By
Oren Todoros,
Updated on February 26, 2024,
14 min read
Email is a staple of both business and personal communication, but an increasing number of providers require the use of a phone number to create an account. While this might be down to benevolent motives, which we’ll get to soon, there are plenty of reasons that a person might want to create an email without a phone number—namely, personal data concerns.
Phone numbers are unique and as such, can be used as personal identifiers. On the one hand, this means that they can be used to protect accounts and verify users. On the other hand, attaching them to online accounts can mean intrusive data-gathering, a significant digital footprint, and opening oneself up to the threat of data breaches.
In recent years we have seen numerous large-scale data breaches, with one of the most notable coming from an email provider, in which the details of at least 500 million Yahoo! accounts were stolen including, you guessed it, people’s phone numbers.
Even if you aren’t concerned about a data breach, it’s always good to have the option to set up email without a phone number, especially if it is a second or even third email account. Therefore, we’ve reviewed some of the best providers to create a new email without a phone number. Below we’ll look at why a phone number might be useful, the criteria we used to judge the email providers and an individual review of each provider.
Using multiple email accounts? Easily create an email account without a phone number
Why do so Many Providers Want Your Phone Number?
There are three main reasons that a provider might want your phone number when setting up an email account:
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Verification
Providers want to ensure that you are not a bot or a spammer. Allowing bots or spammers on mail servers can reduce their reputation and waste resources. This is especially true of free email services.
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Two-factor Authentication
Also known as 2FA, is a security measure to protect online accounts with more than just standard login credentials. The second factor/credential will often be connected to a phone.
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Account Recovery
Phone numbers can be used to access accounts to which you have forgotten the username and password. Without some kind of account recovery, losing login credentials could spell disaster.
These are not the only reasons a company might ask for a phone number, but they are the most common. What’s more, it is worth remembering that even if an email provider doesn’t require a phone number, many will still push users in that direction.
Discover More:
What to Look for When Setting Up an Email Account Without a Phone Number Verification
There are a few different factors to consider when it comes to finding a provider that offers email without a phone. We have considered email providers that don’t require a phone number based on:
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Reputation
Is the service likely to suddenly come to an end, wasting all the time and energy you’ve put into setting up and connecting an account?
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Features
What features does the email provider offer? Is there spam filtering, integrations, custom domains, backups, etc.?
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Security
What kind of security does the service offer? Is it end-to-end encrypted?
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Support
If something were to go wrong (or you just need to learn a little more), is it easy to find information or ask questions?
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Price
How much do the services cost, and are there different packages available?
4 Email Providers That Don’t Require Phone Number Verification
With these criteria in mind, let’s take a look at several providers that let you create an email account without a phone number. Here are a few options
1. Gmail
It may surprise you that the biggest email provider doesn’t require a phone number, but it’s true! Google does, however, strongly encourage you to attach a number to your account for services such as verification codes and password resets – but it is not mandatory.
In terms of reputation, Google is extremely well established and thus unlikely to disappear overnight, which makes it a good choice when looking to set up an email account without a phone number.
Gmail offers a number of features such as filters, Smart Compose, reminders, calendars, and more. Some features, such as custom domains, are only available on paid accounts. From a security perspective, Gmail is not truly end-to-end encrypted but does offer encryption in transit using TLS.
There is plenty of support available for Gmail, with vast wikis of information. What’s more, as the most common email provider, there is plenty of informal support as well.
In terms of pricing, Google offers personal Gmail accounts for free, while those looking for extended features or business emails (with a custom domain), will need to upgrade to Google Workspace. This has four main plans:
Business Starter – $6 USD/user/month – this plan offers custom business email, 100-participant video meetings and 30 GB of cloud storage per user.
Business Standard – $12 USD/user/month – this plan increases video meeting participants to 150, as well as recording and ups storage to 2TB per user.
Business Plus – $18 USD/user/month – this plan increases video meetings to 500, storage to 5 TB as well as other advanced features.
Enterprise – custom pricing – flexible features for large organizations.
