Most of us have an email account that makes things much easier for us when we surf the Internet, when registering for different services and, of course, when sending and transferring documents.
In this case, what we usually have - apart from the email of the organization where we work, usually paid - is a free email provided by providers such as Google or Microsoft, responsible, as you know, for Gmail and Hotmail.
These accounts can offer us a good experience, in the sense that they make a sufficient amount of GB available to users , if what they intend to do is normal use. In the event that they need to combine mail with storage, yes, it may be necessary to sign up for a payment plan. But in principle, it shouldn't be necessary.
Today we take a look at all the advantages and disadvantages that Hotmail Outlook and Gmail emails can present . The idea is that, in this way, you can choose the option or modality that suits you best.
Advantages and disadvantages of Gmail and Outlook
Google's email, Gmail, is a complete email, in the sense that in addition to fulfilling the role of messaging administrator, it includes many other functions and options that make it a 360 tool . This means that those who need email for their work, contact their collaborators or clients and carry out many other procedures, will find the perfect ally in Gmail.
For some time now, Gmail has improved a lot . Google offers users the ability to access countless services from their email inbox. For example, there is the possibility to chat directly with your contacts, to schedule shipments and even to manage the user's own calendar.
On the other hand, there is Outlook, which is Microsoft's mail, previously popularized as Hotmail. Users have been migrating their email to the new Outlook, but the characteristics of this email have not changed as much over time . In fact, Outlook still works as a system for sending and receiving mail, but it has not incorporated many features, beyond the calendar or the integration with Skype.
But let's go in parts to see what are the advantages and disadvantages that you should assess when opting for Gmail or Outlook as the preferred system to send and receive email.
Storage
Let's look at a very important first question, which has to do precisely with storage. How much space do you need to keep and manage your email in the most appropriate way? Well it depends on each case. What you should be very clear about is that the differences with respect to Hotmail Outlook and Gmail are important: the former offers 5 GB of OneDrive storage. Instead, email from Google provides up to 15GB for free . If you later want to expand them, both one and the other have an added cost.
OneDrive plans are linked to Office 365, so that next to the extra storage, there are also the main Office applications: Word, Excel or Power Point. In this case, the cost of Office 365 personal is 70 euros per year, with 1 TB of storage. If you only want to hire extra storage, you also have the option of hiring 100 GB for 2 euros per month, that is, 24 euros per year .
As for Gmail, we told you that you have 15 GB to store mail and content . You should bear in mind that everything you have in your Google account is saved here, including files uploaded to Google Drive and Google Photos. Thus, if you work with many documents, it will be essential that you expand the storage. Prices are as follows:
- 100 GB (20 euros / year)
- 200 GB (3 euros / month or 30 euros / year, which represents a saving of 16%)
- 2 TB (10 euros / month or 100 euros / year, which represents a saving of 17%)
User interface
There are no major differences in terms of user interface, in the sense that both Gmail and Outlook keep a modern and minimalist look . Things have changed a lot in Hotmail and Google has also renewed both Gmail and all its applications and services over time. Both in one service and in another, the white background color predominates, combined with blues and grays. The result? A pleasant to use and intuitive user interface, in which it is easy for us to find each and every one of the options that we may need.
In the case of Outlook, yes, and as the features are a bit more limited - email, calendar and little else - it is even easier to find your way. In the case of Gmail, to access additional functions it is necessary to go to the Settings section , which can be operated from the gear at the top right of the screen.
Given that there are so many functions and options, it is sometimes difficult to find what we are looking for and it is even difficult to find out that there is something new. Especially if one is not up to date with the news that Google is presenting over time. And that by the way, they are not few.
Integrated tools
We were telling you that one of the wealth of Gmail has to do with the tools that are integrated into the service. One of the most popular and available in Google email is the chat function. From here users can connect with other Gmail users to chat . These are Hangouts and in the case of Outlook, Skype. The service is integrated into the email, but… you must be subscribed and log in again, which is certainly not so convenient.
Gmail has a wide collection of built-in tools, which will allow users to enjoy other Google services without having to scroll outside the window. All you have to do is click on Google Applications to open a small menu from which you can access the Search service, Maps, YouTube, Google Play, News, Gmail, Contacts, Drive, Calendar, Translator, Google Photos or Shopping.
You can also go directly to Documents (Google Docs), Books, Blogger, Duo, Hangouts, Google Keep, Jamboard, Classroom, Earth or Collections. In the case of Outlook, this option is not applicable, because to be able to use complementary tools you have to subscribe, that is, pay. In the case of Google, all these services are free.
Organization
If you use your email for almost everything (including professional and personal matters) you will recognize the importance of having good tools to manage messages and keep them organized as much as possible. In this sense, Google also beats Microsoft by a landslide. E-mail management can be done by categories and fully customized labels, so it is very easy to have well-organized messages to find them instantly.
In addition, Gmail includes marks, so that users can indicate if a message is important , urgent or if it has already been resolved. All through a code of symbols and colors that help a lot in daily use.
What you can do in the case of Outlook is to use the file, in which you have the option to organize the messages in different categories , depending on whether you have already read them, whether it is for you, whether you have marked it, whether there are messages or if it contains attachments. In addition, you can also create folders with the name you want, which will help you classify the messages according to the theme, the urgency or even the sender, among others.
Novel features
But if you are looking to explore new options and have advantages that are not in other email systems, you can keep taking a look at Gmail. In fact, Google email offers users an interesting laboratory of functions , both in test mode and official, which allow, among other things:
- Cancel a shipment already made
- Schedule a shipment at a specific date and time
- Receive suggestions when writing emails (smart writing)
- Receive suggestions about the need to answer messages (ideal for clueless)
- Use key combinations to activate certain functions or actions
- Install custom or own Gmail themes to add another touch to the inbox
As you can see, all these practical options are operative from Gmail, but not from Outlook Hotmail, which in this sense is an email system that is a little more limited and limited to the function of the service itself. There are some extra options, however, that Outlook does have operational and they are the following:
- Choose themes for the inbox (there are countless options, but all of them own Outlook)
- Activate Dark Mode, which is so practical at certain times
- Create an inbox for priority mail
- Activate desktop notifications (an option that also works in Gmail)
- Choose screen density (full, medium, or compact)
- Select the type of conversation view (most recent messages at the top, at the bottom)
This in regards to the basic configuration. Then there is a section for the configuration that can be expanded and in which we can find other options related to the design of the inbox , to the functions of compose and reply, to the preferences on attachments and sharing, creation of new rules, cleaning, spam and email sync options, message management, automatic replies, or subscriptions. These are all the functions that are already in Gmail and that today are already basic for any user, but they are not at all experimental or new. However, they are perfectly valid for a common and current use of a tool such as email.