How To Find Server In Microsoft Outlook

Our Verdict

Outlook is a sleek and flexible e-mail client that offers a deep prepare of tools and unparalleled convenience for anyone involved in Microsoft's ecosystem.

For

Helpful integrations and add-ons
Decent set of free features
Perfect for Microsoft 365 users

Against

Desktop app and other features only available to paid users

TechRadar Verdict

Outlook is a sleek and flexible email client that offers a deep set of tools and unparalleled convenience for anyone involved in Microsoft's ecosystem.

Pros

+
Helpful integrations and add-ons
+
Decent set up of free features
+
Perfect for Microsoft 365 users

Cons

-
Desktop app and other features simply available to paid users

In our Microsoft Outlook review, we check out the pros and cons of the platform relative to Gmail, Apple Mail, and more of the best email clients. With an intuitive interface, robust feature set, costless access, and availability on most popular devices, Outlook is i of our meridian recommendations if you're looking for a new email client.

This is especially as email is one of the about ubiquitous forms of advice worldwide, with more than half the global population having an email account in 2019. While Microsoft Outlook isn't as widespread equally Gmail or Apple Post, market research indicates that it's yet the third almost pop option.

You tin sign up for Microsoft Outlook hither.

Microsoft Outlook: Plans and pricing

Like Gmail, Apple Mail, Yahoo Postal service, and other popular electronic mail clients, Microsoft Outlook is entirely free to use. That said, you may want to pay for additional storage space and a few avant-garde features, and Microsoft'south pricing is a little confusing if you're new to the ecosystem.

Fifty-fifty though Outlook is free to access online, the desktop app is listed for an exorbitant $139.99 on the Microsoft website. This is likely because Microsoft is trying to directly users toward the new Microsoft 365 subscription, which bundles Outlook with its other productivity tools, similar Excel, Discussion, PowerPoint, and OneDrive.

Microsoft supports free Outlook access with ads, which yous'll see in your inbox until y'all upgrade to Microsoft 365. Complimentary users are besides limited to 15 GB of mailbox storage and 5 GB of OneDrive storage.

Microsoft 365 Personal costs $6.99 per calendar month or $69.99 per year and includes 50 GB of mailbox storage, i TB in OneDrive, access to the desktop apps on Mac and Windows, bulletin encryption, custom domain names, and more. Family plans are available for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year, offering the same features for groups of upward to six users.

Microsoft Outlook review — Microsoft 365 subscriptions come with extra features for Outlook and other Microsoft Office applications (Prototype credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft Outlook: Features

Outlook has everything that you would expect from a free electronic mail customer, and the Microsoft 365 subscription introduces several boosted tools. Along with 15 GB of storage, gratis users also get basic tools like spam and malware blockers and the option to create custom folders for certain types of messages.

Microsoft Outlook also comes with back up for groups. Outlook groups tin access a shared mailbox, ready upwards shared events, and transport emails from a shared address. Unsurprisingly, the application integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 apps, like Excel and Word, too as tertiary-party platforms, such as Trello and Dropbox.

Dropbox, for example, has a free add-in for Outlook that makes it easy to send attachments equally sharing links or automatically download attachments to your Dropbox account. Integrating your Outlook account with Dropbox and other apps can streamline nearly every aspect of your workflow.

Microsoft Outlook: Interface and in use

Similar other popular pieces of free role software, Outlook opts for a clean, straightforward design that's simple and easy to utilize. This starts with a default division of your inbox into Focused and Other, with Focused representing the almost important letters. Outlook learns from your beliefs, so y'all can always mark a message for the other inbox if it was sorted incorrectly.

While Outlook performs well on mobile devices, it's unfortunate that the desktop app is only available to paid subscribers. The spider web interface may be more user-friendly for some users, and information technology comes with near of the same features and capabilities, but certain advanced tools are limited to desktop utilise. For example, Quick Steps—which automates repetitive tasks, like forwarding messages or moving them to a particular folder—is simply available in the desktop app.

Microsoft Outlook: Support

If y'all see whatever bug with Outlook, click or tap the question mark icon for more data. From there, you'll have access to a searchable database of support articles roofing most of the program'due south key features and settings.

While Microsoft advertises tech back up as 1 of the perks associated with a Microsoft 365 subscription, you don't need to be a paying subscriber to get help with Outlook. Telephone support and other options might not be available, simply we were able to make it bear on with an agent almost immediately via live chat.

Microsoft Outlook: Security

Your Outlook account is tied to your Microsoft business relationship, and Microsoft was associated with a relatively high-contour breach in 2019. Of form, any company could be targeted, and there isn't any reason to think that Microsoft is especially vulnerable. Still, you should take the time to activate 2-stride authentication on your account for additional security.

Unfortunately, sure disquisitional security features are locked behind the Microsoft 365 paywall. For case, Outlook won't bank check attachments or links for threats unless you pay for the subscription. Similarly, email encryption and forwarding prevention aren't available on costless accounts.

The contest

While in that location are a few key differences between Outlook and its summit competitors, it matches nearly of the cadre features of Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail. The free version offers more than plenty for most individual users, and Microsoft 365 subscriptions are relatively similar to paid iCloud and Google Workspace plans.

That said, some users may prefer sure aspects of other e-mail clients, such as Apple's free desktop app or Gmail's simple, archetype design. Ultimately, the correct email client for you depends on your unique needs and preferences. Cheque out the best Microsoft Office alternatives if y'all're interested in learning more about other top providers.

Concluding verdict

Outlook is not as popular as Gmail or Apple Post, just it still has a professional person interface, availability on a variety of devices, and a solid fix of gratuitous features. The extra tools available with Microsoft 365 subscriptions add to the platform's capabilities, especially when combined with its deep library of add together-ons.

While users who are already invested in the Google or Apple ecosystem might not be motivated to switch, Outlook is particularly convenient for anyone who frequently uses Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneDrive, or some other Microsoft productivity tool. Overall, it's ane of the best all-around electronic mail clients available at present.

Yous can sign up for Microsoft Outlook here.

Alex is a writer focused on providing insightful, actionable content that can truly change the manner readers approach their finances.

Alex has been writing as a freelancer for several years on a diversity of topics including marketing, parenting, and customer relationships forth with personal finance. He's especially interested in the way seemingly pocket-size adjustments can transform a person's fiscal outlook.