How to Set up an Account – Step-by-step Instructions:
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Go to the Gmail Sign Up Page:
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Fill in Your Information:
Provide your First Name, Last Name, desired Username (your email address), and Password.
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Skip Phone Number Verification:
When prompted for a phone number, click on the “Skip” or “I’d rather not” option.
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Complete Recovery Options (Optional):
You may be asked to set up recovery options. You can choose to skip this step or provide an alternative email address.
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Agree to Terms and Privacy Policy:
Read through Google’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, then click “Next.”
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Personalize Your Google Account (Optional):
You can add a profile picture and customize your account settings as you prefer.
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Congratulations!:
You now have a Gmail account without linking a phone number.
2. Tutanota
Tutanota is a security-first email provider which markets itself as the “world’s most secure email service”. Launched in 2011, it hasn’t had the time to build up a really strong reputation, but it is still well respected for its security.
To bypass the need for a phone, Tutanota gives you a recovery code in case you lose your login credentials. This way, the account does not become part of your digital footprint. In terms of features, Tutanota offers smart filtering, aliases, custom domains, encrypted calendars, and complete customization with a Whitelabel option on paid accounts.
Tutanota really shines when it comes to security, with end-to-end encryption, 2FA, and open-source code. Furthermore, since Tutanota is based in Germany, it has to comply with the strict EU privacy and personal data laws. In terms of support, there is an ample knowledge base and comprehensive FAQs, and email support for paid plans.
The basic pricing of Tutanota is:
Free – for private users, with 1GB of storage, one calendar, and no custom domain.
Premium – €1 EUR/user/month paid yearly – this includes 1GB storage, 1 custom domain, multiple calendars, 5 alias addresses, inbox rules, and email support.
Teams – Base price of €4 EUR/month paid yearly, then €2 EUR for each user – this includes 10GB storage, 1 custom domain, multiple calendars, 5 alias addresses, inbox rules, and email support.
There is also business pricing:
Premium – €2 EUR/user/month paid yearly – this includes 1GB storage, multiple custom domains, multiple calendars, 5 alias addresses, inbox rules, email support, autoresponder, event invites, and email templates.
Teams – Base price of €5 EUR/month paid yearly, then €3 EUR for each user – this includes 10GB storage, multiple custom domains, multiple calendars, 5 alias addresses, inbox rules, email support, autoresponder, event invites, and email templates.
Pro – Base price of €7 EUR/month paid yearly, then €4 EUR for each user – this includes 10GB storage, multiple custom domains, multiple calendars, 20 alias addresses, inbox rules, priority support, autoresponder, event invites, and email templates, own-website login, custom logo and colors.
There are also add-ons for additional storage, aliases, and features.
How to Set up an Account – Step-by-step Instructions:
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Visit the Tutanota Sign Up Page:
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Create Your Account:
Enter a desired Username, Password, and choose a Recovery Code. This recovery code will be used in case you forget your login credentials.
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Write down the recovery code:
You will need this code to recover your account password or second factor authentication.
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Accept Terms and Sign Up:
Read and accept Tutanota’s Terms of Service and click on “Sign Up.”
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Verification Email:
Open your alternative email (if provided) and click on the verification link sent by Tutanota.
3. Protonmail
ProtonMail is another security-focused provider with a good reputation that allows you to create an email account without a phone number. It has the features you would expect but keeps them very limited for free accounts.
In terms of security, it is extremely strong, with end-to-end encryption, 2FA authentication, anonymous email accounts, and complies with the strict privacy protection laws of Switzerland, where it is based. As far as support, ProtonMail offers online resources as well as a support team for more help.
ProtonMail has four tiers of pricing:
Free – 500MB storage, 150 messages per day, and limited Support
Plus – $4 USD/Month – 5 GB storage, up to 1000 messages per day, custom filters & folders, encrypted messages to external recipients, custom domain, up to 5 email aliases and priority customer support
Visionary – $24 USD/Month – 20GB storage, up to 50 email aliases, support for up to 10 domains, multi-user support (6 total), custom filters & folders, encrypted messages to external recipients, early access to new features, and access to ProtonVPN.
