Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Getting a private e mail address

There are two classes as others outline.

Free general ermail, typically

Apple with iCloud addresses
Google with gmail
MS based outlook.com

You don't need to be with them as the signup does not require you to own their devices or use all the other services. There are gmail apps for iOS/Mac devices for example.

If you want to do something more flexible then taking the domain with email approach costs more but can be better in the long term. You never know how the "free accounts" work in the long term.

When you take a domain and email there are usually a lot of options if you dig in.

1 address
1 address with greater storage
multi address
multi address with storage and features like antivirus/screening

There are a few ways of accessing that you may want to check against your needs.

Everyone includes Web Browser access from everything.
Client application (mail app on phone/pc/mac) using IMAP software interface
Client application using active-sync software interface which offers a few extra security elements.
Do they have a dedicated app (gmail app on iOS and Android for example) for your mobile that has a better user interface for a smaller screen, web browser on a small phone screen is a pain.

In all cases ask them whet security they offer for the email. As a comparison when you use this site it offers http not https as the content is not considered highly secure. Email needs "s" style encryption as it DOES include password recovery and personal information through invoices etc. If you are using a Macs local email app or the Windows one then you will probably use IMAP which needs encryption for collection and sending. Ask what they offer. In theory when you setup the application on your application on the Mac/PC it will ask for email and sending encryption like SSL.

I use the multi address approach as the family use them as well.

It can also be good to have a "bucket" account capability. This usually comes with multi-name service packages. I have setup alistair@domainname.com as my personal one for friends and family. I then have an email account called catchall@domainname.com When I use a web service I register the email as unique to that service - example.barclaysbank@domainname.com. When they send me an email it gets compared to all the real account names and if not it gets dropped into catchall. If they get hacked or start sharing my address I know where it came from.

Most accounts offer forwarding so anything that comes into them can just be automatically sent forwards. Many of the service providers will close your account when you move away from them (Sky, BT etc) so do check that part of the terms prior to closing the account with them.