Email clients
Microsoft Outlook privacy rating
Microsoft's email and calendar app for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and the web. Works with Outlook.com, Microsoft 365, Exchange and other IMAP accounts.
Summary
Microsoft Outlook scores 11 out of 100 (grade F) on the email clients criteria. It meets 1 of 8 criteria: works with any provider. It partly meets blocks remote content. It does not meet open source, no trackers or telemetry, no ads or data sales, independent audit, OpenPGP support and connects directly. It is based in the United States: Five Eyes member; subject to the US CLOUD Act.
Score 11 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 six trackers in the Android app, including AppNexus, Facebook Ads and Singular.
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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?
The free Outlook apps show ads to users without a paid Microsoft 365 plan.
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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 Outlook apps 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 and Microsoft Purview encryption are available instead.
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No
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?
The mobile app syncs mail from all added accounts, including third-party ones, to Microsoft servers. Desktop sync to Microsoft servers is optional.
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Partial
Blocks remote content Weight 2 of 3
Are remote images and tracking pixels blocked by default?
Classic Outlook for Windows blocks automatic picture downloads by default. Other Outlook apps differ.
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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 Microsoft accounts and accounts from third-party providers.