How to free your email from the clutches of Google (Gmail) or Microsoft (Outlook)

One of the first steps for anyone setting out to reduce their dependence on Big Tech is moving their email away from Google or Microsoft. The process itself isn’t particularly complex. The problem is cultural. The dominance of these two services — Gmail and Hotmail/Outlook — has eroded our understanding of one of the oldest internet technologies we still use, and one that remains important. Email is decentralized, meaning different service providers talk to each other. To take part, you need one of these providers and a domain — the part after the @ in name@domain.com. Gmail and Hotmail/Outlook bundle these two pieces together and offer them through a simple sign-up form. Both hide all the abstractions and settings involved. It’s very convenient! Not coincidentally, it’s the kind of convenience that ties you to a single provider. Outside of that, the ideal scenario is to have your own domain and pick whichever provider suits you best. A domain usually runs around USD 10–15 a year.…