With so many email providers on the market, committing to one option isn’t easy—especially when you must invest in it. Comparing numerous available services often leads to analysis paralysis, as every provider promises the most value for money.

This guide will make your search easier by

 showing you what to focus on when comparing the best paid 

 You’ll also see the pros and cons of the most popular providers so that you can find an option that meets your needs and gives the best return on your investment.

What to look for in paid email providers?

When you start browsing email service providers (ESPs), you should explore various options to get a general feel of what to expect. Then, use the following criteria to filter out subpar options and zero in on the best 

When looking for any product, starting with a feature comparison makes perfect sense. It’s a mistake when comparing email services, though, as there’s a far more important aspect to focus on—

If an ESP can’t give you peace of mind while you’re communicating online, no feature can make up for this flaw. Privacy is crucial for individual and 

 alike, as you’ll most likely send and receive a great deal of sensitive information and 

 might get away with not offering robust security, but paid options can’t. To ensure your money is well spent,

 and data at every point between you and the recipient.

Encryption at rest—protects your data while it’s resting on the server

 while they’re traveling to the recipient

Note that not every ESP offering both encryption types provides E2EE.

 For maximum security, encryption should take place on the device level, and the decryption keys should be created by users and stored on their devices—not ESPs’ servers. If your provider gives you this level of control over your data, they’re worth considering.

More isn’t always better when it comes to email features. You must know how to separate useful from unnecessary features to avoid overpaying for a solution full of tools you don’t need.

A good example is email automation—it’s crucial for businesses using email marketing, but individual users might never need it. This feature can come at a substantial cost, so only invest in solutions supporting it if it makes financial sense.

With this in mind, there are some boxes every email service provider must check:

Everything beyond this is mostly a matter of preference, so consider the main reasons you’ll use your email and filter providers accordingly.

User experience—an often-overlooked factor

Most people don’t prioritize user interface (UI) and design when browsing email providers. While not necessarily a deal-breaker, UI and related features can make a world of difference to your online correspondence.

Most email clients look similar at first glance, so the devil is in the details.

 You must go beyond the desktop version and web app to see how well the email client is optimized for mobile devices, as this is where you’ll notice the most UI differences. Packing features in a smaller footprint while ensuring the platform is easy to navigate requires skill, and only a handful of providers get it right.

Your service provider shouldn’t burn a hole in your pocket

We’re hard-wired to believe that a higher-priced option is typically the superior one. Some providers use this notion to overcharge for features you can get without breaking the bank.

It’s best to have an idea of how much you’re willing to spend on an email service before you start your search. Then, compare a few options to see how they differ from your baseline. You would be surprised by the 

number of useful features you can get for only a few dollars a month

Best paid email providers—breaking down the industry’s leading solutions

A quick Google search will reveal plenty of email services, and some names will repeat numerous times. To help you make an informed decision, we will cover the benefits, drawbacks, and pricing of five popular options:

Zoho Mail is a solid option for users on a budget. Barring a few limitations, it offers a rich set of features that should meet an average user’s needs. It’s good for getting started with paid services, though it might not be suitable for advanced or privacy-focused users.

Besides the free plan, Zoho Mail offers three paid tiers:

The main advantage of Zoho Mail is its value for money. Paid users can get started for as little as a dollar, and they would get access to various handy features, including:

Built-in calendar with scheduling and collaboration features

Zoho’s email client is available on browsers, 

and all versions offer a smooth user experience. The interface is sufficiently clean and fairly straightforward, so the key functionalities are intuitively laid out.

Where the platform fails to deliver is storage. 

Mail Lite gets you 5 GB, and there’s a 10 GB option for $1.25 per user/month. Even the priciest Premium plan caps storage at 50 GB, which might not be enough for power users.

, but it’s not exactly a privacy-first option. The platform uses the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and 

 protocols to safeguard your emails, and you get an encryption indicator showing the protection level. You do get E2EE with a popular S/MIME (Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) protocol, but the decryption keys are stored on Zoho’s 

Besides the well-known free version, Google offers a paid Gmail tier as a part of a Workspace subscription, so it’s mainly aimed at business users. Individuals rarely need the entire product suite and all the features, so the paid plan may not be the most cost-effective solution. It may still be worth subscribing if you need to expand your workflow beyond email correspondence.

