Free email accounts may seem like a dime a dozen, but some free services stand way above the rest. This article guides you through the best free email accounts and the features that make them great.
Never reveal personal information in your email address (the part before the @), such as your home address or phone number. It's common for addresses to be a name with a couple of numbers, or a word or phrase that means something.
01
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Gmail
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What We Like
Includes private messaging features.
Excellent spam protection.
Includes 15 GB of space for emails and other files.
Integrates closely with other Google services.
What We Don't Like
Dealing with folders/labels can be confusing.
It's probably not a surprise thatGmailtops this list of the best free email accounts. Google's free email servicehas a modern feel, is tightly integrated with the company's other services, and does a good job of blocking spam.
It has some other nifty features, too, such as the option to snooze emails for later, schedule emails to be sent later, and read mail offline. You can also send emails that expire and require a unique code to open, store messages in a 15 GB vault, share files from your Drive account, undo sending messages, and set up vacation responses.
Gmail is closely connected with the company's other products, meaning you can use your account to collaborate with people on projects or hold virtual meetings. It works with Meet's picture-in-picture feature, so you can see and hear people you're working with while composing a message or reading an email.
You can apply different themes to Gmail's interface to customize how it appears, access tons of advanced settings, create filtersand labels, import email fromother email accounts, and use a chat client. You can also install gadgets (add-ons) to extend Gmail's functionality.
All addresses end in @gmail.com.
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02
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Outlook
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What We Like
Clean interface that's easy to use.
Works closely with other Microsoft services.
Organizes mail automatically.
Multiple account aliases hide your actual email address.
What We Don't Like
Sometimes takes a while to load.
Outlook is Microsoft's free email service that—like Gmail—has a solid interface that's easy to navigate. It's easily second to Google's service or even tied as the best free email provider.
The website is intuitive; it's as easy as right-clicking an email to find further options that include moving and deleting messages and searching for every emailfrom that one sender.
Outlook supports mail rules, which means you can set new messages to move to a specified folder automatically, be categorized, flagged,or forwarded if certain conditions are met. You can also connect directly to Skype through your email and use add-ons such as PayPal and DocuSign.
Your email address can end with @outlook.comor @hotmail.com.
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03
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Yahoo Mail
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What We Like
Tons of email storage space.
Lets you make hundreds of free disposable email addresses.
Includes a built-in GIF database.
Using Yahoo Calendar from the email area is easy.
What We Don't Like
Not as many filters/rules as other email providers.
Yahoo Mailis notable because each new user gets 1TBof free storage for email.
The compose window is similar to Gmail, but one helpful difference; it's easy to switch between inline image attachments and regular file attachments.
This is probably the best email service when it comes to alternate identities or aliases. You can create disposable addresses linked to your inbox without revealing your actual address. This feature is helpful when you sign up for accounts and don't want your regular inbox spammed or filled with useless email; delete the disposable address if the spam becomes too overwhelming.
You can also insert GIFs from a built-in GIF collection, use themes that change the background and color scheme of the website, and import contacts from a file on your computer and other accounts like Facebook or Outlook. You can also use a built-in notepad, attach files from Google Drive or Dropbox, access the online calendar app, and connect external accounts so you can use one interface to manage email.
Email addresses can end with @yahoo.com or @myyahoo.com.
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04
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AOL Mail
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What We Like
A calendar and to-do list are easily accessible from the email page.
Selection of themes to choose from.
Can check spelling before sending every email.
What We Don't Like
It's easy to accidentally open the news section instead of your email.
Lots of ads.
Some features require a paid AOL Desktop Gold subscription.
AOL Mail is another free email account option. The main page includes top stories from AOL.com, which can be viewed as a pleasant addition or seem cluttered, depending on your preferences.
Like most email providers, you can filter your messages to only show unread or read emails or flagged or unflagged messages.With AOL Mail, you can block mail senders and set up filters.
