Lab

Webmail Services

You probably have an email address at work, and perhaps one provided by your ISP, but it pays to have an independent account in case your circumstances change. A webmail account is the best option and it needn't cost a penny.

Webmail is primarily designed to be accessed through a web browser. Your mail remains on a central server, which you log into through a web interface. This means you can access your email system from any computer that has a browser. All but one of the webmail services reviewed here also lets you connect using an email client such as Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird, either through POP3 or IMAP.

Most of the services have a Java-based interface, which means they look and behave more like conventional offline applications. The new generation of webmail services also provide substantially more storage space, and some even have dedicated spaces to hold uploaded files and photos.

The range of tools on offer has also increased, with contacts databases now supplemented by interactive calendar and organiser tools, note-taking and archiving tools, in-window instant messaging and online documents, as well as tools for sharing files and photos.

We have selected six of the best webmail services to help you choose the one suits you.