Upgrading to a paid Gmail version eliminates an annoyance many users have criticized Google for—inbox ads. Like many freemium platforms, 

 only lets paid users enjoy an ad-free experience, so you will have a cleaner-looking inbox.

You can also set up a custom domain, which isn’t available with the free option. Gmail lets you add 20 aliases to your account, helping you separate your inboxes and manage them more easily.

As for security, Gmail offers spam and phishing protection that Google claims can block over 99.9% of 

 They also offer a form of E2EE, but it may not be effective enough.

Gmail’s version of E2EE is the so-called “client-side encryption.” The feature is in beta as of this writing, and it’s not available with any of the aforementioned tiers—only Workspace Enterprise Plus and Education Standard/Plus users can apply for it.

With client-side encryption, your data is scrambled in your browser before reaching Google’s servers, which means the company can’t decrypt it. While this is a step up from Google’s typical practices, 

it’s still not truly E2EE because there’s no zero-knowledge encryption.

 Your email’s metadata, subject line, and recipient list won’t be encrypted and will be visible to Google.

Gmail supports hosted S/MIME as an alternative, but it suffers from the same issues as Zoho—Google will store your certificate’s private decryption key, so you don’t get full confidentiality.

Similar to Google, Microsoft doesn’t offer a standalone premium 

 version—you must upgrade to a paid Microsoft 365 plan. You can unlock numerous tools and features depending on the chosen plan, although there’s not much difference to the email experience except for the security level.

Microsoft offers various tiers split into three categories:

—$6.99/month ($69.99/year with annual commitment)

—$9.99/month ($99.99/year with annual commitment)

 is another provider whose free version implies filling your inbox with ads. Upgrading to Microsoft 365 removes them, which improves loading time and creates a more distraction-free environment.

Another benefit of the paid version is storage

—you get 50 GB (compared to the 15 GB you have with free Outlook).

Microsoft is more generous than Google in this regard, as you get 30 GB with the entry-level Workspace subscription.

Best paid email services—five providers reviewed

Millions of individuals now store sensitive information across myriad devices, from cloud storage and accounts to hard drives and personal phones. Managing the security and privacy of this data online is critical, particularly as personal documents may store critical sensitive information from healthcare plans to client data.

Instead of storing data locally on a hard drive or on a USB drive, cloud storage is a model of data storage in which the electronic files that make up a user's data are stored in a 

. Although cloud storage offers many advantages, such as convenience and scalability, it also poses a number of security risks. These risks have been magnified in recent years as the use of cloud storage has grown exponentially. Now, cloud storage users share links, use mobile and desktop apps, and frequently collaborate across many accounts and file types. As a result, navigating these products safely is an increasing challenge.

Understanding different types and applications of encryption algorithms yields helpful context for protecting your personal data. Whether using local encryption software on your computer, or encrypting files for the cloud, different types of encryption are useful in depending on the file and use case.

 where two different keys are used to encrypt and decrypt the data. End-to-end encryption is a type of encryption where the data is encrypted at the sender’s side and can only be decrypted at the receiver’s side.

 type of encryption. It is used in many applications, such as email, file sharing, and VPN. The sender and receiver must have the same key in order to encrypt and decrypt the data. The key can be a simple password or a more complex key. Symmetric encryption is also frequently used to support full disk encryption, where data on a server or local computer is encrypted with a key for that machine. The algorithm AES-256, which is frequently used in security marketing or disclaimers, is a symmetric encryption algorithm.

 is less common than symmetric encryption. It is used in some applications, such as SSL/TLS and 

s. The sender and receiver must have different keys in order to encrypt and decrypt the data. The keys are generated by a mathematical algorithm that allows a public key to encrypt data that can only be decrypted by a single private key.

 type of encryption. It is used in some applications, such as email and instant messaging. The data is encrypted at the 

 and can only be decrypted at the receiver’s side. The sender and receiver must have the same key in order to decrypt the data and recover plaintext files. Many end-to-end encryption algorithms use a combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption.

