Yahoo Mail

mailboxEstablished 1997

Originally built on the RocketMail (Four11) foundation, Yahoo Mail has evolved into a leading consumer mailbox service. It operates as a dual-faceted platform: providing a feature-rich experience for direct users while simultaneously underpinning the email infrastructure for numerous third-party ISP brands worldwide.

Sender Hub Support Status Official Site Resources

Latest updates

Apollo completes acquisition of Yahoo (formerly Verizon Media)

Apollo funds complete the acquisition, and Yahoo operates as a standalone company under Apollo ownership.

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Sep 2021

Verizon Media to be acquired by Apollo (announced)

Verizon announces an agreement for Apollo funds to acquire Verizon Media; the company would be known as Yahoo at close.

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May 2021

Verizon completes Yahoo acquisition under Oath subsidiary

Verizon completes acquisition of Yahoo’s core internet business and places Yahoo + AOL brands under the Oath subsidiary.

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Jun 2017

Evolution timeline

Focused on what matters now; history is available on demand.

What matters for senders

Yahoo begins public testing of new Yahoo Mail (beta)

Sep 2005

Yahoo begins a public beta of a new Yahoo Mail experience incorporating Oddpost technology.

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Oddpost debuts as a paid webmail service

Jan 2002

Oddpost debuts as a paid webmail service with a desktop-like interface and faster interactions for its time.

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Yahoo Mail launches following RocketMail acquisition

Oct 1997

Yahoo Mail launches as Yahoo expands into consumer webmail.

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Yahoo goes public (IPO)

Apr 1996

Yahoo goes public, a major milestone in the early consumer internet era.

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RocketMail launches as a free webmail service (Four11)

Jan 1996

RocketMail launches as an early free webmail service, later forming the foundation of Yahoo Mail.

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Yahoo is incorporated

Jan 1995

Yahoo is incorporated, marking a step in its growth into a major consumer internet company.

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Yahoo founded as a web directory project

Jan 1994

Yahoo began as a web directory project created by Jerry Yang and David Filo.

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Metrics & trends

Published metrics for this provider, plus a trend view built from sourced yearly points (and monthly when available).

Published metrics

Report name on the left, provider value on the right.

Email Client Market Share — November 2025

Latest

2.16%

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2025 Benchmark Report

86%

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2023 Benchmark Report

87.4%

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2014 Top 10 Email Clients

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Trend

Default is yearly. Monthly is available only when the current year has at least 6 monthly data points.

Client share Inbox placementYearlyMonthly

Monthly trends require at least 6 months of data in the current year.

Client share (%)

Yearly shows the latest available point in each year. Hover for the source; click to open the report.

−1.84 pp

Insight: Client share declined by −1.84 pp between 2014 and 2025.

Trend delta is shown in percentage points (pp) comparing the latest point to the prior point.

Capabilities

Focused summary with a full reference list.

What you need to know

AuthenticationPresent

Sender requirementsPresent

Feedback loopAvailable

Inbox experiencePresent

Resources

Official links first, then supporting references.

Yahoo Postmaster

https://postmaster.yahooinc.com/

Yahoo Help (Mail)

https://help.yahoo.com/kb/mail

Yahoo Mail status (help)

https://help.yahoo.com/kb/mail

Notes

Ownership history includes Verizon (2017) and Apollo (2021).