Your AOL.com account comes with a calendar and to-do list that are accessible from the inbox. However, some features, such as a chat room, require a paid AOL Desktop Gold subscription.
An AOL email address gives you an email like example@aol.com, but you can also receive mail if someone messages example@aim.com.
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05
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Proton Mail
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What We Like
Relies heavily on encrypting email data.
Send encrypted emails to anyone, even if they don't use Proton Mail.
Choose when an email will expire.
What We Don't Like
Limited to 1 GB of storage.
Free account limited to 150 messages per day.
No vacation replies.
Supports only three folders and labels.
The main difference betweenProton Mailand the other email services is that this one is centered aroundemail encryption. The idea is that you can send mail without fear that the people at Proton Mail or anyone else besides the recipient can read the message.
Messages sent to other Proton Mail users are always encrypted. Otherwise, when you're ready to email a non-user, select that button first. If you encrypt a message, you can set an expiration time so that it's destroyed and unreadable after the duration you specify.
The maximum expiration time is four weeks (28 days), but you can choose something sooner, like 1 to 6 days or 1 to 23 hours. If you message a non-user and don't define an expiration time, the message expires in 28 days.
Recipients who receive encrypted messages open the email through a link that asks for the password, where it's decrypted and displayed in the browser. They can reply through an encrypted channel via the same message they decrypted and don't need a Proton Mail account.
Another privacy-minded feature is Link Confirmation, which guards against phishing attacks by displaying a pop-up window when you select a link, letting you confirm where it goes before actually going there.
Email addresses can end as @proton.me or @protonmail.com.
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Tutanota
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What We Like
Encrypts email automatically.
Send encrypted emails to non-users.
Several domain options for new accounts.
Requires a strong email password.
What We Don't Like
Includes only 1 GB of storage space.
Some features require a paid account.
Tutanota (Latin for "tuta nota," meaning "secure message") is similar to Proton Mail in that it automatically encrypts your emails. However, you can disable end-to-end encryption if you'd like.
One thing that stands out is that you can't create your account until you make a secure password. Some places urge you to make your password stronger but still accept it: Tutanota requires it.
The web interface is straightforward and provides menu transitions that bring together the mail folders and email settings. When sending messages to non-users, you can make them password protected or keep them unencrypted. If a password is designated, the recipient gets a custom link to open the message; they must enter the password to read and reply.
The best feature is that when the user responds to an email not using Tutanota, the messages are still contained within the temporary account. You can have back and forth communication with any other email service, and the recipient can keep the link open the entire time.
Even though it isn't as well known as Gmail or Yahoo, Tutanota lets you have an email signature, use up to 1 GB of storage, and automatically add emailed recipients as new contacts. Premium features can be had for a cost.
You can make an account with any of these domains:tutanota.com, tutanota.de, tutamail.com, tuta.io, keemail.me.
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iCloud Mail
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What We Like
Unsubscribing from email lists is easy.
Includes 5 GB of free online storage.
Works from a computer or mobile device.
What We Don't Like
Not as advanced as some other providers.
iCloud Mailis an interesting service because many people don't realize they're only a few steps away from having one. For this reason thatit's one of the better providers: Most people can set it up in seconds.
It's free to anyone who signs up for an Apple ID, but it isn't limited only to Apple products. Anyone can get a free iCloud ID and access iCloud Mail on their computer.
Once you make an account, you can log in from any computer and access a suite of products in addition to your mail, like notes, reminders, photos, iCloud Drive content, contacts, calendar events, and anything else that's been synced to iCloud from your iOS device.
The email portion of iCloud isn't super advanced and probably won't serve you well if you want lots of options. However, it's effortless to set up, and you don't have to go through a tedious process of adding your name and choosing a password. All of this works well with your existing Apple ID or a new free iCloud account.
You get 5 GB of free storage for emails and other iCloud files, IMAP support, forwarding options, large file attachment support (up to 5 GB via Mail Drop), and a two-click method to unsubscribe from unwanted emails.
