Microsoft Email

Outlook.com

By Microsoft Corporation • Global Service

🔗

Microsoft 365 ecosystem integration

💾

15 GB free email storage

🌍

Global infrastructure

VS 2025

European Email

GMX Mail

By 1&1 Mail & Media • German Service

🇪🇺

EU data centers & GDPR compliance

💾

65 GB free email storage

📎

50 MB attachment limit

Two Philosophies, One Purpose

Outlook.com represents Microsoft's vision of email—deeply integrated with Windows, Office, and the cloud. GMX Mail offers a European alternative with a focus on privacy, generous storage, and independence from big tech ecosystems. Both deliver reliable free email, but they serve different priorities and user bases.

🔗

Outlook Strength

Integration

Microsoft Ecosystem

Outlook.com is the gateway to Microsoft's entire productivity suite. Your email connects seamlessly with OneDrive, Office Online, Teams, and Windows itself.

One account for all Microsoft services
OneDrive integration for large files
Office Online editing built-in
Windows native integration

💾

GMX Strength

Storage

Generous Free Space

GMX offers 65 GB of free email storage—more than four times what most competitors provide. Never worry about deleting old emails again.

65 GB free storage (vs 15 GB typical)
50 MB attachment size limit
Mail Collector from other accounts
Multiple alias addresses

🧠

Outlook Strength

Intelligence

Focused Inbox

Machine learning automatically sorts your email into "Focused" and "Other" tabs, ensuring important messages always surface first.

AI-powered email prioritization
Smart categorization
Learning from your behavior
Sweep and schedule features

🛡️

GMX Strength

Privacy

European Data Protection

GMX stores your data in German data centers under strict EU privacy laws and GDPR compliance—ideal for privacy-conscious users.

Data stored in Germany
GDPR compliant
No US data jurisdiction
Independent from big tech

Specifications

Quick Comparison

Free Storage

Outlook

15 GB

GMX

65 GB

Max Attachment

Outlook

34 MB

GMX

50 MB

Data Location

Outlook

Global (US)

GMX

Germany

Calendar

Outlook

Advanced

GMX

Basic

Mobile Apps

Outlook

iOS & Android

GMX

iOS & Android

Cloud Storage

Outlook

OneDrive

GMX

—

Recommendations

Who Should Choose What?

🖥️

Windows & Office User

Use Windows, Microsoft Office, or OneDrive regularly.

Outlook.com

🇪🇺

European Privacy Focus

Want data stored in EU under GDPR protection.

GMX Mail

💾

Storage Heavy User

Need maximum free storage for years of emails.

GMX Mail

🏢

Future Business Upgrade

May need professional email with custom domain.

Outlook.com

📎

Large File Sender

Regularly send large attachments via email.

GMX Mail

📱

Mobile Email User

Primarily access email on phone or tablet.

Either Works

🌍

Regional Considerations

GMX is particularly popular in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, where it has strong brand recognition and trust. Outlook.com has broader global adoption and stronger ecosystem integrations. If you're based in Europe and value EU data protection, GMX may be the better fit. If you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem or need global collaboration features, Outlook.com is likely more practical.

Summary

The Bottom Line

📧

Outlook.com

Best for ecosystem integration

Choose If You Want

Microsoft 365 integration
OneDrive cloud storage
Focused Inbox AI sorting
Windows native experience
Global infrastructure

✉️

GMX Mail

Best for storage & privacy

Choose If You Want

65 GB free storage
European data centers
GDPR compliance
Larger attachments (50 MB)
Independence from big tech

📚

Educational Only

This comparison is for informational purposes. Features and storage may change.

™️

Trademarks

Outlook is a trademark of Microsoft. GMX is a trademark of 1&1 Mail & Media GmbH.

🔄

Subject to Change

Email services update frequently. Verify features on official websites.

⚖️

Independent

This guide is not affiliated with Microsoft or GMX. No endorsement implied.