# Are there any cheap or free, no ISP req'd email services?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [December 18, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818 "2003-12-18T18:57:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/1 "2003-12-18T18:57:54Z")
Mom’s pushing 80 but is still spryer than I. She’s not real technical and is in no hurry to start now but she’s interested in email. I’d like to set her up with one of those email-only boxes but even if I pay little on eBay for the box the monthly cost is near what I’m paying for full internet service. Gaaaak!
Since a POP email account doesn’t exactly tax a server and a user would only be attached long enough to send and receive there oughta be something that is more like a couple bucks a month or even free, since she’s a senior citizen and all. Is there? Juno started out that way and while the ads eventually burned a bunch more bandwidth that my messages it was tolerable.
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### Author:  [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/2 "2003-12-18T20:11:11Z")
I use NetZero on a free basis, but it is limited to only 10 hours per month.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/3 "2003-12-18T20:25:15Z")
I don’t think Netzero gives you POP access unless you go to the pay service. If she doesn’t mind using the web interface, that still sounds like good choice to me, though.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/4 "2003-12-18T20:42:59Z")
If you do a Google on “Free POP email” lots of stuff comes up. I wonder if using Netzero for access and one of the free POPs out there (if they aren’t all worthless for whatever reason) might be a good solution.
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### Author:  [@ihsus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ihsus)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/5 "2003-12-18T20:50:36Z")
I use free POP service from [http://www.gmx.net/](http://www.gmx.net/)
I seriously think their service is better than some paid services.
The only problem is their site is in German, but there are online German-English dictionaries, so it shouldn’t be that hard to get an account.
This site might be useful. [http://www.iopus.com/guides/bestpopsmtp.htm](http://www.iopus.com/guides/bestpopsmtp.htm)
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/6 "2003-12-18T22:24:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Revtim \*
> **If you do a Google on “Free POP email” lots of stuff comes up.**
(Banging on Tim’s head)
Uh, of course I Googled first. after all, I’d hate to waste anybody’s time. 😉 The ones I found require access via an ISP.
NetZero, well, I used to use NetZero. When it started popping up so many “if you used our pay service you wouldn’t be getting this message” popups that I couldn’t do anything AND kicking me off because I was too busy closing their popup windows to click on the ads I decided I wouldn’t use them again. I went to a pay ISP and haven’t looked back.
The popups and the ISP BS are what I’m trying to avoid for dear ol’ Ma Zone. So, there isn’t any free email-only service for oldsters, eh? Sounds like a business opportunity. In light of the success of Juno and NetZero and the others maybe a BAD business opportunity, but…
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### Author:  [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/7 "2003-12-18T22:31:31Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by dropzone \*
> \*\*Juno started out that way and while the ads eventually burned a bunch more bandwidth that my messages it was tolerable. \*\*
So if you consider Juno to be tolerable, why aren’t you using it? 😕
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/8 "2003-12-18T22:33:18Z")
Day-am, **ihsus**! I found [HotPOP](http://www.hotpop.com/index.jsp) from your link and it looks like EXACTLY what I need! But when they say “SMTP Access - Send mail without a web browser!” does that mean I would still have to link through my ISP?
By the way, thank you and welcome to the SDMB.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/9 "2003-12-18T22:39:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Keeve \*
> \*\*So if you consider Juno to be tolerable, why aren’t you using it? 😕 \*\*
At the time it was okay. Do they even still offer the email-only service? It doesn’t look like it.
Hmmmm, maybe I could try their free-for-10-hours-per-month internet service. But the whole process has crossed the bounds of simplicity I had set and they and NetZero are now the same… :mad:
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### Author:  [@ihsus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ihsus)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/10 "2003-12-18T22:43:47Z")
Thanks dropzone!
I am not exactly sure what you mean by “linking through your ISP.”
Anyway SMTP Access, to my understanding, means that you can send emails from your computer by using e-mail program such as Microsoft Outlook Express.
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### Author:  [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/11 "2003-12-18T22:43:50Z")
Yes they do still have it. Go to [www.juno.com](http://www.juno.com) and about halfway down look where it says “Free Internet Access - Internet access and email for 10 Hours Each Month. 2 minute download! Sign Up Now!”
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### Author:  [@ihsus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ihsus)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/12 "2003-12-18T22:48:57Z")
Wait, are you looking for a way to let your mother use e-mail, but there is no internet access at her home currently?
