Apple Mail vs iCloud Mail: What’s the Difference?

Although Apple Mail is one of the most popular email clients for Apple fans, with the biggest portion of the email client market share at 55.64%, many people confuse it with another one of Apple’s products: iCloud Mail. 

While you may think that Apple Mail and iCloud Mail are the same thing and use these names interchangeably, they’re actually two different products. Yes, both of them are email services provided by Apple. Yet, there’s a core difference between them and a few less obvious ones. 

In this article, we’ll explain what is iCloud Mail and go over the main differences between Apple Mail and iCloud Mail. We’ll also create a quick comparison between these two email services from Apple. 

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What Is iCloud Mail? What is Apple Mail? 

The first thing you need to know about iCloud Mail is that it’s not the same product as Apple Mail. 

The second thing you need to know is that the core difference between these two email providers is that one is an app on your Apple devices (Apple Mail), while the other is a web-based email service you can access from any browser (iCloud Mail). 

What Is iCloud Mail?

If you’re an Apple user, you’re surely using iCloud to store your photos, apps, documents, and other things you deem essential across your devices on the cloud. iCloud is the best way to make sure you don’t lose any important files when you switch devices or suddenly lose access to one of them.  

Well, iCloud Mail is simply part of the iCloud suite. It’s a web-based email service you can easily access via a web app on any device. This makes it a more flexible option for users who use multiple platforms. 

Unlike Apple Mail, iCloud Mail relies on iCloud storage, with users getting 5 GB of free storage that can be upgraded. It’s designed for simplicity, offering a straightforward, web-based interface without the extensive customization options of Apple Mail.

What Is Apple Mail? 

Apple Mail, on the other hand, is an email client that is part of Apple’s operating systems, such as macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. It supports various email accounts, including Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL Mail, Outlook, and iCloud Mail, and is known for its clean and user-friendly interface that integrates smoothly with other Apple apps and services. 

Apple Mail is deeply integrated with the Apple ecosystem, offering features like Handoff, which allows users to start an email on one device and finish it on another. 

However, the drawback of Apple Mail is that it’s exclusively available on Apple devices and uses the storage available on your device (unlike iCloud Mail, which uses the storage available on the cloud), meaning that the storage capacity can vary depending on your device and email server​.

Apple Mail vs. iCloud Mail: Key Differences   

Instead of going through a lengthy comparison, let’s get straight to the point. What are the main differences between Apple Mail vs. iCloud Mail? Which one should you choose? 

Although the main difference between iCloud Mail and Apple Mail is clear (one can only be accessed on your devices while the other can be accessed from any web browser), there are many other aspects you can compare when choosing between them. 

Here are the main differences between Apple Mail and iCloud Mail in various categories. 

🛠️ Apple Mail vs. iCloud Mail: Features

Introduced by Apple as part of its macOS and iOS operating systems, Apple Mail has been a favorite among Apple device users. Apple Mail integrates seamlessly across all Apple devices and apps. Apple Mail is a great choice if you’re using the Apple ecosystem, from iCloud to Calendars and Notes on various macOS and iOS devices. 

iCloud, on the other hand, is a broader suite of online services provided by Apple. iCloud Mail, specifically, is the email component of this suite, designed to be accessible and functional across not just Apple devices but also via web browsers on any platform. 

This means that whether you are on a Mac, a Windows PC, or using a smartphone, you can access your iCloud Mail account. Plus, iCloud’s integration extends beyond email to other iCloud services such as iCloud Drive, Photos, Contacts, and Calendars.

Here are Apple Mail’s main features:  

• Undo send
• Scheduling emails 
• Email reminders 
• Add multiple email accounts 
• Advanced search functionality
• Spam filtering 
• Hide your email address
• Change fonts and formatting

Here are some of iCloud Mail’s main features for a quick comparison: 

• Email client with the same features as Apple Mail
• Contacts sync
• Calendar Integration
• iCloud private relay
• Hide my email
• Custom email domain
• Access to iCloud storage
• iCloud backup 

Overall, iCloud Mail offers a more straightforward and minimalistic web-based interface and lacks some of the advanced features of Apple Mail. 

