# Apple Mail privacy rating

Email app built into macOS, iOS and iPadOS. Works with iCloud Mail and any IMAP, POP3 or Exchange account.

## Summary

Apple Mail scores 47 out of 100 (grade D) on the email clients criteria. It meets 3 of 8 criteria: no ads or data sales, connects directly and works with any provider. It partly meets no trackers or telemetry and blocks remote content. It does not meet open source, independent audit and OpenPGP support. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.

- Website: https://support.apple.com/mail
- Jurisdiction: United States. Five Eyes member. Subject to the US CLOUD Act.
- Platforms: macOS, iOS
- Home page trackers: none found
- Category: [Email clients](https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/)
- Also rated: [iCloud Mail](https://privacyratings.com/email-providers/icloud-mail/) (Email providers), [Hide My Email](https://privacyratings.com/email-forwarding/hide-my-email/) (Email forwarding and aliases), [Safari](https://privacyratings.com/browsers/safari/) (Browsers), [Apple App Store](https://privacyratings.com/app-stores/apple-app-store/) (App stores), [Apple Passwords](https://privacyratings.com/password-managers/apple-passwords/) (Password managers), [FileVault](https://privacyratings.com/file-encryption/filevault/) (File encryption), [iMessage](https://privacyratings.com/messengers/imessage/) (Messengers), [FaceTime](https://privacyratings.com/video-calls/facetime/) (Video calls), [iOS](https://privacyratings.com/mobile-operating-systems/ios/) (Mobile operating systems), [macOS](https://privacyratings.com/desktop-operating-systems/macos/) (Desktop operating systems), [Spotlight](https://privacyratings.com/launchers/spotlight/) (App launchers), [Apple Notes](https://privacyratings.com/notes/apple-notes/) (Notes), [Apple Journal](https://privacyratings.com/journaling/apple-journal/) (Journaling apps), [Apple iWork](https://privacyratings.com/office-suites/apple-iwork/) (Office suites), [QuickTime Player](https://privacyratings.com/screen-recording/quicktime-player/) (Screenshots and screen recording), [Apple Books](https://privacyratings.com/ebook-readers/apple-books/) (Ebook readers), [Apple Dictation](https://privacyratings.com/speech-to-text/apple-dictation/) (Dictation and transcription), [iCloud Drive](https://privacyratings.com/cloud-storage/icloud-drive/) (Encrypted cloud storage), [Apple Maps](https://privacyratings.com/maps/apple-maps/) (Maps and navigation), [SwiftUI](https://privacyratings.com/app-frameworks/swiftui/) (Cross-platform app frameworks), [Apple Home](https://privacyratings.com/smart-home/apple-home/) (Smart home), [Apple Watch](https://privacyratings.com/wearables/apple-watch/) (Wearables and health), [Apple Health Cycle Tracking](https://privacyratings.com/period-trackers/apple-health-cycle-tracking/) (Period trackers), [Apple Music](https://privacyratings.com/music-streaming/apple-music/) (Music streaming), [iCloud Photos](https://privacyratings.com/photo-management/icloud-photos/) (Photo management)
- Grade: D (47/100)

## Criteria

| Criterion | Answer | Note | Evidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Open source | No | Closed source. |  |
| No trackers or telemetry | Partial | No third-party trackers in the app, and sharing device analytics with Apple is opt-in. Apple web pages load Apple's own analytics (ac-analytics, sent to metrics.apple.com) by default. | https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/device-analytics/ |
| No ads or data sales | Yes | Included with Apple devices and shows no ads. Apple states that it does not sell personal data. | https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ |
| Independent audit | No | No independent audit is published. |  |
| OpenPGP support | No | Not supported. S/MIME is built in. |  |
| Connects directly | Yes | Connects directly to mail servers. With Mail Privacy Protection, only remote content is fetched through Apple relays. | https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/mail-privacy-protection/ |
| Blocks remote content | Partial | Mail Privacy Protection loads remote content privately through relays instead of blocking it. Remote content can be fully blocked in settings. | https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/use-mail-privacy-protection-iphf084865c7/ios |
| Works with any provider | Yes | Works with any IMAP, POP3 and Exchange provider. | https://support.apple.com/guide/mail/add-and-manage-email-accounts-mail35803/mac |

Source: https://privacyratings.com/email-clients/apple-mail/
Edit: https://github.com/privacyratings/privacyratings.com/edit/main/ratings/email-clients/apple-mail.md