New accounts end with@icloud.com.
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Yandex Mail
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What We Like
Free storage for email and other Yandex services.
Lets you sign up with an existing Facebook, Twitter, or Gmail account.
Reminds you if the recipient doesn't respond after a specified number of days.
Includes a built-in translator.
What We Don't Like
2FA requires a special Yandex app (most providers use Google Authenticator).
Can't change the 24-hour time format.
Yandex is a Russian company that provides many tools and free email accounts, such as 5 GB of online storage, a calendar, and a search engine. Like Google, your Yandex email makes it possible to access these services using one login.
The interface is friendly. It's easy to read and provides a simple layout while still keeping all the necessary tools intact. Like most other providers in this list, this one supports email filters, contact importing and exporting, tasks, and hotkeys.
However, it's also unique in many ways that make it one of the better ones out there. You can forward multiple messages with ease; they send as file attachments. Delayed messaging is supported, you can be notified when an email is received and reminded later if you don't get a reply, and the part after @ can be your website domain name (for free).
By default, all addresses end with@yandex.com.
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09
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Zoho Mail
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What We Like
Works well for teams.
Supports tabbed email windows.
Connecting to other Zoho apps is easy.
The design is clean and minimal.
What We Don't Like
All the other interconnected Zoho apps might be overwhelming.
It's primarily centered around business use.
AlthoughZoho Mailhas a free email service, Zoho is an online suite of several apps centered around business use.
When composing a message, the first thing you might noticeis the minimal design, which can be a great thing. When you make a new message, you can quickly switch between it and the rest of your mail through the smalltabs at the top of the page.
The Streamsfeature makes it easy to create groups where you and your team members can interact with shared messages and attachments. It works a bit like aprivate social media site.
All the standard compose tools are included, but you can also add files from Zoho Docs, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, and other services and include tables in your messages. It also lets you create new notes and tasks, use keyboard shortcuts, enable filters for auto-management, set up vacation replies, and send custom domains to an allow or block list.
All addresses end as@zohomail.com.
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10
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10 Minute Mail
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What We Like
Gives you an address in seconds.
You can get an account without making a user account.
Dissolves automatically after 10 minutes.
What We Don't Like
There's a 10 minute limit for every account.
The addresses are too long to remember.
10 Minute Mail is one of the best email services if you need an email addressright now, temporarily, and without going through the typical user registration steps.
As the name suggests, it's not a full-fledged email provider, since it gives you an account for only 10 minutes.However, it is included here because it's perfect for whenever you require a temporary email account.
Instead of providing the primary email you use for everything else, plug in a disposable address from this site. You'll get emails like you would with a regular account, but it's not tied to your identity, and when the time is up, you don't have to worry about closing the account, deleting the emails, or anything—exit the page or let the time expire.
10 Minute Mail is perfect when you're testing a service and don't want to get emails in your regular inbox. It's also helpful when sharing your email address with someone you don't trust. It's a valid email account from which you can get verification emails and replies, but it disappears soon after.
Youcoulduse it for longer if you need to, but you'll have to use the button on the email page to reset the clock before the 10 minutes is up.
Tips for Choosing a Free Email Service
When you pick an email account, look for a few characteristics to help you determine which is best for you. They differ in how much storage you get, what the interface looks like, how you customize it, and what types of advanced features are included, such as messaging, filters, and the ability to import other data.
It's also probably important to you what your actual email address is. If your first choice doesn't give you the address you're looking for, move on to the next one on the list. Try different combinations and variations to find one that's not already taken. A username generator is a smart way to come up with something unique.
If you're signing up for a new email account because you don't know your current one, it might be easier to figure out your email address to avoid making an entirely new account.
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FAQs
10 Best Free Email Accounts for 2023? ›
Top free providers include Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL, Zoho, Mail.Com, and ProtonMail. Email providers that are more secure than the others are ProtonMail, CounterMail, Hushmail, and Tutanota. Some webmail clients that provide paid services include Zoho, Gmail, Hushmail, and ProtonMail.