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### Author:  [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/13 "2003-12-18T23:12:12Z")
Buy a domain name for $20 for one year. Park the domain at a free web host with web based mail. No ads when accessing the mail. Plus you get to use different names to find out who is selling your email address like you do with snail mail.
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### Author:  [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/14 "2003-12-19T01:46:14Z")
Option #47. Set up an email account with one of the usual free services, have her check her email at a public library.
**Acidkid** : Wrong thread.
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### Author:  [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/15 "2003-12-19T02:00:34Z")
You’re going to need an ISP no matter what, since you need some way to get to the e-mail server. Your best option for low cost is probably an hourly-rate ISP. You might also look at AOL’s new Netscape branded cut-rate ISP, which will offer full, unlimited service for $10 per month.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2003, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/16 "2003-12-19T14:31:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by ihsus \*
> \*\*Wait, are you looking for a way to let your mother use e-mail, but there is no internet access at her home currently? \*\*
Correct. She has no internet access at her home currently. She does not want internet access. What I am attempting to do is find a way for her to send and receive email ONLY in as fast and easy a manner as possible. And since I’d be paying for it the closer I can get to “free” the better.
[The Mailstation](http://www.usmessage.net/?source=overture)\* is very much like what I am looking for except the ten bucks a month for just email makes my frugal Bohunk\*\* blood boil as that is nearly what I pay for a full-service ISP.
Stepping up a bit to a [full internet appliance](http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2773743307&category=11188) would allow her to surf and receive photos from us. It’s the attendant Windows BS and complexity I’m trying to avoid for her, not the internet entirely. If it’s too complex she won’t use it. But internet appliances are apparently something that never worked out.
Hmmmm, the [Landel Mailbug](http://www.mailbug.com/mailbug.html) might be it. (reading) No, it’s still $10/month. But you can automate it to check your email. I really should get over being such a cheap bastard. And I should stop doing this and do some work.
-
- “Prints messages to standard printers (RS-422)” (sputtering) Who the f\*ck uses RS422 to talk to printers? Apple? I thought their old printers all used RS232 and the new ones USB.
\*\* - My Polack wife and I had this discussion once, she claiming that Poles are frugal and Bohemians are just cheap.
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/17 "2003-12-19T15:25:19Z")
If you were to use a free pop service (that requires a seperate ISP), plus Netzero’s free ten hours, wouldn’t that work? Assuming she disconnects right after getting the mail, the ten hours mught be enough.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/18 "2003-12-19T15:52:49Z")
It would work and it may end up my fall-back. I don’t know anybody who was satisfied with just email for very long. And if she wants to upgrade to their fuller service, if only to reduce the annoying popups, SHE can pay for it.
Hmmmmm, if I set up a POP3 account for myself I could get my email with my Sharp Zaurus. I’ll need an AC adapter for it since using a PCMCIA modem in it burns a fresh pair of batteries in about five minutes. Or I could get a modem for my Palm. Or a better Palm. Just bid on one. (Looks like whacking my old Palm Pro to get it to work has caused the speaker to stop working. God’s way of saying it’s time for an upgrade.)
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### Author:  [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/19 "2003-12-19T15:52:53Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by dropzone \*
> **She has no internet access at her home currently. She does not want internet access. What I am attempting to do is find a way for her to send and receive email ONLY in as fast and easy a manner as possible. And since I’d be paying for it the closer I can get to “free” the better.**
Check with your local library. In Atlanta, Georgia you can access the Internet (in teminal mode) via the library.
Do you have an ISP, let her log on as you.
From your last post I gather she doesn’t even have a computer. Then get a colour cell phone and send text messages. She can respond in the high tech voice (300 wpm) mode instead of the low tech (20 wpm) typing mode.
**ftg** , ?.
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### Author:  [@fezpp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fezpp)
#### Post date: [December 19, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-cheap-or-free-no-isp-reqd-email-services/219818/20 "2003-12-19T16:09:46Z")
In the UK we have ‘free’ ISP’s where you only get charged the rate of a local phone call (I know in the US that the charging structure for phone calls is different so this sort of service may not exist).
You can set up the account using Windows dial-up networking and Outlook Express will automatically connect, send and recieve mail, and then disconnect. This makes the whole ISP business transparent.
Using this with one of the free POP/SMTP services mentioned previously achieves exactly what you desire.
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