Email clients
Gmail app privacy rating
Google's email app for Android and iOS. Works with Gmail and Google Workspace accounts, and can also add Outlook, Yahoo and other IMAP accounts.
Summary
Gmail app scores 19 out of 100 (grade F) on the email clients criteria. It meets 1 of 8 criteria: works with any provider. It partly meets connects directly and blocks remote content. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, independent audit and OpenPGP support. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 19 out of 100. How scoring works
Criteria
- No
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No
No trackers or telemetry Weight 3 of 3
Are the website and apps free of third-party trackers, with any analytics anonymous and any telemetry off by default?
Exodus finds no third-party trackers, but Google collects activity data across its services and uses it for analytics and personalized ads.
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No
No ads or data sales Weight 2 of 3
Is the product funded without advertising, ad targeting or selling user data?
Ads are shown in Gmail.
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No
Independent audit Weight 2 of 3
Has an independent security or privacy audit been published within the last three years?
No independent audit of the Gmail app is published.
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No
OpenPGP support Weight 2 of 3
Can the app encrypt and sign mail with OpenPGP, built in or through an official add-on?
Not supported. S/MIME is limited to some Google Workspace plans.
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Partial
Connects directly Weight 3 of 3
Does the app connect directly to your mail server, without passing mail or passwords through the vendor's servers?
Other accounts can be added to the app, but Gmailify links Yahoo, AOL and Outlook accounts through Google servers. Gmail accounts sync with Google.
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Partial
Blocks remote content Weight 2 of 3
Are remote images and tracking pixels blocked by default?
Images are shown by default through Google proxies. Gmail can be set to ask before showing external images.
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Yes
Works with any provider Weight 1 of 3
Does the app work with any standard IMAP and SMTP provider?
Works with Gmail and with other providers such as Outlook, iCloud Mail, Yahoo and IMAP accounts.