What is the safest free email account to have? ›- ProtonMail. ProtonMail is the most well-known secure email provider. ...
- Mailbox.org. Mailbox.org is a secure email service aimed at business users looking for an alternative to Google or Microsoft tools. ...
- HubSpot. ...
- Zoho Mail. ...
- Tutanota. ...
- Posteo. ...
- Thexyz. ...
- PrivateMail.
Top free providers include Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, AOL, Zoho, Mail.Com, and ProtonMail. Email providers that are more secure than the others are ProtonMail, CounterMail, Hushmail, and Tutanota. Some webmail clients that provide paid services include Zoho, Gmail, Hushmail, and ProtonMail.
Is there a better free email than Gmail? ›Proton Mail is one of the most secure and easy-to-use Gmail alternatives. It's not only an email service but also a calendar, cloud storage, and a VPN. Let's look at what makes Proton stand out from the Gmail competition: Proton's security claims are verified by independent tech experts.
What is the least hacked email provider? ›- ProtonMail. ProtonMail was founded in 2014 at the CERN research facility by Andy Yen, Jason Stockman, and Wei Sun. ...
- Neo. ...
- Hushmail. ...
- Tutanota. ...
- CounterMail. ...
- Mailfence. ...
- Librem Mail.
What is the most widely used email service? According to Statista, Gmail is the most popular email client in today's world, with more than 1.5 billion active users globally. If you're going to focus on designing your emails for one email provider, Gmail is a good place to start.
Is Gmail or Yahoo safer? ›Google has a better track record of security with Yahoo having one of the largest data breaches back in 2016 on 500 million accounts. Plus, Gmail does a better job of forcing you into using stronger passwords, setting up two-step authentication, and has a session expiry to prevent you from getting hacked.
Which is safer Gmail or Hotmail? ›Both are very secure platforms, but Gmail offers better spam protection. Security is extremely important for email, and both Gmail and Outlook ensure protection for their users. Both platforms offer security features like two-factor authentication, encryption in transit, and confidential mode.
Which email doesn t require phone number? ›Gmail – Google will let you create an account, and skip the part about entering a phone number, although you must provide birthday and gender. Note – By default, every message is password secured, and a password must be known to both the user and sender.
What is the easiest email account to set up? ›- Gmail. You knew Google was going to top this list, right? ...
- 2. Yahoo Mail. A few years ago, Yahoo Mail never would have made it on this list. ...
- Outlook.com. ...
- ProtonMail. ...
- GMX Email. ...
- AOL Mail. ...
- Yandex Mail.
What is the least secure email provider? ›
Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo are clearly not the most secure email providers. None of them encrypt your messages end-to-end, and none take your privacy very seriously. Some users are still surprised to learn that Google and others scan your emails for keywords to show more personalized ads.
How many email accounts should I have? ›The Sweet Spot. Having two email accounts and using filters and folders is a good compromise if you want to keep your personal and professional communications separate but still want to have better management of individual emails.
Will Gmail be free forever? ›Is Gmail free and forever? Yes! Though Gmail used to charge a small amount of money for hosting your data, it eventually stopped charging anyone years ago. As a result, nothing prevents you from keeping your account indefinitely.
What email can I use instead of Gmail? ›Microsoft Outlook
Both Outlook and Gmail are reliable, multi-functional email services used by millions, so it's not surprising that they'd have more than a few things in common. Both offer free options that provide plenty of functionality. Both offer paid business plans for expanded capabilities and storage.
To recap, Zoho Mail and Outlook are excellent options with similar productivity tools and various integrations. However, if you're serious about the features related to secure email service and users' privacy, Mailfence, Tutanota, and ProtonMail might be better choices.
