Anyone else forced to choose between paying for Gmail/google storage or switching to another?

I’ve had the same gmail account since I was like 12 or 13. I used google photos for forever. When they initially started charging for photo storage, I eventually upgraded. However, eventually that wasn’t enough so I cancelled my subscription. It’s immensely cheaper to just back up my own photos than pay to store them on google photos. Today I got an email saying my Gmail will stop working and I need to renew my membership.

So, I just created a new email elsewhere. I guess after all these years, I won’t be a gmail user anymore. Seems so unreal to me! Lol Alas, it’s only an email address. I’ll live lol. And I can start backing up my own photos. I really did like google photos since I only use a phone these days. I don’t even own a computer anymore. But again, it’s not the end of the world lol.

I’m just curious if anyone else is shifting away from Gmail after all these years? I hear if you have a Pixel phone, you get unlimited google services. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don’t like to feel forced into anything, so I’ll just be done with them all together 😜

pknein · 46-50, M

If you read that email, it doesnt say it will stop working, it says you wont be able to send/receive email; its because you are over the 15gb storage limit. This limit is shared across multiple services:

>Each Google Account includes 15 GB of storage, which is shared across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos.

If you go through these accounts and delete stuff to be under 15gb -- then you will be able to send/receive email. Just use the one account for email. And if you want to use google drive/photos, just create a new google account and use it for that purpose (or like you said, move to a self-hosted option).