Alternative to Gmail?
I am finally ready to opt out of the Googleplex and would love to take the final step of doing so by switching to another email client. Here's what I have enjoyed about Gmail that I would like to maintain: no spam and my account has never been hacked (that I know of!). Also, I use Gdocs for work, but would consider moving to another collaborative platform (but not Microsoft Word, as I can't stand the track changes feature), so if someone knows another application that features that capability, I would love to hear about it. Thank you ~ I'm sure there are many others out there who have taken this route!
May 26, 2017
Parent Replies
I use Outlook for email, contacts and calendar. I've used it for a number of years. It seems easier than gmail.
The only major problem is I have AT&T as the service provider.
I have tried a lot of email services and I think I can confidently say that there are a lot of services that are much worse than gmail. A lot. And some of them are much, MUCH worse. Especially if you care about things like spam and hackers.
There are all sorts of alternatives to gmail, new services from little start-ups, and more established services that still peddle the same old lame product. But I can't think of any email service that is better, all things considered.
I assume you don't want to use Google because it's such a big company now? The reason Google is big is because their products are good and a lot of people use them. They attract really smart engineers who are constantly improving their products and dreaming up new ones. Some of the smartest people I know work for Google. Lots of people use google products, so more bugs have been worked out, and more options are offered for different uses. You can't always tell anymore who is using gmail because Google customizes email services for nonprofits and universities, like berkeley.edu addresses.
As for not using google docs, you are pretty much stuck with Microsoft Word in that case, which is not only clunky and poorly implemented on Apple computers, but in these days I do not want to open any kind of attachment like a Microsoft Word doc, even from someone I know, due to the risk of infection. I'd rather have a link to your Google doc in the cloud.
Ultimately, email is just a tool that you use to get something else done, like send a message to your friend. It's like the ballpoint pen we used to use to write letters with. Do you want to use a really well-made pen (which also happens to be free) to write that letter? Or do you want to make your friend read a letter written with a broken crayon you found in your kid's room? That's the choice as I see it!
Signed, a mom with a CS degree