Personally, I have given almost my entire online existence to Google; my email, my Analytics data, my search history, my financial information, and and what not. For some this is not the smartest thing to do. Those same people may still want to reap the benefits of web mail.

So I’ve made a list of three popular free email providers that you might want to try if Gmail or Yahoo are not your thing.

1. Hotmail

Windows Live Hotmail, is a free web-based email service operated by Microsoft as part of Windows Live. One of the first web-based email services, it was founded by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith and launched in July 1996 as “HoTMaiL”. It was acquired by Microsoft in 1997 for an estimated $400 million, and shortly after it was rebranded as “MSN Hotmail”. The current version was released in 2007.

2. GMX Mail

GMX Mail is a German-based free webmail service provided by GMX (Global Mail eXchange, in Germany: Global Message eXchange). Founded in 1997, GMX is a subsidiary of United Internet AG, a stock-listed company in Germany, and a sister company to 1&1 Internet and Fasthosts Internet.[1] In addition to an e-mail address, each GMX account includes a Mail Collector, Address Book, Organizer, and File Storage. One user can register up to 10 individual GMX e-mail addresses.

3. Hushmail

Hushmail is a web-based email service offering PGP-encrypted e-mail, file storage, vanity domain service, and instant messaging (Hush Messenger). Hushmail uses OpenPGP standards and the source is available for download. Additional security features include hidden IP addresses in e-mail headers. A free e-mail account has a storage limit of 25MB, and no IMAP or Post Office Protocol (POP3) service.

Photo: Sean MacEntee