Gmail vs. Outlook: Which Works Better?

Almost everyone, nowadays, has email accounts. Some made email accounts for personal use and some for businesses. And speaking of business, many workplaces use Gmail or Outlook as their account of choice, by subscribing to either Google Suite or Microsoft 365. But what exactly is Gmail? What is Outlook? How are they different? 

Gmail is a free webmail service owned by Google. While the service is free, there are advertisements displayed in your inbox that support the cost of running Gmail. Google has integrated many of its services with Gmail including Drive, Docs, and Calendar.

Outlook is a webmail service as well as a desktop email client owned by Microsoft. Users can register for free on Outlook.com or use a paid version either by subscribing to Microsoft 365 or by purchasing the Microsoft Office suite of products. Outlook sends and receives the email, it also includes a calendar, contacts, and the ability to manage tasks.

Here are some of the differences between Gmail and Outlook

• Interface

Gmail is accessible through the desktop browser and mobile phone applications. It uses filters as the main way to organize emails. Emails are clearly visible within the interface. 

Outlook’s ribbon is packed with different options. It can be accessed either through a browser or desktop. Unlike Gmail, it has so many features that can be overwhelming to the eyes of users.

• Storage

Users can upload pictures or files in Google Drive and send or share them in Gmail. Assuming you’ve signed up with a free account, Gmail will give you 15 GB of storage. This storage is both for Gmail and Google Drive. So if you’re storing 14 GB of videos, you might need to subscribe for additional storage. 

Microsoft Outlook isn’t that clear with storage limits. You start with 5 GB of storage and have the possibility to expand that amount over time. Both solve the problem by offering more storage for additional fees.

• Cost

Gmail is free to individual users, especially if for personal purposes only. If you want to use it for work, you might need to have the paid version. 

If for personal use,  Outlook in your browser is free. But there are some restrictions. If you want to use the app, it requires you to subscribe to Microsoft Office 365.

• Security

Both don’t get breached that often. For that reason a lot of users consider them to be safe.  

Gmail and Outlook have spam detection features that come with two-step authentication solutions. The companies offer features that allow you to enable “verified” or “trusted sender” icons from trusted senders.

The only difference is that Gmail has the ability to show how and when your account was last used. 

The safety that you’re looking for depends on your security protocols and measures. Comparing the two in this category results in a tie. 

Gmail and Outlook have their own features and specifications. It is up to the user to use according to their needs.