What email doesn t get tracked? ›Can you send an email anonymously? You can send anonymous emails by creating an encrypted email account with an anonymity-focused provider. Email service providers like ProtonMail, Tutanota, and Mailfence encrypt your emails and don't track you.
What is safest email? ›- ProtonMail (Web, Android, iOS)
- Posteo (Web)
- Tutanota (Web, Android, iOS)
- Kolab Now (Web)
- Mailfence (Web)
- mailbox.org (Web)
ProtonMail. ProtonMail is one of the most popular secure email providers. It uses PGP encryption to encrypt your emails before they leave your device and at rest. ProtonMail also has a zero-knowledge policy, meaning that no one, not even ProtonMail employees, can snoop on your messages.
Can you have 2 Gmail accounts? ›You can add both Gmail and non-Gmail accounts to the Gmail app for Android. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app . In the top right, tap your profile picture. Tap Add another account.
What is the oldest email domain? ›What are the old email providers? ›
AOL Mail, Hotmail, Lycos, Mail.com, Yahoo! Mail, launched in the 1990s, are among the early providers of free email accounts, joined by Gmail in 2004. They attract users because they are free and can advertise their service on every message.
Is Yahoo Mail going away 2023? ›The Yahoo app is going away by the end of June 2023. Everything you love in the Yahoo app can still be accessed either through the Yahoo Mail app or the Yahoo News app. If you use email, download the Yahoo Mail app.
Does anyone use Yahoo anymore? ›Yes, people still use Yahoo Mail. According to one report from late 2019, there are more than 200 million active Yahoo email users responsible for more than 26 billion emails every day—all by themselves.
Is Yahoo updating email accounts 2023? ›This is to notify you we are closing all Outdated versions of our Mailbox as from 5th of February 2023. We're making these updates to clarify our terms and ensure that they remain transparent for you. Thank you for being part of AT&T Yahoo Membership. Enjoy our extra security, support and savings you get.
Does Hotmail still work 2023? ›And why's that? Well, Hotmail was rebranded as Outlook several years ago. Hotmail doesn't exist as a provider any longer.
Does anyone still use Hotmail? ›Microsoft closed that service years ago, and all Hotmail users are using its current service at Outlook.com. Technically, Outlook.com is newer than Gmail, though both services are updated all too frequently. You are, of course, still using a Hotmail address.
What is Hotmail called now? ›Hotmail is now Outlook.com. If you can't sign in to your Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live, or MSN email account, or you're not sure how to sign in or sign out, here are some solutions.
What are the best email providers that don t need a phone number? ›- Proton Mail.
- Tutanota.
- Skiff.
You can have up to four Gmail accounts verified with the same phone number. Even though some of us might need to exceed this limit, this is not possible due to security measures that help to keep the internet a safer environment.
Is there a free email client without a phone number? ›There are plenty of services that offer email without phone verification. Providers like ProtonMail, Tutanota, and Mailfence ensure your privacy through other means.
What is the easiest email account for seniors? ›
InTouchLink gives seniors and those with minimal experience using computers or the Internet a fun, safe, and easy-to-learn system for emailing, surfing the Internet and so much more. InTouchLink is a web-based system than be used anywhere.
How to get free email account? ›- Go to the Google Account creation page.
- Follow the steps on the screen to set up your account.
- Use the account you created to sign in to Gmail.
If done correctly, having different email accounts for different purposes can help you avoid spam and phishing emails and offer protection when you use online services.
Is AOL email going away? ›But the iconic America Online brand, the gateway to the web in its early days, is officially no more. The brand will be phased out in Verizon's $5 billion fire sale of its media assets, consisting of AOL and Yahoo, to Apollo Global Management, announced Monday.
Is AOL email still good? ›Rubin insists that AOL has been reliable over the years and works just as well as Gmail. “The only real downside of having an AOL address now is the snickering from millennials who routinely assume that Grandpa is too dumb to use Gmail,” says Rubin, who uses AOL's free version.
