There are some methods available to backup Gmail for free. Whether they are truly secure and complete is another thing. But they are available for sure. Let’s check the major ones.

Using Google itself

This is a manual method and you can use it to download your mails as a zip file. You may not be able to download all the folders through this though. The folder structure and hierarchy may be a bit off as well. But it is a way to surely download your mail folder. You can extract it and then use another bunch of manual steps to restore it back. Sounds complicated? That’s because it is complicated and you can always lose some data in the process.

Forwarding mails to another user account

This is a method which crops up on every forum and in every discussion surrounding Gmail backup methods. But it is like stitching a hole which will open up again. We backup emails to prevent data loss and one of the commonest reasons is server issues. Another is loss of access to accounts due to cyber attacks. Or accidental deletion. Now these issues will persist with any email account. So, it is just an eyewash and you should not fool yourself into security with such temporary measures.

Using an email client

Using a platform like Outlook and Thunderbird is a very smart decision. Doing this would definitely bring your mails and folders to one more platform but this is also not a true backup plan. If you accidently delete your mails or reinstall this platform, you will lose your folders. If your device develops an issue and due to some reason you are unable to sign in to the service on another device even if for a short duration, the downtime will hurt.

Using third part tools

When you select a certified third party tool, then it is the right decision. But if you select a free tool, then it would be a bigger mistake than even the first three methods as this is the riskiest of all.

Use third party tools but the certified ones with a good user rating. Help others with these suggestions about how to backup Gmail so that everyone is able to keep their emails safe from any data loss or security compromise. Safe practices are very important today and go a long way in preventing downtime.

This is a good suggestion

A good tool for end users with a five star rating is Mail backup X. It is safe, affordable, simple to use, and backs up all IMAP services including Gmail. It also supports Microsoft exchange server and POP services. This tool uses GUI and wizard to backup and restore emails from many services on Mac as well as Windows OS.

It uses a data compression algorithm so that large mail volumes can be archived in different locations in a small space without burning a hole in your pocket. There are other wonderful and useful features like integrated FTP server, smart backup and resume, mail viewer, etc. Try a free demo.