I have tried many of the free email services available, and this is my overall review of which ones are best and which ones are worst. I have judged them mostly on 3 major email categories: User interface and feel, spam protection and accuracy, and storage amounts. There are other email features of course, but these 3 are the bulk of what most would look for in a good free email service provider. As far as reliability goes, I left this option out as the major providers are all very reliable and accessible at all times. Lets start with the top 2: AOL Mail and Yahoo Mail. Both of these are a tie for the top 2 positions. Also keep in mind I'm referring to AOL's browser email, not their client email. Even though their client email is also free now (anyone can sign up for free AOL ids at aol.com), I'm referring only to accessing their email via the browser, and both AOL and Yahoo are fabulous in my opinion. Both of them have a very good feel and very good interface, and both are actually extremely similiar in how their interface works, almost as if they copied each other. Both of them have spam protection that is outstanding, I would probably say AOL is the best spam protector I have seen, but Yahoo is also extremely good. Occasionally I get a wierd mail through on Yahoo which should have gotten caught in their spam folder, but it doesn't happen often. Both are basically unlimited storage, Yahoo is still 2 gigs at this time, but AOL is now unlimited storage (2 gigs is basically unlimited unless you are storing many large attachments). Next in line I put Gmail. They are a close 2nd, I think they have a little catching up to do yet when compared to both Yahoo and AOL, but they do fall into the 2nd place category by themselves. I also give them credit for being the first to offer 2 gig of storage, as this started the onslaught of unlimited storage that others were forced to offer. Next after them I put AIM Mail, Netscape Mail, and Lycos Mail. These 3 are all grouped together. AIM mail basically ranks higher since its owned by AOL and has really copied many of the same look and features, and also has the advantage of AIM Instant Messenger, so the email can be accessed quickly from your AIM IM which also gives it an advantage here, but Yahoo and MSN (with live mail or hotmail) both have that also. The final one I have used, and it easily ranks last, is hotmail. How did Microsoft go so wrong with this? Hotmail is terrible, I got SWAMPED with SPAM, I couldn't believe it. I can't even use the account because so much spam comes through on it. The crazy thing is I never gave anyone that email address, it wasn't like I was posting on newsgroups with it. I'm not sure if Microsoft sells their emails, or how so many spammers got a hold of that email address, but it amazes me that Microsoft has not cleaned up its act with free email, as I certainly figured they would be one of the best and I was completely wrong.

The bottom line is ..... if you are looking for a free email service provider, stick with AOL Mail or Yahoo Mail, and you will not be disappointed.

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