DreamHost is another email provider that is really marketed as a web hosting service but also functions as a cloud hosting provider, website builder, marketing services, and more.    

This review will focus primarily on how DreamHost functions as an email provider, however, and we’re happy to confirm that DreamHost’s email hosting services work really well. The main downside is that the cheapest shared hosting plan doesn’t come with an email account included. You can purchase one as an add-on, but that still compares poorly against most other hosting providers.

If you do sign up for DreamHost email though, you’ll find a service that functions incredibly well. The platform is intuitive and offers good support, available through multiple channels. You can set up a professional account for your business, sync your messages between your mobile and desktop devices, and protect yourself against malware, spam, and phishing.

The fact that DreamHost also lets you use its email hosting even if your domain is with another web hosting provider is another nice touch. It means users can access DreamHost’s email features without the need to change their current hosting plan.  

DreamHost: Plans and pricing

DreamHost offers a single plan purely for email hosting on either monthly or annual contract terms. The monthly plan will set subscribers back $1.99 per mailbox per month and comes with 25GB of cloud storage per mailbox, ad-free webmail, and mobile and desktop syncing. The annual plan saves customers 16%, coming out at $1.67 per mailbox per month. It also comes with the same features provided by the monthly plan. 

Of course, you might only be looking for email hosting as part of a broader web hosting offering If that’s the case, you may be disappointed to discover that DreamHost’s cheapest offering, its Shared Starter plan, doesn't come with email hosting as standard. This plan costs $2.95 per month for a single website, but to add an email account, you’ll need to pay an extra $1.67 per month for an add-on. 

Email is included with DreamHost’s two other more expensive hosting plans, however, DreamPress and VPS. These plans cost $16.95 and $13.75 respectively and come with several other features, including functionality that may boost your employees’ productivity, like an AI business advisor. 

Features

The features that come with DreamHost’s email hosting are impressive and should do more than simply let you give your business a more professional-sounding email address that would be available through a personal Gmail account. 

For example, customers are able to drag and drop messages between folders in webmail and set up automatic delivery filters to make the process of organizing messages much quicker. They can also route messages using custom aliases to further streamline the management of your messages. 

DreamHost’s email interface is also worth mentioning. This is highly intuitive, so accessing all the common features that you’d expect from an email platform, including marking messages as read, spam, or simply deleting them is straightforward. 

And with the ubiquity of hybrid work meaning that employees are just as likely to respond to messages via their smartphone as their desk, DreamHost’s promise to sync emails between devices is hugely important. You can also manage your storage via any device you choose as well. 

Support

Although DreamHost may not offer telephone support, the assistance it provides via email and live chat are both reliable and effective, in our experience. The chat support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, so you should always be able to get in contact with someone to assist you.

DreamHost also has an extensive knowledge base if you’d rather take a stab at resolving your issue yourself. This is broken down by product so you’ll find resources for shared hosting, WordPress, SQL databases, and the various other tools that DreamHost offers. 

Regarding its email hosting, specifically, the DreamHost knowledge base has guides on setting up your email account, configuration, backing up messages, troubleshooting, and more. There’s also an email FAQ webpage for additional information.

Security

DreamHost boasts some strong security credentials, with all the company’s pricing tiers coming with SSL certificates, firewalls, daily cloud backups, and domain privacy. The SSL certificates provide encryption for your web traffic and DreamHost’s servers are monitored at all times to guard against cyberattacks.The antispam feature included for all email accounts is another welcome safeguard. 

It’s something of a shame, however, that if customers want the most robust security from DreamHost, they’ll have to pay for the privilege. This is because its malware removal tool, DreamShield Malware Remover, has to be purchased as an add-on for $29.99 per year or $3 a month. It would have been a bonus if DreamShield had been included with some of DreamHost’s premium pricing tiers, but that doesn't take away from this platform’s robust security posture.

The competition

DreamHost is going up against some impressive names in the world of email hosting but holds its own. Although some, like IONOS, might represent a better choice for larger corporates  that are more focused on web hosting than email, DreamHost delivers a reliable email service. It’s also appreciated that DreamHost users can sign up for its email hosting even if their web domain is with a different platform. 

Interesting, when it comes to Google Workspace, it seems like DreamHost has decided that if you can’t beat them, it’s better to join them. This is because DreamHost offers a service where Google Workspace is provided in parallel. This option gives customer a stress-free way of connecting their domain with Google Workspace, with DreamHost taking care of the set-up. Customers will be put on a single payment plan for DreamHost hosting plans, domains, and Google Workspace so they have streamline billing for receiving all these services.

DreamHost: Final verdict

Purely as an email provider, DreamHost is a decent option for businesses. It boasts good security and support and all the core features you’d expect are included. It’s disappointing that there’s no email with its cheapest hosting plan and malware removal costs extra, but the close Google Workspace integration is an interesting addition. There’s plenty to praise here. 

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Sketch is a prototyping and design tool for macOS, available from since 2010, with quite the reputation. For many UI and UX designers using Apple hardware, Sketch is THE software to use, covering every stage from wireframes through to final handoff. It offers advanced collaboration, feedback, and permission settings, and there is even the option to use the browser version.

Dutch developer Sketch B.V. has overseen this tool since the beginning, with its primary macOS version complemented with prototype preview apps on iPad and iPhone. There is no Windows version, and no Android app.

This is award-winning software, highly regarded across the industry, with a selection of license options depending on the size of your team and project. 

Sketch: Plans and pricing

Three pricing options are available for Sketch, suitable for difference users. You’ve got the option of the Standard subscription for solo designers and small teams, the Mac-only license for solo designers, and the Business subscription.

At first glance, these seem a little confusing, but the differences clearly defined in the pricing and description.

The Standard subscription is $10 per editor per month (billed annually - $12 per editor with monthly billing) and includes access to the Mac app, the browser app (essentially a project overview), and iPhone/iPad design previews. A 30-day trial version is available with this subscription.