One of the most significant security risks associated with cloud storage is the potential for data breaches. A data breach occurs when an unauthorized party gains access to confidential data. In the case of cloud storage, a data breach can occur if a hacker is able to gain access to the remote database where the user's data is stored. Once a hacker has access to this database, they can potentially access all of the data that is 

not possible in an end-to-end encrypted cloud provider, like Skiff

Another security risk associated with cloud storage is the possibility of data loss. This can occur if the cloud storage provider suffers a data loss event, such as a power outage or hardware failure. If this happens, the user's data may be lost 

. However, this has generally become less common.

Finally, cloud storage poses a risk to the 

 of the user's data. Although the user's data is stored in a remote database, it is still possible for the cloud storage provider to access this data. This means that the provider could potentially sell the user's data to third parties without the user's consent, or potentially deplatform the user by removing them from a service.

Despite the risks, cloud storage remains a popular option for businesses and individuals alike. However, it is important to be aware of the risks involved and take steps to mitigate them. One way to do this is to 

 the data that is stored in the cloud, or to use an end-to-end encrypted provider that will encrypt contents and file name.

This practice makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to the data. Additionally, businesses should consider using a private cloud storage solution rather than a public one. Private or on-premise cloud storage providers typically have stronger security measures in place to protect the data that is stored on their servers.

Given the amount of options and products available, it is difficult to know how to encrypt files. However, encrypting your hard drive is an important practice for several reasons. First, it helps to protect your data from being accessed by unauthorized individuals. Second, it can help to prevent data breaches in the event that your computer is lost or stolen. Finally, encrypting your hard drive can also help to improve your computer's performance.

There are several different ways to encrypt your hard drive. One option is to use a third-party encryption tool, but the most secure and recommended option is to leverage the built-in encryption features of your operating system, such as Microsoft's 

 for Mac. This will default encrypt all data at rest on your device, which is a critical data protection measure today. Decryption occurs when you enter your password on login and access files or software.

No matter which method you choose, it is important to make sure that you choose a strong 

 that cannot be easily guessed, or to use a password manager. It is also a good idea to create a backup of your encryption key in case you forget it. Encrypting your hard drive is an important step in protecting your data. By taking the time to encrypt your data, you can help to ensure that your information remains confidential and secure.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your email is as secure as possible when sending sensitive information. First, avoid using public Wi-Fi when possible. If you must use public Wi-Fi, be sure to use a VPN to encrypt your connection. Second, avoid using your personal email account for work-related matters. Instead, use a secure, work-provided email account.

Finally, be mindful of what you include in your email. Avoid sending sensitive information in the body of your email. If you must include sensitive information, be sure to encrypt the email with a password. Some services, such as DocSend, provide purpose-built products for securely sending and monitoring links and documents that you send. Or, use a privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted email product, like 

. Below, we’ll write more about the best products for sending and sharing sensitive files.

: DocSend is a tool that helps users send, track, and manage documents. It allows users to upload documents to the platform and then share them with others. The recipient can then view the document, leave comments, and track how long they spend viewing it. DocSend also allows users to password protect their documents and set expiration dates.

: Box is a cloud storage and file sharing service developed by Box, Inc. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Redwood City, California. Box allows users to upload, store, share, and access files online. Users can access their files from any device with an Internet connection. Box offers two types of accounts: personal and business. Personal accounts are free and have a limit of 10 GB of storage.

Business accounts start at $5 per month and have a limit of 100 GB of 

. Box also offers enterprise plans for businesses with more than 100 GB of storage. Box allows users to share files with other users. Users can create shared folders and invite others to view or edit the folder. Box also offers a collaboration feature called Box Notes, which allows users to create and edit documents in real-time with other users.

 cloud storage product that provides 10 GB free, easy-to-use 

, and a suite of products for communication and collaboration (including Mail, Pages for notes and documents, and Drive for file storage). Skiff end-to-end encrypts all individual files and file names, keeping sensitive information private to users.

Skiff offers native apps for iOS, Mac, and Android and can be easily used on the web on Windows, Linux, and other platforms. In this blog on encrypted cloud 

, we compare more end-to-end encrypted software with more commonly used cloud storage providers.

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