• Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 2,009

Topic: Recommend me a good, free email service.

Greetings.

Google's recent decision to consolidate their services into a single user account, one which is linked to your mobile phone number (hence linked to your carrier who has your billing address and identity card/passport number), has made me a bit worried for obvious reasons. Granted, I've never been as daft as to rely on gmail for my work-related stuff or very personal bits (all of which I have a paid-corporate account from my ISP), but I like keeping a clear line of separation between different groups of acquaintances of gmail/gtalk and it's clearly getting harder to do. Nothing I consider too serious, but I just don't want to risk certain bits of info about myself spilling out to people who are better off without it.


So here I am asking you guys to rec me a free service, though there are some things I'm quite particular about.

1. Must have free POP3 and IMAP
I prefer checking my mail with an external client like mutt or clawsmail, so this is an absolute necessity.

2. Must be minimalist, lightweight basic html interface
Possibly not a big issue since I use an external app (as mentioned above), but for those times I feel the need to access my account via a web-browser, I'd prefer to have a basic html page. No mail preview or im-contacts or calender or other nonsensical widgets, just a plain page (sorta like gmail in basic-html mode). I'm more than happy to sort em the old-skool way. Reason for this is because I'm anal. I find it utterly perverse that something as mundane as checking an online mail account requires anything more than 10% CPU, regardless of whether I'm using my main Core i7 or the 486 DX from my highschool days.

3. Sane ads.
For those rare times I need to access the service via a browser, I'd also like something ad-free if possible, but I understand a free site/service needs to pay for itself somehow so I at least want the ads to be non-intrusive. Not much of an issue either way since one can just use an ad-blocker, hosts file or privoxy, but would be nice if it defaulted to some level of sanity nonetheless.

4. Must have had some longevity.
I don't want to take the trouble of moving all my mail and contacts (as non-critical as they may be) to a new account just to have it close shop after a year.

5. Must be in English.
I don't have access to Star Trek Federation - Universal Intergalactic Translator levels of tech, hence something in a language me and my keyboard can type in.

Thanks in advance. =]

Last edited by gutterslob (2012-01-26 15:43:26)

Point & Squirt
  • From: inside Ed
  • Registered: 2011-07-25
  • Posts: 2,867

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

I've heard good things about http://www.gmx.com/

LVM | Catalyst | Wireless
  • ej64
  • #! Member
  • Offline
  • From: somewhere in Germany
  • Registered: 2010-09-24
  • Posts: 63

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

As an (us-) english guy I would give Zoho a try.

Thinkpad X220 with 1.gen Samsung SSD on #! Statler XFCE (unstable repos)
  • Registered: 2011-07-27
  • Posts: 896

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

Can't really so much recommend anyone. Have email accts scattered all over the place online. Including gmail o course. Just tend to ignore their annoying requests for info so far. This looked kinda interesting, never used them, know nothing about them .... etc. though. Might try em myself ... why not, shrugs.

http://www.zoho.com/mail/


Ya beat me by a few secs .... arghhh ! lol

Last edited by CBizgreat! (2012-01-26 12:18:17)

Some common cbiz abbreviations. This will save me time and yet @ same time tell folks what the babble is supposed to mean.

Vll ! = ( Viva la gnu/Linux !)    Vl#!! = ( Viva la #! !)    Last but not least, UD ... OD ! = ( Use Debian ... or die !) tongue

5 Reply by m5

  • m5
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • From: 200 years ago.
  • Registered: 2011-12-08
  • Posts: 122

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

lavabit.com.

Keep digging.
Linux beginner.
  • Registered: 2011-09-03
  • Posts: 97

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

Well, I guess there's always Yahoo! mail? Their adds are pretty terrible, but that's what I had before I moved to Gmail.

If I make people laugh, that makes me pleasant, right?

What if I make people laugh about unpleasant things?
  • From: the Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-03-07
  • Posts: 972

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

el_koraco wrote:

I've heard good things about http://www.gmx.com/

I use gmx.com as a secondary mail address. They provide the possibility to forward mail (but most mail services do this nowadays).
Their junk filter can be very (too) strict.

Privacy & Security on #! - Application List
  • .not
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-09-03
  • Posts: 337

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

m5 wrote:

lavabit.com.

/signed

My Blog | Recent post: You are who you are. Accept yourself.
Carpe diem? Too mainstream. Carpe Noctem!
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 284

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

hahaha, what a great coincidence: i just spent the whole morning in search of a recommendable free webmail service.
i ended up with http://www.mail.com, which is in fact the same company as gmx (unity media) and the service seems to be similar.
the interesting thing about mail.com is that one can choose from about 200 domain names for the email adress.

as a gmx user for more than 10 years i can recommend them, even if their privacy policy shouldn't be much nicer than the GOOGs - but they have much fewer services, ha!

another provider i haven't looked up entirely but thought to be interesting is http://email.is which is based in iceland. well this obviously requires a quick look into information privacy laws of iceland...

Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 eggs, 1 cup of  milk, 3 tbs water, 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 apple, few grains of salt
Preheat your pan or griddle to about medium heat. Slowly combine the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, work in sliced apple. Each pancake should take about a minute or so on each side. Serve with plum jam, maple syrup, or powdered sugar
  • Eren
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • From: Black Mesa
  • Registered: 2009-07-27
  • Posts: 492

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

Wooow i signed to lavabit.com too. smile

Blog | G+ | Twitter | Last.fm

Eren's Website

  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 284

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

ps. lavabit look pretty nice!

Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 eggs, 1 cup of  milk, 3 tbs water, 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 apple, few grains of salt
Preheat your pan or griddle to about medium heat. Slowly combine the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, work in sliced apple. Each pancake should take about a minute or so on each side. Serve with plum jam, maple syrup, or powdered sugar
  • .not
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-09-03
  • Posts: 337

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

^ They are .. have nothing to complain about!

