The world is rapidly shifting toward a paperless era. Everything from bank statements and documents is received via email. Hence, email applications are becoming more evolved and sophisticated, so all your messages can be managed and organized.
Since there are too many choices at your disposal, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. And two of the biggest rivals are Gmail and Apple Mail. The debate typically arises among Mac and iPhone users. In all Apple products, Apple Mail comes pre-installed. Hence, people wonder whether it makes sense to have two email applications.
If you have recently joined the Apple ecosystem and don’t want to install Gmail as an added application, you can use the Apple Mail app that is installed by default. Or if you are tired of using Gmail and want to use a better-looking email client, you must know how to delete Google account on Mac. Before deleting, back up all essential data. Then, head to Data & Personalizations in Google Settings and choose to Delete a service or your account.
Now you know how to delete a Google account, it is time to understand the difference between Gmail and Apple Mail. So, whatever step you take, you know you have made an informed decision.
About Gmail and Apple Mail: The Basics
- Gmail
Gmail is a full email service and can be downloaded onto any device, regardless of the operating system. It uses IMAP and POP protocols. It is generally considered a secure emailing service.
It is an email service and an email client and easily integrates with other Google applications and services.
Gmail is regularly updated to ensure an enhanced user experience, and the interface is user-friendly.
- Apple Mail
Apple Mail is an email client and is installed by default on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. It serves as an inbox for all your mail accounts. You can tap on specific accounts or view all inboxes.
The app is only used across Apple devices, and it uses POP3, SMTP servers, IMAP and Exchange for messages, and S/MIME for encryption. The app supports iCloud Mail and other email providers like Yahoo, Gmail, Outlook, etc.
If you want to add your Gmail account to Apple Mail, head to Settings > Mail > Accounts > Add Account > Google > enter your email address and password. Then, verify and click Save.
Security
Gmail offers optional security features, including the option to lock emails, create multi-factor authentication to log in, ask recipients to enter a code to access the message, etc.
Apple Mail connects with email accounts from different mail providers. So, you have to worry about the security of the Mail app itself and the security of the email provider.
Security hasn’t been the primary concern for either email client for some time. If you lock your mobile device when you are not using it and create strong passwords, you will be fine.
Cost
Gmail and Apple Mail are free. Gmail is free to install, and Apple Mail already comes installed on Apple devices.
However, there’s an upgraded version of Gmail called Google Workspace. If you want to use this version, you have to pay for it, and the subscription starts from $6 per month per user. Google Workspace is a set of collaborative productivity applications, including video meetings, shared calendars, etc.
As for Apple Mail, payments are only required when iCloud Storage is full. Please note that Gmail’s free version also has limited storage. Once it’s full, you have to pay to upgrade.
Standout features
The standout features of Apple Mail are:
- The interface is functional, simple, and user-friendly. You can use your iPhone’s dark theme within the application.
- VIP contacts can be put in a separate folder for quicker access.
- When composing messages, you will see different options to edit the message. This includes editing the font, size, layout, bullet points, etc.
- You can preview emails using the 3D touch feature and then choose to organize the messages or respond to them.
- There’s a swipe feature within the Apple Mail app offering options like marking as read, archive, and move to trash.
The special features of Gmail are:
- Switching between different Gmail accounts is hassle-free. Simply click the profile picture, and you can change accounts.
- There’s a Smart Compose function that suggests what you must write while you are typing. You can also utilize Smart Replies to respond to messages without having to type them.
- Messages can be scheduled to be sent at a different time and date.
- You can create your signature to be included at the bottom of the messages.
- You can integrate Google Tasks with Gmail to add emails to your to-do list.
Conclusion
You can choose to use Apple Mail or Gmail. The primary difference between the two is that Gmail is a full email service while Apple Mail is simply an email client. For Apple users, it is better to use Apple Mail because it comes pre-installed. You can use your Gmail or any other email address with this app.