👤 Apple Mail vs. iCloud Mail: User Experience 

Apple Mail offers a cohesive and intuitive interface with advanced customization options, such as email organization rules, a VIP sender feature, and smart mailboxes. Plus, it supports various plug-ins for extended functionality.

On the other hand, iCloud Mail provides a straightforward web-based interface designed for ease of use with fewer advanced features. It focuses on delivering a reliable and secure email service without the added complexity of customization.

Still, the main difference between Apple Mail and iCloud Mail is that Apple Mail works only on Apple devices, while iCloud Mail works on any device, even non-Apple ones. It’s available as a web app that can be accessed from any web browser, so it offers greater versatility for those who need to check their inboxes on non-Apple devices.  

📦 Apple Mail vs. iCloud Mail: Storage

Apple Mail and iCloud Mail offer different approaches to email storage and backup. 

Apple Mail uses the storage available on your device and the email server to which it is connected (such as Gmail, Outlook, etc.). This means that the available storage will vary based on the specific device and email server you’re using. This approach integrates email storage with your device’s ecosystem, which offers faster access to emails when offline but is also limited by your device’s storage capacity.

On the other hand, iCloud Mail relies on iCloud storage, providing users with 5 GB of free cloud-based storage that can be expanded with various paid plans. This means that emails and other iCloud data are stored online, ensuring they’re backed up in real time and accessible from any device. 

Overall, Apple Mail’s storage is limited by the device and the connected server. On the other hand, iCloud Mail’s storage is a cloud-based solution that allows you to expand your email storage as you see fit.  

🔄 Apple Mail vs. iCloud Mail: Integrations

Apple Mail and iCloud Mail are both perfectly integrated with the Apple ecosystem. 

Apple Mail seamlessly integrates with other Apple services such as Calendar, Contacts, and Siri, whether it’s on your iPhone, Mac computer, or even Apple Watch. This allows for a more unified and efficient user experience across various Apple devices, making it the best choice for users deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem. 

On the other hand, iCloud Mail focuses on providing a straightforward, web-based email service that is accessible from any device, which includes non-Apple devices. 

Although it’s accessible via a web browser and doesn’t offer the same interconnectivity across Apple devices as Apple Mail, it does integrate well with the rest of iCloud’s services, such as iCloud Drive, Photos, and Notes.

💰 Apple Mail vs. iCloud Mail: Pricing

Both iCloud Mail and Apple Mail are free to use. Apple Mail comes pre-installed on all Apple devices, but if it doesn’t, you can easily download it from the App Store. On the other hand, iCloud Mail is easily accessible via any browser on any device (even non-Apple ones).

Since iCloud Mail is part of the iCloud+ suite, you can update to a premium version that gives you access to other tools within the iCloud+ suite. iCloud+ offers different plans for different amounts of storage, starting at $0.99 per month for 50GB. 

iCloud Mail vs. Apple Mail: Comparison Summary

Features	Apple Mail	iCloud Mail
User Experience	Apple Mail offers a cohesive and intuitive interface with advanced customization options	iCloud Mail provides a straightforward web-based interface designed for ease of use with fewer advanced features
Storage	Apple Mail uses the storage available on your device and the email server to which it is connected	iCloud Mail relies on iCloud storage, providing users with 5 GB of free cloud-based storage that can be expanded with various paid plans
Integrations	Apple Mail seamlessly integrates with other Apple services	iCloud Mail focuses on providing a straightforward, web-based email service that is accessible from any device, which includes non-Apple devices.
Pricing	Free	$0.99/month

 

What Is iCloud Mail: The Conclusion

Overall, Apple Mail and iCloud Mail offer a very similar experience for users with one core difference, which may precisely be the deciding factor between them. 

If you are heavily integrated into the Apple ecosystem and use Apple devices, Apple Mail offers a more integrated experience. If you need flexibility and access to your email from various devices and platforms, iCloud Mail’s web-based access might suit you better​.

Ultimately, the choice between Apple Mail and iCloud Mail boils down to your specific needs and preferences. 

iCloud Mail vs. Apple Mail: The FAQs