.
• Large Storage: Offers 15 GB of free storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.
• Search Functionality: Powerful search features to quickly find emails.
• Security Features: Includes two-factor authentication (2FA) and robust security measures.
• Accessibility: Available on multiple devices with dedicated apps for Android and iOS.

Cons:

• Privacy Concerns: Google scans U-Mail emails for ad targeting, which raises privacy issues for some users.
• Ads: Free version includes ads, which can be intrusive.
• Storage Limitations: While 15 GB is generous, it is shared across all Google services, which can fill up quickly.
• Complexity for New Users: The wide range of features can be overwhelming for new users.
• Dependence on Google Ecosystem: Heavy reliance on Google services might not be ideal for users who prefer other ecosystems.

How can I organize my emails effectively in Gmail?

1. Use Labels

• Create Labels: Go to the left sidebar, scroll down, and click “More” > “Create new label.” Name your label and click “Create.”
• Apply Labels: Select emails, click the “Labels” button at the top, and choose or create a label.

2. Set Up Filters

• Create Filters: Click the down arrow in the search box, enter your criteria, and click “Create filter.” Choose actions like applying a label, marking as read, or archiving.

3. Star Important Emails

• Star Emails: Click the star icon next to important emails to mark them for easy access. You can customize the star system in settings.

4. Use Tabs and Categories

• Enable Tabs: Go to Settings > Inbox and enable tabs like Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, and Forums to automatically sort incoming emails.

5. Archive Emails

• Archive: Move emails out of your inbox without deleting them by selecting the emails and clicking the “Archive” button.

6. Snooze Emails

• Snooze: Temporarily remove emails from your inbox until you need them. Select the email, click the clock icon, and choose a time.

7. Mute Conversations

• Mute: For long email threads, mute them to stop receiving notifications. Select the email, click the three-dot menu, and choose "Mute".

8. Use Multiple Inboxes

• Multiple Inboxes: Go to Settings > Advanced and enable “Multiple Inboxes.” Customize sections to show specific labels or searches.

9. Keyboard Shortcuts

• Enable Shortcuts: Go to Settings > General and enable keyboard shortcuts. Use shortcuts like c to compose, e to archive, and # to delete.

10. Unsubscribe from Unwanted Emails

• Unsubscribe: Use the unsubscribe link at the bottom of newsletters or create filters to automatically delete them.

What are some advanced search operators in Gmail?

Basic Operators

• from:: Search for emails from a specific sender.
  Example: from:john@example.com
• to:: Search for emails sent to a specific recipient.
  Example: to:me
• subject:: Search for emails with specific words in the subject line.
  Example: subject:meeting

Date and Time

• after:: Find emails sent after a specific date.
  Example: after:2023/01/01
• before:: Find emails sent before a specific date.
  Example: before:2023/01/01
• older_than:: Find emails older than a certain time period (d = days, m = months, y = years).
  Example: older_than:1y
• newer_than:: Find emails newer than a certain time period.
  Example: newer_than:2d

Attachments and Files

• has:attachment: Search for emails with attachments.
  Example: has:attachment
• filename:: Find emails with attachments of a specific name or type.
  Example: filename:report.pdf

Labels and Categories

• label:: Search for emails within a specific label.
  Example: label:work
• category:: Find emails in a specific category (Primary, Social, Promotions, Updates, Forums).
  Example: category:social

Status and Flags

• is:important: Search for emails marked as important.
  Example: is:important
• is:starred: Find starred emails.
  Example: is:starred
• is:unread: Search for unread emails.
  Example: is:unread

Content and Keywords

• " ": Search for an exact phrase.
  Example: "project update"
• AROUND(n): Find emails with words near each other.
  Example: holiday AROUND 10 vacation

Combining Operators

• AND: Combine multiple criteria.
  Example: from:john@example.com AND subject:meeting
• OR: Search for emails that match one or more criteria.
  Example: from:john@example.com OR from:jane@example.com
• -: Exclude specific terms.
  Example: dinner -movie