If the Mac-only license is more attractive, this is $120 “per seat” (also known as a “named user license”) and includes just the Mac app – there is no browser version. However, this is a single purchase, with 12-months of updates, and a free trial.

Finally, the Business subscription is $20 per editor per month, available only with annual billing. This includes everything in the Standard subscription, plus single sign-on, unlimited online storage, permissions management, and invoicing. Teams with 25 editors or more also get priority support and a dedicated customer manager.

A free option is available for students and educators, if the relevant information is required.

Sketch: Features

Sketch is compatible with any Apple system running macOS Monterey 12.0.0 or later. 

It’s essentially a vector graphics editor set up with a focus to design user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) for websites and mobile apps. It uses a proprietary format, .sketch, which can be opened in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and various other programs. (Some competing UI/UX design programs can open and import .sketch projects.)

Along with website and mobile projects, Sketch’s illustration can be used to create icons, and illustrations. The application is designed for a smooth exchange of ideas between designers, developers, and managers, with smart feedback options, while complete design systems can be constructed for single or multiple projects.

Recent versions of Sketch have revised workflows, with superior collaboration, file organization, and the ability to store and sync projects. Design systems can be shared, favorites pinned, and the interface customized to suit how you work.

Sketch is optimized for Apple Silicon, so owners of newer Macs and MacBooks can use the software with confidence. 

While limited to macOS, Sketch projects can be viewed in the browser (with the correct subscription). Meanwhile, projects can be previewed using an iPhone or iPad, as part of the testing, collaboration, and feedback process.

Sketch: Ease of use

Sketch features a comparatively small number of templates compared with competing design apps. These are, sadly, largely unsuitable for website and app design, instead more appropriate for business cards and flyers.

This is an unfortunate barrier to learning how to use the software. Happily Sketch is easy enough. I was able to pull together a rudimentary page design based on a physical sketch in just a few minutes. With the basics of the page outlined, you can either build a wireframe for your site or app, or switch to the prototype tools.

As designs are built, they’re synced to the Sketch server. This means that the design can be viewed in your browser your Sketch workspace on any computer, and oversee access permissions, inspect layers, etc. Comments can also be placed here.

Sketch features all of the design, placement, alignment, and laying tools you would expect. Importing images is straightforward, as is handing off your design. 

Sketch: Customer support

Various resources are provided to help you make the most of Sketch. A searchable index of guides is provided (under the label “Documentation”), covering every step from starting your first design to developer handoff. 

For technical queries, a searchable knowledgebase offers solutions to billing, account management, licenses, and other issues. Where a solution cannot be found, or provides inadequate information, you can contact the Sketch tech support team directly. 

Finally, a Sketch Community Forum also exists, at forum.sketch.com. This is a busy community of Sketch users, which includes boards for tips and tricks, feature suggestion, and latest news about the product. We think this is one of the best such forums around.

Sketch has a Trustpilot score of 3.5, although this is from a small number of reviews.

Sketch: Competition

Since its initial launch, Sketch has seen off many rivals. Unsurprisingly, they keep on coming, and some have been more successful than others. As a Mac-only design app, it makes sense to compare this with similar tools available on macOS.

Figma, for example, is a key competitor, available on Windows and in the browser as well as on macOS. Another competitor, Balsamiq, also offers Windows and browser support alongside its core Apple audience. Indeed, Balsamiq offers a very strong wireframing experience, and Figma’s design interface is easily on par with Sketch. 

However, I’d place Sketch just ahead of Figma, which is slightly more expensive. Sketch also feels just that bit more “Apple.”

Sketch: Final verdict

Sketch offers a strong, compelling design interface for creating all manner of visual experiences. We’re looking at it mainly as a UX/UI prototyping and design tool, but Sketch is suitable for other purposes too. This is demonstrated by the various templates it includes.

Significantly, Sketch is far from the most expensive design tool of this type on macOS. While some competitors offer Windows and browser options, Sketch focuses on the core platform, too its credit.

The design landscape on macOS is incredible. However, if you’re looking for a focused web and app UX/UI design and prototyping solution with affordable pricing across all tiers, Sketch is the top choice.

We list the best desktop publishing software.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a veteran free security tool which has kept Windows users safe from all kinds of threats for more than 15 years.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus is a paid version with real-time antivirus protection, blocking of phishing and other malicious websites, and a full and unlimited Mullvad-powered VPN thrown in.

It’s a little light on features compared to the competition. There’s no password manager, for instance. No data breach monitoring. No webcam or microphone hijacking protection, no firewall, no device performance tools, file shredder or anything else.

If you’re more interested in antivirus software than bundled extras, though, Malwarebytes’ stripped-back simplicity could be a very good thing, and in this review we’ll take a very close look at just how well it can keep you safe,

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Pricing

Malwarebytes Premium Plus gets you malware protection and the full Malwarebytes Premium VPN for $60 a year to cover a single Windows, Mac or mobile device.

You’ve more hardware to protect? A five device license costs $100; you can protect 10 devices for $165, or 20 devices for $295. Sign up for two years and there’s a 15% discount. And if you’re not happy, a generous 60-day money-back guarantee gives you plenty of time to spot problems and request a refund.

If you need a VPN and only have a single device to protect, this looks like a very good deal. Buying Mullvad alone would cost you 5 Euros a month, for instance (although that covers up to five devices), $64-$65; Malwarebytes Premium Plus gives you access to the same servers for a dollar or two less, and the malware protection effectively comes for free.

If you’re looking to cover more devices, it’s a slightly different story. Norton 360 Deluxe, for example, has a more basic (though still unlimited data) VPN, but far more antivirus and privacy features. It’s cheaper in year one at $50 to cover five devices, and only a little more expensive at $120 a year on renewal.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Getting started

Malwarebytes Premium has a straightforward interface with a very few panels, buttons and options, all clearly labeled and easy to understand. Click the Scan to launch an antivirus scan, or the On button in the VPN panel to turn the VPN on, and that could be all you need to know.