Is it OK to have one email for everything? ›Essentially, the rule to follow here is to not use one account (email address) for everything. Your email account should not be the same for banking as well as dating sites and social media.
Can I change my email address? ›If you want to change your email address, sign up for a new address. After you sign up for a new address, you can transfer emails and contacts from your old address to the new one. If you believe someone created a Gmail address using your trademarked name, contact them to resolve the issue.
What is a unique email address? ›What is a unique email address? A unique email address is an email that only you can access (i.e. is not shared with other people). You may use your personal email address or a business email address.
How long will a Gmail account last? ›When your Google Account has not been used within a 2-year period, your Google Account, that is then deemed inactive, and all of its content and data may be deleted. Before this happens, Google will give you an opportunity to take an action in your account by: Sending email notifications to your Google Account.
How long will emails stay in Gmail? ›Although Gmail will keep your email for a while (in case you change your mind or deleted it by mistake), it won't keep it for more than 30 days. When an email has been deleted, you'll be able to find it in the Trash folder for that 30-day grace period.
How long does a Gmail address last? ›
Your Gmail account is considered inactive when you haven't accessed it for more than 24 months (two years). If your account becomes inactive, you could lose the data that you stored in Gmail, such as messages, files, pictures, and videos. Still, you won't lose the account.
Is Protonmail better than Gmail? ›If you are looking for a free email service, then Gmail is the best choice. However, if you want to have an encrypted and secure email account with end-to-end encryption feature, Protonmail will be your perfect option.
Can your email and Gmail be the same? ›Think of it this way: All Gmail.com accounts are Google accounts, but not all Google accounts are Gmail.com accounts. For example, a user can sign up for a Google account with her @yahoo.com email address. Using this account she can create, edit and collaborate on Google Docs without using Gmail.
What are the 2 biggest website that offer free email? ›- Gmail.
- Outlook.
- ProtonMail.
- AOL.
- Zoho Mail.
- iCloud Mail.
- Yahoo! Mail.
- GMX.
Gmail allows you to create a maximum of five email addresses with your Google account. To change that, it's necessary to delete your current email address, and then create a new one by going to the "gmail" tab on the top of the screen and clicking "Create New Account."
How do I create a free email address? ›- Go to the Google Account creation page.
- Follow the steps on the screen to set up your account.
- Use the account you created to sign in to Gmail.
You can add both Gmail and non-Gmail accounts to the Gmail app for Android. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app . In the top right, tap your profile picture. Tap Add another account.
How to make $1,000 Gmail account without phone number? ›- gmail.com.
- Click “Create account“
- Follow steps (and skip phone number)
- Then, agree to Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Creating a New Gmail Address
Within Google, it's not possible to change your email address – therefore you need to create a new one. To create a new email address, you need to set up a new Gmail account: Step 1. Go to the Google Account creation page.
The only way to make an email without a phone number is to go with a secure provider that won't ask for one. While there are various options you can explore, three deserve special attention because of their strong security practices: Proton Mail.
How do I get a unique email address? ›
- Use the first letter of your first name together with your full last name; e.g. j.smith.
- Include your middle name; e.g. john.martin.smith.
- Use a nickname plus your last name; e.g. johnny.smith.
- Switch around the word order; e.g. smith.john.
A Microsoft account is a free account you use to access many Microsoft devices and services, such as the web-based email service Outlook.com (also known as hotmail.com, msn.com, live.com), Office Online apps, Skype, OneDrive, Xbox Live, Bing, Windows, or the Microsoft Store.
Can I have two Gmail accounts with one phone number? ›So, every IP address can have not more than four Gmail accounts. You must however verify your account with a phone number, as part of the several safety verifications Gmail has put in place to ensure the proper use of this service. If you are a personal user, you would most likely need one or two email addresses.
How do I see all my Gmail accounts in my name? ›One of the easiest methods is to go to the official Gmail Help Center and click View All Accounts Linked to Your Name. From there, you can easily scroll through all the accounts belonging to your name.