Gmail vs Outlook
Which Is The Better Email Provider?
Outlook (previously known as Hotmail) from Microsoft and Gmail from Google are both highly popular free email services. Together with Yahoo! Mail they make up the top 3 webmail providers, each with hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
Web-based email has come a long way since the 90s; most services these days offer huge amounts of storage, smart spam filters, sorting messages in folders, and other goodies. However, there are still many differences in design, speed, and features.
This page is dedicated to a discussion about whether Gmail or Outlook is the better email provider, and why. You are welcome to jump right into the discussion below, or scroll down to read more about the two services first.
Outlook versus Gmail Discussion
Is Gmail or Outlook (formerly Hotmail) a better free webmail service?
Gmail
Gmail is a free webmail service from Google that was launched on April 1, 2004. It currently has over 400 million monthly users. Gmail offers more than 15 GB storage space, and keeps increasing this number every day. It supports POP3 and IMAP protocols, which allows you to use your Gmail account with a desktop email client (such as Windows Mail or Thunderbird). You can create unlimited filters and labels to sort your messages the way you want.
Gmail has a number of innovative features, such as the Conversation View which groups related messages together for more convenient viewing (now adopted by several other providers), or the Priority Inbox which puts more important emails at the top. Gmail Labs offer even more experimental features to further tweak the way your email works.
Gmail is currently integrated with all Google services, such as Blogger, Youtube, AdSense, AdWords, Docs, and others - you need an account to be able to use them.
Homepage: http://mail.google.com
Outlook (formerly Hotmail)
Outlook.com (previously known as Windows Live Hotmail) is free webmail from Microsoft. It is currently one of the most popular web-based email provider in the world. Like other major free email services, Outlook allows users to create multiple folders, use message filters, choose themes and access their inbox using a mobile phone. You can also setup your account to receive all your messages from POP3-enabled Gmail, Yahoo! or AOL inboxes in one place.
The new Ajax-based Outlook interface is clean, fast, and easy to use. The service has improved greatly since it was started back in 1996. Users can customize the look and feel of their inbox by choosing where to display the reading pane (or hiding it altogether), grouping messages by conversation or showing them individually, and using one-click filters.
Hotmail is integrated with Microsoft services like Windows Live Messenger, SkyDrive, Contacts, and Office Web Apps (allowing to open attached Office documents on the browser).
Homepage: http://www.outlook.com
Use Your Own Domain with Gmail or Outlook
Both webmail providers allow you to use their services with your own domain. I've been using Gmail this way for quite a while, but it's good to know that Microsoft is offering the same as well (in fact, they let you create even more users for your domain than Google does free of charge). To get Gmail on your domain, you will need to signup for Google Apps first. Step-by-step instructions can be found here:
http://www.coffeecup.com/help/articles/set-up-gmail-for-your-own-domain/
And labnol.org has a useful tutorial for the new Outlook mail:
http://www.labnol.org/internet/setup-outlook-on-custom-domain/24699/
This allows you to combine easy-to-use, available-everywhere webmail with a personalized domain (such as your company or even your last name).
Gmail vs Outlook.com Poll
Which email provider do you prefer?
Comments
I have to say that I've never really been a Hotmail user. I have an account for when I am at work, but my personal account is Gmail and I much prefer it. I like the fact that gmail is my own, i log in and can customize my account. Plus I have it linked nicely to my google+ page.
I think it's really insane to suggest Hotmail can compete with Gmail.
Gmail has far fewer adverts everywhere, you can completely customize the layout and it has more intelligent searching and organizing options. It also integrates with Google Calendar and it has far more space than Hotmail.
There's many other things such as more powerful multiple email account options/fwding and better contact management, but it's already a hands down win before you get into that.
I get about 20 spam emails a day to my Gmail but I never see them because 100% of them are automatically sifted off into my Spam folder.
I had Gmail before, and now I am using Hotmail. Hotmail gives me no junk, but my mom gets so much junk that all of her junk email equals more than the total actual mail we get daily. I want to switch back to Gmail, though, because I love the new google look.
I Dont know which is best ?
@anonymous: g
You cannot use Hotmail with Outlook.....really, really dumb!
@anonymous: I don't think so what gmail gonna be ''best' forever.
Time to change ^^, heh.
@anonymous: Hotmail is fast, gmail is fast too SAME like hotmail.
I even tested this and theyr both same fast speed.
Spam? Um.. I have any spamm. They block it good.
@anonymous: I dont know then you was with hotmail, but it changed very mutch.
@anonymous: No spamm? Everywhere all spam. Spam filters aren't perfect in every e-mail.
But i used gmail, everythink ok. Google +, OUT.
Then i switched to hotmail, and its good and i dint recuive any spamm so idk why everyone conplaining. And or ads use the ad block plus +
@anonymous: same.
