Yahoo Mail has reduced its free email storage limit to 20GB and introduced monthly payment plans for users who exceed the new threshold. The change, which takes immediate effect, was announced in a notice sent to users on Tuesday, urging them to review their current usage and consider paid upgrade options to maintain uninterrupted service.
This marks a significant shift from Yahoos long-standing policy of offering up to 1TB of free storage, which had been a major draw for users over the years. With the new limit, Yahoo Mail is moving closer to competitors like Gmail, which offers 15GB of free storage shared across its services. However, Yahoo says its 20GB is dedicated exclusively to emails, positioning it as an advantage for users who do not rely on cloud storage for files and media.
Users who reach the 20GB cap will no longer be able to send or receive new messages, though they will retain access to their inbox to either delete old emails or upgrade to a paid plan. Yahoo has introduced new storage tiers priced at 1.99 per month for 100GB and 9.99 per month for 1TB. The company is also promoting Yahoo Mail Plus, a premium subscription that offers 200GB of storage, an ad-free experience, and other features. However, the newly introduced 100GB and 1TB plans will still display ads, a move that may not sit well with paying users.
The update reflects a broader industry trend toward monetization of once-free digital services. With Yahoo now owned by Apollo Global Management, the company appears to be aligning its strategy with the growing reliance on subscription-based models. While the changes may be seen as a downgrade by longtime users, Yahoo says the new structure is aimed at sustaining its service and improving long-term user experience.
