Microsoft Outlook has evolved from MSN and Hotmail into a powerful email platform

Outlook is free for personal use, but if you want more storage and security, you can opt for a paid subscription. Microsoft has been around for decades, launching many software products, and it’s not unusual for them to phase out older ones.
Outlook isn’t just about sending emails; it helps you manage your schedule and contacts too. You can even set it up to automatically add travel plans to your calendar, making life a bit easier.
As for Hotmail and MSN, they’ve been gone for a while now. MSN Messenger, which started in 1999, was rebranded and eventually shut down in 2013. Hotmail, founded in 1996, was also folded into Outlook around the same time.
Don’t worry, though—Outlook isn’t going anywhere. Microsoft plans to integrate its Mail and Calendar apps into Outlook by the end of 2024, so they’re all in on this platform.
When comparing Outlook to Gmail, both have their strengths. Outlook is great for advanced email features, while Gmail shines in collaborative tools. It really comes down to what you need!