Yahoo Mail slashes free storage — here are alternatives

Yahoo will drastically reduce the storage limit for free email accounts from 1 terabyte (TB) to just 20 gigabytes (GB), starting August 27, 2026.

The company confirmed the change in a notice to users, citing efforts to improve service quality and system efficiency. The new limit applies to all free Yahoo Mail users and includes inbox emails, attachments, and files stored in associated Yahoo services.

This move marks a steep cut — equivalent to a 98 percent reduction from Yahoo’s longstanding 1TB offer, which had been one of the largest free storage capacities in the email industry.

Users who exceed the 20GB cap by the deadline will be unable to send or receive emails until they reduce storage or upgrade to a paid plan. Yahoo has yet to release full details about its paid tiers but has hinted at affordable, flexible options coming soon.

The announcement has sparked concern among long-time Yahoo users, some of whom rely on the platform for archiving years' worth of personal and professional correspondence.

“I've used Yahoo Mail since college. That 1TB gave me peace of mind. This is disappointing,” one user posted on social media.

Alternatives for users

As the deadline approaches, users are being urged to manage their email data or consider other platforms. Several major email providers continue to offer larger free storage tiers:

• Gmail (by Google): 15GB shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos

• Outlook.com (by Microsoft): 15GB for mail, with additional 5GB on OneDrive

• ProtonMail: 1GB with strong privacy focus

• Zoho Mail: 5GB per user with no ads

Some digital experts recommend users back up old emails using email clients like Mozilla Thunderbird or Outlook before the storage rollback begins.