Experts shouldn’t feel short-changed because there are also plenty of advanced configuration options. A single example: Malwarebytes uses lots of powerful low-level techniques to protect apps from exploits (DEP enforcement, heap spray detection and so on.) If you know what you’re doing then you can customize these in lots of ways, perhaps hardening security by turning more features on, or reducing conflicts by turning some off.

In real world use, Malwarebytes Premium initially appears simple to use. Click Scan, say, and you don’t have to decide if you want a Quick Scan, Smart Scan or a System Scan: Malwarebytes just scans your memory, startup files and most commonly-infected system areas, and delivers its verdict in 6-7 minutes.

It’s much the same story on the VPN side. A panel on the dashboard shows your current location, and you can change this, connect and disconnect with a click: easy.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Usability issues

Malwarebytes Premium made a good first impression with us, but it didn’t take long for usability issues to appear.

If Malwarebytes falsely blocks a file or website, for instance, there’s no easy way to restore it. Many antivirus apps allow you to restore and exclude falsely flagged files in a couple of clicks, but Malwarebytes forces you to go through multiple extra steps. Sometimes, we found even these didn’t work as expected.

For example, the first time Malwarebytes falsely flagged a file, we went to Quarantine and hit Restore, expecting this to add the file to the Allow List. It didn’t, so when we ran it, Malwarebytes blocked the file again. We went to Quarantine, hit Restore, went to the Allow List, added it manually, ran the file; Malwarebytes blocked it again. Eventually, we turned off real-time protection, installed the app, and turned protection back on. Not good for security, but there was no obvious alternative.

We’ve a separate concern over the ability to turn Malwarebytes off entirely. Most antivirus protect you automatically, unless you intentionally disable them; right-click the Malwarebytes system tray, hit Exit, and the app and its protection closes down in seconds. That could be positive if you’re an experienced user who needs that level of control, but if your own users are not technical at all, the ability to so easily close your antivirus down might be a worry.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Independent lab results

We’re always interested to see how an antivirus performs when tested by the big independent labs. The Malwarebytes website seems to give an answer by telling us it was awarded ‘Product of the Year 2024 at AVLab.’ Sounds good, but in reality that’s a general award AV Lab gives to everyone that achieves certain detection rates and other criteria, and 10 out of 13 vendors in the same test also made ‘Product of the Year.’

We prefer to follow nine key antivirus tests from top labs including AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and MRG Effitas, but, unfortunately, Malwarebytes hasn’t appeared recently in any of these.

Other Malwarebytes products are occasionally assessed by MRG Effitas, giving us a general idea of the company’s abilities. Malwarebytes’ Android app passed MRG Effitas’ Android 360° Assessment, for instance, competing well with big names including Avast, Avira, Bitdefender and Norton.

Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection excelled in a 2022 MRG Effitas Windows  360° Assessment & Certification report, outperforming the competition and blocking every threat. That’s another strong indication that the company knows what it’s doing and can compete with the best, but it also can’t tell us much about how Malwarebytes Premium Plus is performing in 2024.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Malware protection

While the independent testing lab results are important, we also run our own tests to get a closer look at how each antivirus performs.

We attempted to download 100 brand new malware samples on our review laptop. Malwarebytes blocked a decent 90%, outperforming Norton’s 87%, but fractionally behind Avast and Bitdefender’s 94%.

We run a second test which attempts to exploit standard Windows tools to download malicious files. We’re looking to see whether an antivirus recognizes and blocks the exploit part of the attack, or allows the exploit and blocks the malicious file.

Malwarebytes showed very little sign of recognizing or blocking the exploits, which could leave it more exposed to new threats. But it also successfully blocked all the malicious files and URLs we tried, so we can’t complain about Malwarebytes’ protection throughout the tests.

Our third test pits an antivirus against our own custom ransomware simulator. This has never appeared in the wild, so no app can recognize it from the file signature alone, making this a good test of behavior monitoring.

Malwarebytes didn’t notice our simulator, unfortunately, and allowed it to encrypt more than 5GB of documents and files. Some big name vendors also have difficulty with this test: Avira didn’t detect our simulator, either, for instance; Avast spotted it initially, but one small change to the file and it went undetected. Norton stopped our ransomware, though it encrypted six files first. But our anti-ransomware king is Bitdefender, which immediately killed the simulator without losing a single file.

Overall, our tests and Malwarebytes’ occasional MRG Effitas results suggest the company has a decent mid-range antivirus engine which can compete with the best security vendors, at least in some areas. But we didn’t find it leading the way in any tests, and the reality is you can get better protection elsewhere.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Anti-phishing

The best security apps don’t just block threats as they arrive: they prevent you accessing them in the first place. That’s why we’re very interested in an app’s ability to keep you safe from phishing and other malicious websites.

Malwarebytes blocks web dangers at the network level, allowing it to protect every browser and app you use. That’s a big improvement on some big name competitors. We found Bitdefender only fully protected the top browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Edge), for instance, while Norton 360 Deluxe requires you to install browser extensions.

Malwarebytes isn’t included in AV-Comparatives’ anti-phishing test, so we ran an effectiveness test of our own, attempting to access 100 brand new phishing URLs on our review laptop. The results weren’t bad, with Malwarebytes blocking 87% of threats, but it still trailed a little behind Avast (93%), Norton (95%), Bitdefender (96%) and Avira (an amazing 100%.)

Although that’s mildly disappointing, Malwarebytes has a second line of protection in its Browser Guard browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. Not only does this block known malicious sites, it also eliminates ads and trackers, stops web-based malware such as crypto-currency miners, and can apparently analyse web pages to identify brand-new tech support scams.

(This is an impressive feature list, but Browser Guard is available for free, and you don’t have to buy Malwarebytes Premium Plus to install it on as many devices as you need.)

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Privacy VPN

Malwarebytes Premium Plus includes a full-powered VPN to protect you on public Wi-Fi and help to hide your identity online, wherever you are.