Gmail is BEST. Hotmail now wants too much information, fone numbers addresses etc. The bad thing is, you will not be able to log in without providing this info. There are was around it but you are essentially FORCED to do this! Microsoft attempts to force you into its product corner. I would NEVER rely on Hotmail for anything of importance. Gmail syncs with Android fones in a seamless fashion. Hotmail want to charge for the option as only POP is available! Chat services flow through gmail to fone with no issues, just as if you were logged into your Gmail account! My chat service within hotmail, hijacked by a porn service. You what you wish but microsoft flaws are costly in MANY ways. Nope, I DON'T use windows either!!
@anonymous: Yeah especially google + and yeah they read EVERYTHINK.
That's why i think microsoft hotmail is good.
And talking about interfaces i think aol is best, just it's a bit slower email.
@2ezasia: Uh really, hotmail has inproved very mutch and have nice neat features what even gmail don't has. And interface.. I use both and they r all about same just gmail haves few themes but for me the hotmail is very simple interface.
@anonymous: Nah, hotmail has good spamm filter too.. Next really hotmail wants to mutch?
That because if you have hacked they just asks your number, sends you message to it to confirm, so you can fast retreave your hacke email.
NEXT Oh really they want mutch? Oh then how google+ sharing every informations? Huh gmail with their gmail+ just copying facebook.. Pathetic.
So true hotmail is more easy but gmail u can call etc.I use both but gmail for calling and hotmail for mail
Hotmail is easy to use just like nokia 1600.. gmail is like apple iphone.. just thing still there are many lovers to 1600..
@anonymous: Don't talk tech if you don't know anything about it... That lock has every website if it's in a secure connection. Like banking sites... Features are not always the thing. People want speed and no clutter,spam etc. Gmail offers this.
@anonymous: Do you work for Microsoft? Or are you too stupid to believe everything people say? A google computer (not a person) scans your e-mail for personalised ads, you can also disable this. Hotmail has annoying ads who are also taking a large amount of screen space.
I moved to gmail when I discovered that there was virtually no spam and haven't looked back, after reading the comments maybe I shall try hotmail again
@anonymous: The problem about it is that Google reads your personal e-mail, so don't use it, use hotmail instead
I used to use gmail but now they changed their privacy policy and so I used hotmail
I have a friend who still uses hotmail. Never could get into that. Gmail fan here :)
Gmail interface is much better. It has a lot of function integrate in the email also. Please visit at 2ezasia website for magento services.
8 years ago.... Yahoo
5 years ago... Hotmail
Now.... Gmail
Future...Gmail
@anonymous: 10 years ago....
I used to have gmail when hotmail and yahoo have limited the size of the mailbox. I sticked on to Gmail for its simplicity. Over the years the gap among the three in terms of size has dropped and gmail became lot slower. Moved to Hotmail this year and have noticed new features put onto Hotmail. In fact i have auto fwded my gmail emails to hotmail and have not gotten back to gmail for the last 8 months or so. Loving hotmail!!
I moved to Gmail after being frustrated at Hotmail. I have not been to Hotmail since then.
I tried to set up an auto-reply email on Hotmail to let my friends know of the official change. However, Hotmail just wouldn't let me post that e-mail. I think it complained about the length. I tried rewording it and checking it's length, but Hotmail still wouldn't let me do it. Microsoft said this (the length checking) was a SPAM prevention measure. I thought, "They must really not be able to deal with SPAM if they have to resort to doing this."
i use gmail + hotmail. Hotmail has betta features found
Hotmail is the best...
Actually I 've used both but Hotmail has got everything required. It hasreally fantastic features like:-
Sweep
Facebook integration
Chat with facebook friends without windows live messenger.
Best spam filtering (Gmail often mark some messages as spam even if they are not!)
Simple and neat home page
Chat with yahoo friends
Easy navigation
And for security concious people...
Best security against hackers (see the green Microsoft Corporation label near lock at the address bar)
Use and throw passcodes if you are not at home...
AND Lots more...
I used to have a gmail but I dont really like it. I use hotmail, its easier and I know how to use everything in it.
Hotmail é better, no limits no gmail man spy :)
Last night ,Jimmy Fallon joked, "Who uses Hotmail anymore?" Maybe it used to be played out, but is so much improved now that according to this article, it is #1 in the world. Who knew?. I left Hotmail several years ago for another provider, but I resumed it last year as my main email..The optional conversation feature is my favorite. My friends who prefer Gmail describe it as "cleaner," and I can see why, because it was created specifically for interface. The name itself is very cool and I have an account myself. However, Hotmail offers the same features and doesn't have that occasional delay you get with Gmail delivery. My major beef with Gmail is how it monitors your messages and produces ads within moments about the content you have just written. I realize that all email is monitored and Hotmail has ads too, but for me, Gmail is more intrusive.
I've used Hotmail for the longest time, but do use Gmail and Yahoo as well. Overall, I agree that Gmail is much more robust when compared to Hotmail, especially when it comes to filtering spam.
Sitting on the fence with this one as just opened new Gmail address. Hotmail has been okay, but currently receiving too many unsolicited emails in spam folder.
Gmail Rocks. I use Gmail and Yahoo but have used Hotmail in the past.
Gmail hands down for me
I use both...
i use both of them :) i like both but i prefer using hotmail
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