[gpm]

And what's the alternative?

I could use an ISP (or in my case university) email, but I'll lose access to that in the future when I change ISPs (or graduate).

I could use <other free email provider>, but they will probably have the same problem, and unless I'm using one of the other giant services (e.g. outlook) are probably more likely to disappear than Google is to randomly ban me.

I could use a paid provider, but they are probably still more likely to disappear in the future than google is likely to randomly ban me.

Instead I would prepare to mitigate the damage of losing access to your account. Have local copies of emails, don't use two factor authentication with one factor being email.

[dvl]

> I could use a paid provider, but they are probably still more likely to disappear in the future than google is likely to randomly ban me.

That was my main reason to still use Gmail till today.

From now I'll be making regular backups, and always use an email address on my own domain, so I can freely change provider without much problems.

[dogma1138]

Or well pay Gmail... https://apps.google.co.uk/products/gmail/

[SNvD7vEJ]

The solution is to register your own domain.

[emdd]

But that still doesn't actually answer the email provider question.