The service uses Mullvad’s network underneath, good news as Mullvad is one the fastest and most privacy-focused VPNs around. There are issues, too - Mullvad’s network is a fairly average size at 44 countries (that’s 72nd place in our best VPN charts), and it’s extremely poor at unblocking Netflix and other streaming sites - but if it’s privacy you’re after, the service is one of the smarter choices.

The VPN is accessed directly from the main Malwarebytes dashboard. We found it always chose Sweden as its default location, a small inconvenience as we then had to choose our next location manually. But connection times were fast at around a second (some VPNs take five seconds or more.)

The location list is a little short on features. You can’t sort it, or search for specific locations; there’s no ping or load information to help you find the best option, and no favorites system to easily select frequently-used servers.

The Windows app doesn’t support common interface shortcuts, either. Connecting to our nearest UK server with ExpressVPN is as simple as double-clicking UK in its location list. With Malwarebytes, we must click ‘UK’, then manually choose a city, then click ‘Change’, then click ‘On.’

Still, while this might feel a little frustrating if you’re used to smarter apps, it’s not difficult to use. Even total privacy novices will understand the basics with only a minute or two of playing around, and be ready to protect themselves online.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: VPN Features

While the Malwarebytes app interface is limited, don’t be fooled: it has more features than some specialist VPNs.

The app can automatically connect when you access unsecured Wi-Fi, for instance. Split tunneling allows you to decide which apps (or IP addresses) have their traffic routed through the VPN, and which use your regular internet connection. And you can tell the app to use a custom DNS server, if you can think of a good reason to do that.

A very flexible multi-hop system allows you to route your traffic through any two Malwarebytes locations (you connect from Chicago to New York, Mullvad routes you to London, then on to your destination, for example ). That’ll slow you down a little, but it adds even more protection, as even if someone compromises the exit server, they still won’t be able to link traffic to you.

There’s no choice of protocol, unfortunately: Malwarebytes Privacy uses WireGuard only. But there are some low-level connection features, including the ability to choose your preferred tunnel driver or allow access to local network devices when the VPN is connected.

Put it all together and it’s an impressive feature list, with far more power than we usually see with a security suite VPN.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Kill switch

It’s good to see that Malwarebytes Privacy has a kill switch ready to step in if the VPN drops, ensuring your device can’t send traffic over an unprotected connection.

The bad news is this is the most aggressive type of kill switch. Turn it on, and you can’t access the internet at all, ever, unless the VPN is connected. That’s very secure, but if you only need to use the VPN occasionally - to protect yourself when using public Wi-Fi, say - then having to leave the VPN on all the time isn’t exactly convenient. We much prefer the gentler approach used by most other providers, where the kill switch blocks your internet if the VPN fails during a session, but if you turn the VPN off, you can use your regular connection as normal.

We had an odd technical issue on one review system, where the kill switch was so aggressive that even the VPN couldn’t connect when it was turned on. This might have been some odd quirk of our test laptop, but it’s not a problem we’ve had with other VPNs.

Switching to a second system got the Malwarebytes kill switch working, though, and our tests showed it performed very well. Whether we closed the VPN session manually, killed key Malwarebytes processed or just turned our router off and on again, it correctly blocked internet access until the VPN was up and running again.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: VPN Performance

Malwarebytes Privacy VPN uses Mullvad servers, and previous experience tells us they’re some of the fastest around. We tested the service on a fast 1Gbps connection, and the results were hugely impressive. Out of 10 SpeedTest checks, the median download speed was an excellent 920Mbps, and even the slowest was a still-speedy 225Mbps.

Mullvad’s servers aren’t so good at unblocking. In our last full tests, they got us into US Netflix and BBC iPlayer, but failed with Disney+, Amazon Prime, Netflix UK, Australia, Canada and Japan, and more. You might get lucky if you only need one or two streaming sites, but we wouldn’t bet on it.

There’s more to bypassing VPN detection than streaming sites. If you’ve used a VPN before you’ll know many sites spot this, get scared you’re a bot, and display annoying ‘click the tiles with a bicycle’-type CAPTCHAs. To test how well a VPN avoids this, we visit 11 sites which try very hard to detect VPNs and record what happens.

Malwarebytes did well, with two sites recognizing we were using a VPN but nine not raising any alerts. That outperforms even NordVPN, which was detected by four of our test sites, and suggests Malwarebytes can help maintain your online privacy without the browsing hassles you’ll see with lesser VPNs.

Malwarebytes Premium Plus: Final verdict

Who is Malwarebytes Premium Plus for? We’re not sure. If you’re mostly interested in low-cost antivirus, Avast Free gives you equivalent or perhaps slightly better protection at zero cost. But if you’re after power and features, the likes of Norton 360 Deluxe give you vastly more functionality (including a full VPN) for only a little cost.

We think the app could make a sensible upgrade if you’re a free Malwarebytes Anti-Malware user. You’re getting access to Mullvad’s excellent VPN network for less than if you’d gone direct to Mullvad, with essential real-time malware protection thrown in. But if you’re not already committed to Malwarebytes, you’ll get better protection and more features elsewhere.

We feature the best cloud antivirus.

Zoho Mail works best alongside other solutions from the same vendor. While there are some email providers that are content to simply deliver the best service possible for sending and receiving messages, some vendors see email as just one part of a broader digital ecosystem. That seems to be the case with Zoho Mail, which while serving as an effective and affordable business email platform in its own right, really comes into its own when you combine it with some of the other tools that fall under the brand’s cloud operating system. 

For instance, businesses may also want to explore Zoho CRM, one of our picks for the best CRM software on the market today, Zoho Forms, and Zoho Recruit. Although integrations with third-party software can be somewhat limited, connecting with the plethora of other solutions manufactured by Zoho is straightforward. For example, Zoho Mail works great at connecting to Zoho Meeting as there’s a shortcut to creating a meeting straight from your usual calendar app. 

In other areas, Zoho Mail is impressive too. It comes with some very reasonable pricing plans, generous amounts of cloud storage, and several first-rate collaboration tools. If you’re thinking of joining the Zoho tribe, you’ll be in good company. The company’s software is used by more than 100 million users globally, many of whom are very happy with Zoho Mail, in particular.

