Several unique terms and phrases describe the features of services we review on this site, some easier to grasp than others. This list briefly defines terms relevant to Free Email Services.

Ratings

Security

These are the features the free email service provides to keep your email safe from viruses, spam and phishing.

Features Set

Free email services should provide a wide variety of features to help you organize and compose your incoming and outgoing emails. This also includes if the service offers POP or IMAP access.

Extras

Options the service provides in addition to email. This may include additional downloads like instant messengers or notifiers, a calendar, games or mobile access.

Support/ Ease of Use

Information about email services should be easy to find and provide comprehensive details about the services offered. They should also provide details about security and features through online help or FAQ’s.

Security

Secure Sign-in

Your password is safe with HTTPS encryption.

Spam Filter

The email service will block known spammers or suspicious emails, or it will filter spam into a spam/ junk folder. Some services allow you to adjust the strength of your spam filter.

Report Spam

If spam gets into your inbox, you can report the mail to the email provider to help the company strengthen filters.

Virus Scanning

The email provider scans incoming and outgoing mail for potentially dangerous threats like viruses, worms or Trojans.

Phishing Filter

The email service blocks phishing scams or will warn you if an email resembles a phishing threat. Phishing scams are malicious emails that request personal information like passwords and credit card numbers. They are designed to look legitimate; however no legitimate company will ever ask you for personal information through email or instant messaging.

Image Blocking

The email service will block an emailed image, because some viruses can be transmitted through images.

Restricts Automatic Download

Attachments will not be automatically downloaded when you open your mail. You must request to download them, because many viruses, worms and Trojans can be transmitted through attachments.

Organization

Create Folders

You can create custom folders to help organize your email.

Black/ White Lists

You can create special filters, which will block or allow specific email addresses or domains into your inbox.

Custom Filters

With custom filters, you can restrict specific email addresses, subject headings or content from entering your inbox.

Sorting

By using filters, you can redirect incoming emails into specific folders like junk or spam, work or family. Often you have to manually set up the filters.

Address Book

You can create an address book or contacts list.

Import Address Book

You can import your address book from another email account. Often this is done manually using CSV or Tab Delimited.

Search Mail

The program provides a search feature to help find specific emails.

Auto Reply

You can adjust your setting to have an automatic reply to every person that tries to email you. This feature is handy if you are going out of town or on vacation.

Drag and Drop

You can drag and drop emails into specific folders.

Conversation View

The service will keep track of your conversations with various people by sorting and presenting all correspondence with that person with easy tab access.

Composition

WYSIWYG HTML Composer

Text in your outgoing emails can be manipulated with fonts, text color, background color, smiley images and more.

Plain Text Composer

Text in outgoing mail cannot be manipulated with fonts, text color or background color.

Spell Check

The email composer includes a spell checker.

Personal Signature

You can add a signature or statement to all emails you send out. These usually include your name and company or you can include your favorite quote.

Supported Protocols

POP3

Post Office Protocol v.3. You can download your email off the free email provider’s servers and access them though programs like Outlook.

IMAP

Internet Message Access Protocol. You can access your email through a third party program like Outlook.

Extras

Calendar

The email service includes a calendar.

Notes

An additional section for notes.

Mobile Access

You can access your email through a mobile device. Some services will also notify your phone when you have a new message.

IM

The email service has an instant message program.

Notifier

The email service will notify you of new messages. This usually requires an additional download like IM or a toolbar.

Online Storage

Your email account includes free online storage.

Informative Homepage

The email provider includes news and various additional resources for reading and entertainment.

Multiple Languages

The email service is available in multiple languages.

Domain Choices

You may choose your domain name other than the traditional name@emailservice.com.

No Ads

There are no advertisements featured on your email interface or outgoing messages.

No Graphic Ads

There are no advertisements that include graphics, images or pictures on your interface or outgoing messages.

Games

The email service offers games and entertainment downloads.

Ecards

The email service has ecards.

Support/ Ease of Use

Email Support

You can contact technical support by email.

Online Help

The email service provides a help section explaining security and features.

Tutorials/Demos

Step–by–step tutorials are provided to demonstrate features.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions can often answer common problems regarding services like security or filters.

Forums/ Message Boards

The service provides forums and message boards of users to post problems or comments.

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