- What free Outlook includes
- Free Outlook vs Outlook with a Microsoft 365 plan
- The two catches with free Outlook
- Copilot in Outlook isn't on the free version
- How to set up free Outlook
- Using free Outlook for a small business
- Who free Outlook suits
- Free Outlook on your phone
- Free Outlook and your other Microsoft apps
- Keeping a free mailbox under 15 GB
- Signing up for free without a new address
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Outlook is free. You can create a free Outlook.com account and use Outlook email and calendar on the web, on mobile and in the free Outlook app, with 15 GB of mailbox storage, but the free version shows ads and has less space than the Microsoft 365 plans.
Outlook means a few different things: the free Outlook.com email service, the Outlook app on your phone and computer, and the Outlook that comes with Microsoft 365. The free version covers far more than most people think.
What free Outlook includes
- A free Outlook.com email address with a Microsoft account.
- 15 GB of mailbox storage.
- Email and calendar on the web, on mobile and in the Outlook app.
- Connected accounts, so you can read Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud and other mail in the Outlook app.
- Free Microsoft 365 web apps alongside it, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint for the web.
Free Outlook vs Outlook with a Microsoft 365 plan
| Feature | Free Outlook | Microsoft 365 Basic |
|---|---|---|
| Mailbox storage | 15 GB | 100 GB |
| Ads | Yes | Ad-free on web, mobile and desktop |
| Cloud storage | 5 GB OneDrive | 100 GB |
| Copilot in Outlook | Not listed | Comes with Personal and Family, not Basic |
| Connect Gmail and other accounts | Yes | Yes |
The two catches with free Outlook
The first is ads. Microsoft lists ad-free Outlook email and calendar as something the plans add, which tells you the free version carries ads. They don't stop you using it, but they do clutter the inbox.
The second is space. 15 GB of mailbox is fine for most people, but if you keep every attachment from every client, it fills. The plans jump to 100 GB of mailbox storage. If you're close to the limit, clearing big attachments and emptying Deleted Items gives you time.
Copilot in Outlook isn't on the free version
Microsoft says Copilot is included with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan, and it can summarise long email threads in Outlook. It also says Copilot in Outlook currently works with outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com and msn.com addresses. So if you were hoping for AI summaries on a free account, that's a plan feature.
How to set up free Outlook
- Go to outlook.com and choose Create free account.
- Pick your new email address and set a password.
- Download the free Outlook app on your phone so mail and calendar sync.
- Add your other email accounts in the app if you want one inbox.
- Set up your calendar and share it with anyone who books your time.
If you're bringing Gmail into Outlook, my guide on how to add an email account to Outlook walks through the steps.
Using free Outlook for a small business
A free Outlook.com address works for a side project, but it isn't the same as email on your own domain. For a business that wants to look established, a custom domain through a business plan is the usual next step. Until then, a tidy free inbox goes a long way, and my tips on how to organise your Outlook inbox help it stay that way.
Who free Outlook suits
It suits anyone who wants a dependable free email and calendar, likes Microsoft's apps, or wants to manage Gmail and Outlook in one place. It's also handy as a separate address for sign-ups and newsletters.
It's a weaker fit if ads bother you, if you need more than 15 GB of mail, or if you want Copilot summaries in your inbox.
Free Outlook on your phone
Microsoft promotes the Outlook app as a free download for your phone, and it's often the nicest way to use a free account. You get email and calendar together, and you can add other accounts so everything sits in one app. If you only check mail on the go, the free version may be all you ever need.
Free Outlook and your other Microsoft apps
A free Outlook.com account is also a Microsoft account, so it opens up more than email. Microsoft says a free Microsoft account gives you web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive and Outlook, and its comparison page lists a free 5 GB of OneDrive storage with a Microsoft account.
That means you can receive a document in Outlook, open it in Word for the web, edit it and send it back without installing anything. For a lot of freelancers, that's a complete free office setup.
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Keeping a free mailbox under 15 GB
- Search for messages with large attachments and delete or save the files elsewhere.
- Empty Deleted Items and Junk now and again.
- Unsubscribe from newsletters you never open, so they stop piling up.
- Save attachments you want to keep to OneDrive rather than leaving them in old emails.
Signing up for free without a new address
You don't have to switch email address to use Outlook for free. Microsoft says the Outlook app on desktop and mobile can open personal, work and school accounts, including Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo and iCloud. So you can keep your existing address and simply use Outlook as the app that brings your mail and calendar together.
My verdict: Outlook is free and the free version is solid for everyday email and calendar. Put up with the ads while you're small, keep attachments under control, and only move to a plan when you want ad-free mail, more space or Copilot.
Frequently asked questions
Is Outlook email free?
Yes. You can create a free Outlook.com account with a Microsoft account and use Outlook email and calendar on the web, on mobile and in the Outlook app.
How much storage does free Outlook have?
Microsoft lists 15 GB of mailbox storage on free Outlook. Microsoft 365 Basic includes 100 GB of mailbox storage.
Does free Outlook have ads?
Yes. Microsoft lists ad-free Outlook email and calendar as a feature of its plans, so the free version shows ads.
Can I use Gmail in the Outlook app?
Yes. Microsoft says you can use Outlook.com, Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud and other mail services in the Outlook app on desktop and mobile.
Is Copilot in Outlook free?
No. Microsoft says Copilot is included with a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan and works with outlook.com, hotmail.com, live.com and msn.com addresses.
Is the Outlook app free on my phone?
Yes. Microsoft offers the Outlook app as a free download for your phone, with email and calendar together.
Do I get Word and Excel with a free Outlook account?
Yes, on the web and mobile. A free Microsoft account gives you web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive and Outlook.