Zoho Mail: Plans and pricing

Zoho Mail is available at three pricing tiers: Mail Lite, Workplace, and Mail Premium. As you’d expect the features available at each level vary and this is reflected in the pricing. It must be said, however, all three are available at a reasonable price that compares well against the other business email platforms on the market.  

Mail Lite will set you back $1 per user per month if you only need 5GB of storage or slightly more if you want 10GB. Workplace, meanwhile, costs $3 per user per month, while the price for Mail Premium is set at $4 per user per month.

It’s also worth pointing out that there’s a generous free forever plan for up to five users who can access 5GB of storage per user, web access and free mobile apps, email hosting for a single domain, and attachments as large as 25MB. And larger enterprises can also contact sales directly to get a custom quote for more bespoke plans. 

The unique aspect of Zoho Mail’s pricing is that it offers flexible options to users, who can mix and match different plans for different users within the same organization. This kind of customization isn’t usually offered by email providers but could be hugely beneficial - especially for smaller businesses that may want to keep a tighter leash on budgets. 

Features

In terms of features, Mail Lite subscribers gain access to email hosting for multiple domains, email routing, offline access, tasks, notes, and bookmarks, a shared calendar, and more. Mail Premium customers, meanwhile, get everything included in Mail Light, plus their attachments can now be up to 1GB in size, they gain email backup and restoration and white labeling.

The Workplace plan is a little different as it’s about offering more than just email. It’s Zoho complete communication suite, which comes with business email, as well as online office apps to help with productivity. So as well as secure business email, customers also get an online file manager, wordprocessor, spreadsheet, chat communication tools, and an intranet.

In terms of collaboration, all pricing plans also come with access to the Streams collaboration tool, which allows users to share emails or posts and start social media-style conversations around them. It fosters teamwork while providing structure around any collaborative project.

Support

For customer support, Zoho Mail isn’t bad but certainly could be better. It does offer 24/7 phone support in 20 countries across the world, including the US, UK, India, Australia, and South Africa for paid subscribers but there’s no live chat support. With the fast improvement of AI tools, especially AI chatbots, this is disappointing and we’d be interested to see if this is added as a Zoho Mail support option any time soon. 

Other support options include a well-stocked help center with a range of documents and how-to guides, plus an FAQ page. There’s also the option of completing an online form or sending Zoho support an email. In our experience, the support team was friendly and helpful, and happily walked us through anything we were struggling with. 

Security

Zoho Mail performs strongly in terms of its security standards, something that businesses understandably take extremely seriously due to the financial and reputational damage that can ensue if even a single breach occurs. With that in mind, Zoho Mail makes it easy to block suspicious email addresses and boasts several compliance certificates, including SOC2 compliance. 

The platform also includes encryption as standard for data both in transit and at rest. In terms of identity management, Zoho Mail also boasts two-factor authentication and OAuth 2.0 support. There’s also a range of data protection tools available, including DMARC, malware detection, and advanced spam filtering.

The competition

There are a multitude of business email platforms on the market today, but Zoho Mail fares well against them all. It’s well-priced, reliable, and intuitive. It is a shame that its integration functionality seems to only really be geared towards other Zoho products. Although Zoho suite of tools is pretty extensive, it’s not hard to imagine a company wanting to use a tool from another vendor. There are other email providers on the market that do a better job of integrating with third-party solutions. 

Zoho Mail clearly views the likes of Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Proton Mail, and GoDaddy as its main competitors as these are the ones where comparison services are offered on its own website. It’s true that Zoho Mail does stack up pretty well in terms of features when compared to some of these players - but it ultimately all depends on what you’re looking for.  

Zoho Mail: Final verdict

Zoho Mail is a strong business email service. The integration may not be the best and the lack of live chat support is disappointing, but this is still a very good email platform - especially if you’re a user of some of Zoho’s other tools.

We've also featured the best email hosting services.

Malwarebytes is a popular security app which claims to be the ‘#1 malware removal and protection software.’ We’re not quite sure about that, but with millions of users and more than fifteen years experience in the Windows malware-removing business, and Mac, Android and iOS versions available too, it’s clearly doing something right.

Malwarebytes Free is a stripped back version with one significant limit: there’s no real-time protection. It’s not suitable as your main antivirus software, because the app won’t monitor threats as they launch and run, making it unable to stop dangers such as ransomware. The free Malwarebytes is more of a second opinion scanner, something to run alongside another antivirus. If you think you’re infected by a threat your main antivirus has missed, run a scan with Malwarebytes Free and see if it can clean up your system.

That’s the idea, anyway. In this review we’ll look at what Malwarebytes Free has to offer and find out how well it can spot and remove threats.

Malwarebytes Free: Getting started

Malwarebytes Free was easy to install on our test Windows system, and we had it up and running in a couple of minutes. Users are offered a 7 to 14 day Malwarebytes Premium trial during signup, but this is optional, and you can opt out of the trial and use the basic app for free if you prefer.

Malwarebytes Free for Windows has various panels, buttons and settings, but most of them are labeled ‘Premium’ and not available to Free users. There’s no real-time protection or VPN, for instance, no Quick Scan, no  scheduled scans, and no blocking of malicious websites (although we’ll look at an alternative to that.) 

The free edition is missing some key options, too. Paid Malwarebytes can check for updates every hour, to catch new threats as soon as possible; Malwarebytes Free only checks every six hours.

There is one plus with having next-to-no features, though: it makes Malwarebytes Free extremely easy to use. Hit Scan to check your system (faster than most at just six to seven minutes), or right-click something in Explorer and select ‘Scan with Malwarebytes’, and that could be all you need to know.

The other Malwarebytes Free advantage is that it clearly highlights paid-only features. Some free apps don’t do this, which means you’re regularly clicking buttons and being told ‘nope, can’t do that unless you pay.’ That’s seriously annoying, but it’s mostly avoided with Malwarebytes, because you can clearly see which features you can use and which you can’t.