My Blog | Recent post: You are who you are. Accept yourself.
Carpe diem? Too mainstream. Carpe Noctem!
  • From: #! NightClub
  • Registered: 2011-06-02
  • Posts: 3,869

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

Not sure why you people here heard something good about GMX, in Germany the people consider that rather as trash and spam. I have a GMX account, it was my first mail account and web service for such a thing when I came here. I do not use it. But as I have some important people and work related things I just forward my emails to another account from GMX. It was for me the worst thing ever I could use to be honest. It is such a piece of sh*t that I rant here because of that. Full with ads and spam mails. Maybe they changed recently something but I would never go back again.

Font Task Force | The ultimate MPD guide | Little MOC how-to

The sound of #! COFFEE
  • Registered: 2009-11-03
  • Posts: 2,009

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

I have a GMX account. It isn't that bad, but it isn't that good either. Plus their webmail interface is a tad too heavy for my liking.

Just signed up to Lavabit. Works flawlessly with my client and their webmail interface looks awesome. Simple and to the point, plus I could easily override everything to a dark bg and terminus fonts ;] Even their "Enhanced" pricing of $8/yr seems reasonable. Currently on the free "Personal" account to test the waters first. Only thing I'm not that chuffed about is that they're verified by GoDaddy.com >_>

Will be checking out Zoho and Mail.com shortly.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Looking forward to more.

smile

Last edited by gutterslob (2012-01-26 14:12:40)

Point & Squirt
  • Eren
  • #! Junkie
  • Offline
  • From: Black Mesa
  • Registered: 2009-07-27
  • Posts: 492

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

I really liked lavabit, and i'm thinking about forwarding my primary e-mail to it. Hmmm, i'll play minecraft then i decide. big_smile

Blog | G+ | Twitter | Last.fm

Eren's Website

  • pvsage
  • Internal Affairs
  • Offline
  • From: Section Six
  • Registered: 2009-10-18
  • Posts: 6,006

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

I had an account with mail.com some time ago; at the time I closed that account, I was still bent on accessing my mail via POP3, and that was only available with a premium account.  It wasn't a hefty premium, but it was a premium nonetheless...and the few times I had to access my email via web browser, their Flash interface was really sluggish.  I cannot in good conscience recommend them. neutral

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • From: 36.0718,-119.03519
  • Registered: 2011-06-19
  • Posts: 350

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

Here is what Google already knows about you. big_smile

Congratulations, you've figured out the sound of one hand clapping...
  • From: Kowloon
  • Registered: 2011-10-13
  • Posts: 407

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

I was thinking about google today as well. Lavabit does looks good... Might just have to give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion.

https://lavabit.com/secure.html

Last edited by kowloonboy (2012-01-26 19:12:09)

Order Free SIM card with £5 free credit

kowloonboy's Website

19 Reply by hhh

  • hhh
  • Caught in the Vortex
  • Offline
  • From: Port Salerno
  • Registered: 2010-08-04
  • Posts: 979

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

Google doesn't require you to give them your phone number, do they? I've been asked to give it as a security measure but have just cancelled that screen.

Of course, they have it now that I have an Android phone and wanted to get notifications via my phone of new emails. tongue

  • dkeg
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • From: PA
  • Registered: 2011-12-05
  • Posts: 168

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

like most others, I have accounts spread throughout.  I do also use zoho.  They work well and have a variety of features to utilize, like docs, a nice invoice app, imap support, etc.  Gmail is still my main, but zoho would be next in line for me.

the rocky path may just be the best path.
  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 284

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

ivanovnegro, you're right somehow: gmx is full of spam - but: in my experience it is well sorted into the spam-folder (which is full whenever i open it). but as i do use icedove i don't often see it (the spam folder).

however, lavabit looks much nicer and the webinterface is definitely lightweigt compared to gmx.
from the aesthetics lavabit does fit into a #! setup brilliantly - could be the default mail provider for #!
it looks plain, simple, useful
smile

Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 eggs, 1 cup of  milk, 3 tbs water, 1-2 tsp of vanilla extract, 1/2 cup of sugar, 1/2 apple, few grains of salt
Preheat your pan or griddle to about medium heat. Slowly combine the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, work in sliced apple. Each pancake should take about a minute or so on each side. Serve with plum jam, maple syrup, or powdered sugar
  • From: Athens, Greece
  • Registered: 2011-03-03
  • Posts: 385

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

I get those paranoid spells sometimes too, don't worry it'll pass. big_smile

Seriously though checking out lavabit. Looks interesting. Esp since their pro account is so cheap.

I Can't Sing
  • From: Kowloon
  • Registered: 2011-10-13
  • Posts: 407

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

koleoptero wrote:

I get those paranoid spells sometimes too, don't worry it'll pass..

Better safe than sorry.... smile

Order Free SIM card with £5 free credit

kowloonboy's Website

  • gurtid
  • #! CrunchBanger
  • Offline
  • From: NEW ZEALAND
  • Registered: 2011-04-07
  • Posts: 231

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

i've used zoho for over 18 months with no issues. it does all that u have have asked for up there.

  • From: #! NightClub
  • Registered: 2011-06-02
  • Posts: 3,869

Re: Recommend me a good, free email service.

hhh wrote:

Google doesn't require you to give them your phone number, do they?

No, they do not require it really, they just ask sometimes for it but yes, it is bothering. I always skip that.

I really like Gmail, I never used an external client but Google can be intrusive. Before I used some years ago GMX, I still recieve Spam and ads from GMX.

Font Task Force | The ultimate MPD guide | Little MOC how-to

The sound of #! COFFEE