Below, we’ve gathered the latest information on the most popular free email account services and if they can connect to Microsoft Outlook.  Hope you find it useful!

Note:  Information valid as of 9/1/2008

Microsoft Hotmail / Live

• Storage space: 5 GB
• Attachment size limits: 10 MB
• Outlook integration: Yes
  • Outlook 2003/2007 can connect via the Microsoft Office Outlook Connector
  • Installation instructions here
• Auto forwarding to other email accounts: Free version only allows forwarding to other Hotmail / Live accounts; paid version allows to any other email accounts
• Ability to check other email accounts:  Yes

Yahoo! Mail

• Storage space: Unlimited
• Attachment size limits: 10 MB
• Outlook integration: Only with paid version
• Auto forwarding to other email accounts: Yes, but only with the paid version
• Ability to check other email accounts:  Yes

GMail

• Storage space: 7 GB
• Attachment size limits: 20 MB
• Outlook integration: Yes - send/recieve via POP3, IMAP, SMTP
• Auto forwarding to other email accounts: Yes
• Ability to check other email accounts:  Yes

AOL

• Storage space: Unlimited
• Attachment size limits: 16 MB
• Outlook integration: Yes - send/receive via POP3, IMAP, SMTP
• Auto forwarding to other email accounts: No
• Ability to check other email accounts:  Yes

GMX Mail

• Storage space: 5 GB
• Attachment size limits: 50 MB
• Outlook integration: Yes - send/receive via POP3, IMAP, SMTP
• Auto forwarding to other email accounts:Yes
• Ability to check other email accounts:  Yes