Malwarebytes Free: Test results

When reviewing full antivirus apps, we normally assess their effectiveness by checking reports from testing labs including AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, MRG Effitas and SE Labs. Unfortunately, even the paid Malwarebytes products don’t appear in any recent reports from the tests we follow.

In our own most recent tests, Malwarebytes does a good mid-range job of detecting malicious files. We scanned 100 brand new malware samples, and Malwarebytes blocked a decent 90%, outperforming Norton’s 87%, but fractionally behind Avast and Bitdefender’s 94%.

Scan times are a little better than average for the first scan. Malwarebytes took around 29 minutes to scan 30GB of test files, a little behind Avira’s 26:30, but faster than Norton (32 minutes), Avast (36 minutes) and Bitdefender (37:44.)

But that’s not quite the story. Although Norton and Bitdefender are relatively slow on the first scan, they only check new and changed files after that, so their second scans took four minutes (Norton) and thirty seconds (Bitdefender.) Malwarebytes can’t match that, and its second scan still took around 28 minutes. 

Malwarebytes Free: Browser Guard

Malwarebytes Free doesn’t include anti-phishing or any other type of web protection, but the company has another product which could help. Malwarebytes Browser Guard is a free Chrome, Firefox and Edge extension for desktops which blocks ads, trackers, website malware and assorted other scam sites.

We installed Browser Guard and tried to access 100 new phishing sites. The results on Chrome were very good, with the extension blocking 97% of our URLs. A clear warning in our browser window explained the reasons, and gave us the chance to visit if we were sure the site was safe.

It was a different story with Edge, unfortunately. Browser Guard appeared to be installed, and displayed information on the current site, but only blocked a fraction of the links we saw on the Chrome version.

Add the complaints we saw from several users about Browser Guard blocking several legitimate sites and it’s not an option we can recommend. 

Malwarebytes Free: Upgrades and alternatives

If you like Malwarebytes Free but need more features, Malwarebytes Standard adds real-time protection, anti-ransomware and effective blocking of phishing and other malicious websites (far better than the free Browser Guard we’ve discussed above.) 

Malwarebytes Standard costs $44.99 to protect a single device, $79.99 to cover five, or $129.99 to protect 10. That’s not bad, but there are better deals around. Bitdefender Antivirus Plus has far more features and protects up to three Windows devices for the same $44.99 in year one. (It renews at $60 a year, but still looks the better option to us.)

Malwarebytes Premium Plus adds a valuable plus in an unlimited Mullvad-powered VPN, yet only costs $60 a year to protect one device, or $100 to protect five. If might be worth a try if you like Malwarebytes and could use the VPN, but again, there’s plenty of competition around. Norton 360 Deluxe is a better security suite with a full VPN, but it’s cheaper in year one at $50 to cover five devices, and only a little more expensive at $120 a year on renewal.

If you’re after more features but you’ve no money at all, try Avast One Free. It’s a full antivirus replacement with real-time protection, a limited VPN (5GB data a week) and some of the best detection rates around.

Malwarebytes Free: Final verdict

If you’re a not-so-technical type who prefers your antivirus to stay out of the way and only warn you if it spots something nasty, Malwarebytes Free has little to offer. The lack of automatic real-time protection means it won’t even go looking for threats unless you ask it to do so.

But if you’re more experienced, always installing the latest free apps, then Malwarebytes makes a useful second line of defense to run alongside a regular antivirus. If you’re suddenly suspicious of that free VPN app you installed yesterday, having Malwarebytes around gives you a quick way to check if it’s safe, or needs removing immediately.

We feature the best cloud antivirus.

DJI is best known for its aerial cameras - so, we weren’t expecting the company to launch a set of portable power stations designed to charge its popular line-up of drones alongside other devices. But that’s exactly what we have with the DJI Power 500. A small, highly portable unit that’s not too heavy and full of ports and sockets. Can the makers of some of the best drones out there surge ahead in the portable power station market? Having tested many of the best portable station units out there, we put it to the test.  

DJI Power 500: Unboxing & first impression

From out of its no-nonsense box, this modest black unit rises, encased in packaging foam and suitably protected, both top and bottom. The DJI Power 500 is sleek and small, and around the same size as the Anker PowerHouse 535, another 512Wh power station. 

Once we’d unwrapped the unit, we found the rest of the contents to be thin on the ground - although the inclusion of an on-the-go vehicle charger for drones is a great addition. 

Included in the box is: 

• 1x DJI Power 500
• 1x quick start guide
• 1x charging cable
• 1x car outlet to SDC cable

DJI Power 500: Fit & feel

Out of the box, the Power 500 came charged a little over halfway, which we expect to see from a device powered by a LiFePO4 battery. The unit itself is fairly classic, although you might struggle to identify this coming from the same company that brought us the DJI Mini 4 Pro or Air 3; there isn’t that Apple-like brand consistency acting as a throughline between products. 

While it may not break the mould, it still looks great - a clean, black box with curved edges, rubberized feet, and a svelte silhouette. USB ports and the pill-shaped power button on top lay flush, while sockets and inputs are slightly raised, giving the Power 500 some sense of profile. 

Weighing a little over 7kg / 16lb, it’s just light enough for one person to carry - a feat made easier with the built-in handle, although you’ll feel the load in your arms.

On the front of the unit you’ll find:

• 2x AC Output
• 2x USB-C
• 2x USB-A
• 1x SDC Lite
• 1x AC Input
• AC button
• Power button
• Fast charge switch

Given the nature of this device, that’s about what we’d expect to see on a portable power station of this size (although you can never have too many ports). And, of course, it has the added bonus of being able to charge SDC-powered drones alongside mobile devices. 

Rapping on the chassis of the power station, the body has a definite plastic feel to it. It feels hard and durable enough, but this isn’t designed for rugged outdoor use, as evidenced by the lack of IP rating. At least the SDC port and AC input feature rubber gaskets for extra protection, but for best results, avoid exposing the Power 500 to the elements.