Professional – $6.25 USD/Month/User – Custom domain, unlimited user support, administrative controls, security controls, migration tools, priority support.
How to Set up an Account – Step-by-step Instructions:
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Go to the ProtonMail Sign Up Page:
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Choose Your Plan:
Select the plan you’d like (Free, Mail Plus, or Proton Unlimited) and click “Select.”
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Create Your Account:
Enter a Username, Password, and Recovery Email (optional but recommended).
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Complete CAPTCHA:
Verify that you are not a robot by completing the CAPTCHA.
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Agree to the Terms:
Read and agree to ProtonMail’s Terms and Conditions.
4. Mailfence
Mailfence started as an email solution for universities back in the 90s so it has a long-standing reputation. In terms of features, and the user interface for them, it is rather basic, with messages, calendars, documents storage, and groups.
However, what it lacks in modern looks, it more than makes up for in security, with end-to-end encrypted messages as well as support for any OpenPGP service, digitally signed emails, and OpenPGP key management built right in. Furthermore, Mailfence is based in Belgium, so it must comply with their strict privacy protection laws.
Mailfence offers four main plans when creating an email address without a phone:
Free – 500 MB emails, 500 MB documents, encryption, and email support.
Entry – 2.50 €/ month – 5 GB emails, 10 aliases, 12 GB documents, encryption, email and telephone support, POP, IMAP, SMTP, iOS, Android, ActiveSync, user management, and custom email domain.
Pro – 7.50 €/ month – 20 GB emails, 50 alias, 24 GB documents, encryption, priority email and telephone support, POP, IMAP, SMTP, iOS, Android, ActiveSync, user management, and custom email domain.
Ultra – 25.00 €/ month – 50 GB emails, 100 alias, 70 GB documents, encryption, priority email and telephone support, POP, IMAP, SMTP, iOS, Android, ActiveSync, user management, and custom email domain.
Mailfence also offers a separate “Mailfence for Business” with tools aimed at larger organizations.
How to Set up an Account – Step-by-step Instructions:
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Visit the Mailfence Sign Up Page:
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Create Your Account:
Enter a Username, Password, and Recovery Email.
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Enter the activation code:
Verify your account by entering the activation code sent to your recovery email.
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Agree to the Terms:
Read and agree to Mailfence’s Terms of Use.
All Your Email Accounts In One Place
If you’re looking to set up an email account unconnected to your phone number, you’ve probably already got a few accounts on the go, or you’re highly security-mined. Either way, you need a way to manage those accounts securely, and Spike email app is designed to do just that, allowing you to manage all your emails through a single, easy-to-use interface with cutting-edge encryption and security.
Spike has email at its core. Conversational Email offers the simplicity of instant messaging with the power of business emails by cutting the clutter of headers and signatures and leaving only what’s important – the messages. What’s more, this can be used with any service that offers email addresses without a phone, bringing extra tools to the table.
What’s more, Spike offers a Priority Email Inbox, which prioritizes your most important messages and sends everything else to the “Other” pile so you can get on with the tasks that matter.
As for security, Spike is ad-free and never rents, sells, distributes, or monetizes user data. All message data is encrypted using the AES-256 encryption, and to keep things transparent, Spike passed a security audit by an independent security evaluator (ISE).
However, Spike goes beyond just email and is an all-in-one cross-platform productivity app, offering combined calendars, team Groups, task management, Video Meetings, audio calls, Voice Messages, and more in a unified digital workspace.
Conclusion
There is a continuous balance between security and privacy, with companies looking to verify users and improve account recovery while users are increasingly concerned about their digital footprint.
These four providers allow you to set up an email account without a phone number, and, combined with Spike, offer a secure, safe, and extremely powerful productivity management app.
Oren Todoros
Oren is a strategic thinker with over 20 years of experience in the marketing industry and is the current Head of Content Strategy at Spike. He's also the proud father of 3 beautiful daughters and a dog named Milo.