If you don’t use Gmail as your primary email provider, it’s probably Outlook instead.
The latter had over 400 million active users in Microsoft’s latest official figures of 2018, and that number has likely only increased since then.
But if you’re considering switching, the inclusion of Outlook in the premium Microsoft 365 service may have put you off. After all, most people don’t need to pay to send and receive email.
Although some features are reserved for paid subscribers, all basic functions are available completely free of charge. Here’s how to get it on all your devices.
How to Get Outlook for Free on Mac
Until 2023, signing up for Microsoft 365 or buying a standalone version of Office were the only ways to get Outlook on macOS.
Everything changed when Microsoft announced an official Outlook app, which is now available on the Mac App Store. Just download it like you would any other app, then sign in with your Microsoft account or create one for free.
How to Get Outlook for Free on Windows
Outlook comes pre-installed on all Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices, which means you’ll already have it on your computer.
If you haven’t already set it up, find it and launch it like you would any other app. Then follow the instructions to add your account.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
How to Get Outlook for Free on iOS
Outlook is free to download from the App Store on any recent iPhone or iPad. Once installed, simply create an account or log in as you would on many other apps.
How to Get Outlook for Free on Android
Outlook is also completely free on the Google Play Store and will work on all recent Android smartphones, tablets and hybrid devices (such as Microsoft’s Surface Duo 2).
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
How is Outlook better with a Microsoft 365 subscription?
Outlook isn’t just included in a Microsoft 365 subscription for fun. There are four key benefits when you sign up:
- 50 GB of email storage (instead of 15 GB)
- No ads, which also ensures that pages load faster
- Email encryption, which also includes the option to prevent forwarding
- Additional security tools to detect viruses and malware in attachments and links
- Premium Support, supposedly Microsoft’s “highest level of service”
To take advantage of it, you’ll need to at least subscribe to Microsoft 365 Basic, which costs $19.99/£19.99 per year or $1.99/£1.99 per month.
Consumers also have the option to upgrade to Personal ($69.99/£59.99 per year or $6.99/£5.99 per year) or Family ($99.99/£79.99 per year) plans. year or $9.99/£7.99 per year).
See how they compare, plus all your other options, in our comprehensive Microsoft 365 buying guide.
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