DJI Power 500: In use

Before we got started, we charged up the unit, which took around forty-ish minutes on a standard charge. However, tucked behind the AC input covering, you’ll also find a switch that lets you move from 270w charging to a 540w fast charge. And, happy days, unlike so many power stations we’ve recently reviewed, you can charge this one with the standard IEC C13/14 socket and connector. No worrying about losing an expensive-to-replace proprietary cable here. In addition to this, you can also charge the device using USB-C, although this method is slower. According to the manufacturer, a full charge takes three hours.

Using the DJI Power 500 is simple and efficient thanks to a bright, clear LCD screen. It’s not too cluttered or loaded with unnecessary details and ambiguous icons. Displayed as a percentage to the left, you’ll see the amount of power remaining, while beneath this is a bar measuring battery level during recharge. Although we didn’t experience any during our time with the unit, you’ll also find error messages and warning lights appearing under this bar. Along the top of the screen, you can see which ports and sockets are currently active, and to the right is where input and outputs are displayed.

DJI bills the Power 500 as quiet - up to just 25dB. And we have to say, during our own tests charging a Surface laptop, Pixel phone, and a Nintendo Switch, it was, impressively, near-silent in operation throughout, with no issues with heating. Our devices sapped away at the unit’s battery at more or less the rate we’d expect for a portable power station of this size. DJI estimates the unit will maintain over 70% capacity after 4000 cycles. 

Connections were pleasantly firm, and the USB ports in particular have an assuring grip to them. We never felt as though cables may accidentally work their way free or otherwise come free. 

Carrying the device isn’t too much of a strain either. That’s not to say it’s super lightweight - you certainly know you have it in your hand - but for anyone of moderate strength, one-handed carry isn’t a pipe-dream. We also found the handle to be well-designed for tilting the unit back at an angle, which lets you view the screen from a standing position. One eye on your power supply, the other on the sky. Although the handle features no grips or contoured moldings to add comfort or assistance to the matte plastic, the thick, ovular design nestled nicely into the palm and for short distances, we found it relaxed and easy to transport. 

DJI Power 500: Final verdict

The DJI Power 500 is a compact portable power station with enough juice to keep you going while camping, hiking, road-tripping, and general adventuring. We found no issues with performance, and the neat design will absolutely grow on you as it did us. But it’s still a niche product. 

We wouldn’t whole-heartedly recommend this power station to the casual user. You can find cheaper units available with more or less the same specifications, with extra generic ports and sockets than you’ll get here. However, none will offer the unique selling point of the Power 500: the ability to recharge DJI drones on the go. If you want that, alongside all the other benefits of a highly portable power station, the DJI Power 500 is an excellent choice. 

Should I buy the DJI Power 500?

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Looking for something smaller? We compared the best laptop power banks. 

Fossibot DT2: 30-second review

The Fossibot DT2 is designed for professionals who need a rugged tablet capable of surviving harsh environments. Aimed at users who require a device for fieldwork or adventure, the DT2's reinforced frame and textured, rubberised design contribute to its durability. Its IP68 and IP69K ratings and MIL-STD-810H certification reinforce its resistance to water, dust, and shock.

Like all the best rugged tablets we've tested, here the tablet's large 10.4-inch 2K IPS display is bright and readable even in direct sunlight, making it suitable for outdoor use. At the heart of the tablet is a Helio G99 octa-core processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, which is more than enough for the DT2 to handle basic office tasks and multimedia playback and streaming, though it struggles with more demanding applications.

Ensuring smooth running, the DT2 uses Android 13, which offers the usual user-friendly interface. Thankfully, Fossibot has opted for minimal pre-installed apps. Battery life is a standout feature, lasting up to 75 days on standby and over 24 hours of continuous video playback. Connectivity options include cellular support, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth, ensuring decent performance in a variety of settings, signal permitting, of course.

While the built-in speakers and camera are well spec'd they're, they’re not top-tier, so image quality and sound should be considered good enough for general use, such as video conferencing, watching back video, and taking site images. Overall, the Fossibot DT2 is a reliable choice for those needing a durable tablet for fieldwork and industrial applications.

Fossibot DT2: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £269 / $369
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it Amazon or the Fossibot website

The Fossibot DT2 is competitively priced at £269 / $369 and offers excellent value for its robust features. It is available through various online retailers and the official Fossibot website. Considering its durability, battery life, and functionality, it stands out as an affordable option for field professionals.

• Value: 4 / 5

Fossibot DT2: Specifications

Fossibot DT2: Design

• Outdoor styling 
• Large Touch Screen
• Can withstand being dropped

The Fossibot DT2 features a rugged design that prioritises durability. Its reinforced frame and textured, rubberised casing reflect its robust nature and help to ensure that it is resistant to accidental drops, water, and dust. The DT2, while relatively compact, is surprisingly heavy, once again reflecting its solid build. Even when looking at the 10.4-inch display, you'll see that it is surrounded by reinforced corners, further helping to ensure that it is drop-proof. While the tablet has been designed for professionals, Fossibot has tried to lift the design with a choice of bright blue or yellow design accents, which help to slightly break it away from its otherwise purely functional design. Backing up the rugged go-anywhere styling come the certifications for toughness, highlighting that it doesn't just look the part. It has the certificates to prove it is.

Obviously, with a tablet, the screen is the focus, and here, the DT2's screen specifications highlight its focus for outdoor use with the bright 500cd/m² max brightness 10.4-inch screen offering a 2K IPS FHD+ resolution. The screen-to-body ratio is 94%, so while there is all that reinforcement around the edge, it doesn't dominate the device like some other tough tablets. When it comes to the screen's responsiveness, the In-Cell Touch technology does a great job of being responsive to normal use and having a little more resilience in wetter conditions. However, like another touch screen, it won't work when very wet or submerged in water.

In use, the screen is bright and easy to see in all but the very brightest lighting conditions. Whether that is indoors or out, and while the screen surface is gloss, the surface controls reflections well, generally offering excellent visibility. A nice touch that works in combination with the Android operating system is the auto-brightness feature, which adjusts the screen brightness according to the environment. Still, manual adjustments can also be made if needed. 

