# Gmail vs Microsoft Outlook

Gmail and Microsoft Outlook both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 64% of Microsoft Outlook's written reviews are positive against 29% of Gmail's. Microsoft Outlook also leads on ratings volume (9.3M vs 2.4M). Gmail's advantage is chart position (#3 vs #11) and iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Gmail sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Microsoft Outlook sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Gmail against 4.8 for Microsoft Outlook. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.4M and 9.3M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 29% of Gmail's written reviews are positive against 64% of Microsoft Outlook's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gmail | Microsoft Outlook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.4M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gmail-email-by-google/id422689480/reviews) | **[4.8 (9.3M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-outlook/id951937596/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2.4M | **9.3M** |
| Positive reviews | 29.3% of reviews | **64.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #11 |
| Size | 719 MB | 464 MB |
| Requires iOS | **18.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) | [Microsoft Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/298856275) |

## What reviewers say

### Gmail

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gmail-email-by-google/id422689480)

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Grossing · Productivity, #5 Top Free · Productivity, #16 Top Grossing, #22 Top Free (US App Store)

This application provides a secure and efficient email experience with advanced features like spam blocking, smart replies, and multi-account support. It integrates with other Google services for enhanced productivity and collaboration.

**Highlights:** Robust security & spam blocking, Real-time notifications, Multiple account support, Smart Reply & Compose, Undo send, Google Chat & Meet integration, Threaded conversations

**Features:** Family Sharing, Siri integration, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 2 TB | $9.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient email management
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 😊 Positive user experience overall

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💡 Lacking advanced features
- 🔒 Security concerns
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Notifications not working properly
- Emails disappearing from inbox
- Inability to remove accounts
- Conversation view issues

**Requested features**

- Swipe to delete/snooze emails
- Ability to mark all emails as read
- Customizable notification settings
- Improved file attachment functionality


### Microsoft Outlook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-outlook/id951937596)

**Currently charting:** #11 Top Free · Productivity, #29 Top Grossing · Productivity, #75 Top Free (US App Store)

Consolidate all your email accounts and calendars into one streamlined application. Manage your inbox, schedule meetings, and access files from various cloud services. Enhance productivity with AI-powered writing assistance and smart inbox features.

**Highlights:** Unified inbox for multiple email accounts, Smart inbox sorting, Quick swipe actions, Meeting scheduling and availability sharing, File access from cloud storage, AI-powered email summarization and drafting, Editing of Office documents

**Features:** Siri integration, Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Microsoft 365 Basic | $1.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Personal | $9.99 | per month |
| Microsoft 365 Family | $12.99 | per month |
| Microsoft Copilot Pro | $20.00 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great for corporate email
- 👍 Customizable and user-friendly
- 🚀 Seamless integration with Microsoft 365
- 👍 Solid email and calendar functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable at times
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔒 Security issues with password resets
- 👎 Limited file attachment options

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes when adding accounts
- Delayed email notifications and syncing issues
- Inability to delete emails in bulk
- Calendar reminders not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved search and filtering capabilities
- Better integration with native iOS apps and services
- Enhanced calendar management features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gmail free?

Gmail is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Microsoft Outlook free?

Microsoft Outlook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Gmail or Microsoft Outlook?

Microsoft Outlook is rated higher. Gmail averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.4M ratings, while Microsoft Outlook averages 4.8 from 9.3M ratings.

### Do Gmail or Microsoft Outlook have ads?

Both Gmail and Microsoft Outlook show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gmail or Microsoft Outlook?

Gmail ships an update weekly, and Microsoft Outlook weekly. Most recently, Gmail was updated on September 24, 2026 and Microsoft Outlook on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Gmail or Microsoft Outlook?

Gmail currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Microsoft Outlook at #11. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*