Inside, the brightness of the screen is ideal for all situations, with plenty of adjustment options. Outdoors, the 500cd/m² peak brightness provides a decent view of the screen, although in very bright conditions, a little shading might be needed. The colour accuracy and viewing angles are OK for various activities such as watching videos, reading, and light gaming. However, suppose you're a photographer or videographer and want to check your images or footage. In that case, it's worth knowing that the colour profiles of this machine are better suited for general use. 

• Design: 4 / 5

Fossibot DT2: Features

The Fossibot DT2 is designed with durability as its top priority. Its reinforced frame and textured, rubberised casing ensure that it should survive most drops, water, and dust, making it an ideal choice for professionals working in challenging environments or those seeking a bit of adventure but still wanting to take some tech. The DT2 is relatively compact but heavy, at 253.4 x 163.25 20.5mm and weighing in at 1065g. This means that it will slip into a backpack neatly without adding too much bulk, but you will feel the weight.

The aesthetics of the tablet are decidedly outdoor themed, and along with the texturised surface to aid purchase and camping light on the back, you have a choice of a bright blue or yellow design accent, which helps to add a touch of style to its functional design, also helpful if you have several devices for different work teams. Finishing the physical features, that tablet has been awarded IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H certifications, proving that the DT2 is built to withstand the toughest conditions.

The 10.4-inch display dominates the front of the tablet, as you would expect, and offers a 1200x2000 (2K IPS FHD+) resolution with a 3:5 aspect ratio and a pixel density of 225 PPI. The brightness ranges from 400cd/m² (MIN) to 500cd/m² (Peak), with a typical brightness of 440cd/m², ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight.

At the heart of the tablet is a Helio G99 processor and 12GB of RAM, which deliver decent performance for basic office tasks and multimedia. The hardware specs are tuned to balance performance and battery life, making it suitable for viewing and storing media files and working on office documents of various types. However, while it can be used for playing some games, this is far from its primary purpose. 

The onboard storage is relatively decent, considering the device's intended audience: 256 GB, which is expandable up to 2TB via a microSD card if more space is needed for media and documents.

One of the features that really stands out for anyone looking for a tablet with longevity between charges is the 22000mAh battery. This battery can last up to 75 days on standby and over 24 hours of continuous video playback. What's more, the 66W fast charge feature, which Fossibot highlights at a 15-minute charge, will enable you to boost the capacity to watch a 120-minute film.

The tablet runs on Android 13 OS, and thankfully, Fossibot has opted to keep the pre-installed apps light. This gives you the flexibility to install the apps you need and avoid bloating the system.

Connectivity options are all solid, with support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and cell networks. When it comes to physical connections, the tablet includes two ports: a USB-C port for connecting external accessories and additional storage and a microSD/TF/SIM slot. This port features a dual carrier for a microSD/TF and a SIM, so you can both expand the internal storage and connect to a network. 

The audio and camera capabilities are decent enough, with the speakers advertised as Quad Box Speakers for Acoustic Feast. The camera also looks impressive, with a 64MP rear camera and 32MP front camera. It should be ideal for site visits and capturing snapshots. The front-facing camera is suitable for video conferencing, and the specifications of this camera highlight that its performance should be good even in dim lighting conditions. 

The tablet also supports facial recognition and fingerprint sensors for enhanced security.

Alongside the main hardware features, DT2 ships with a built-in software toolbox that includes useful utilities like a compass, gradienter, and sound meter. The tablet also supports facial recognition and fingerprint sensors for enhanced security.

• Features: 4 / 5

Fossibot DT2: Performance

When it comes to performance, the Fossibot DT2 is better than many of its tough rivals. It has a little more processing clout and definitely feels more secure and likely to withstand the elements. When it came to basic computing tasks such as running the Google suite of office apps, the tablet performed well. The touch screen was nice and responsive, and the screens offered plenty of brightness adjustment in a variety of locations.

The hardware specs, while far from high-end, put in an impressive all-around performance. Along with the Google Applications, playing back video, viewing images, streaming web content, and video conferencing all worked well with smooth footage and clear visuals.

Although the hardware is tuned for battery life, the performance is still impressive. Most tasks demanded of the machine work well, even some gaming, although you can very much tell that this isn't the main focus or strength of the device. 

Likewise, the rear camera with the 64MP sensor is surprisingly good, with excellent clarity, tone and detail. The tablet utilises an Android basic camera app, which offers plenty of flexibility, and for most users, the clarity and quality of the images will be more than sufficient. If you're using the tablet to capture site photos, then the quality is more than high enough; likewise, if this is the only camera you have on your adventures, then again, the quality is still good enough for general shots. Still, it won't give you the options or tone and details of some of the latest smartphones, but compared with most other tablets, these images are on par. The front-facing camera is a lower resolution and designed primarily for video conferencing, although Fossibot has highlighted it for Selfies. However, for video conferencing, the camera works well and adapts well to lower light conditions. Considering the overall price of the tablet, the camera performs far better than expected. 

In general, the tablet performs well. Everyday use with apps, video, taking photos, and browsing the internet all provide that the DT2 is a decent all-rounder, although as you push it with multiple browser windows open or larger documents, you can see it start to struggle. Looking at the Benchmark tests further highlights this balanced performance, with a Geekbench 5 Multi-Core Score of 1872, a Single-Core Score of 655, and a GPU score of 1298. 

In 3D Mark, it scored 1208 in Wildlife and 3464 in Slingshot. These results indicate that the DT2 handles everyday tasks well, as we found in our real-world tests. In terms of multitasking, the DT2 handles the Google Docs suite well, with applications loading quickly and enabling smooth switching between them. However, when you push the system with gaming or more power-intensive apps, you will notice a drop in frame rates and processing speed. The system can slow down slightly when running multiple apps simultaneously, but it performs well considering its price point.

The 256GB of internal storage is enough for most uses. The microSD card expansion up to 2TB enables you to increase the space if needed for additional media and documents. 

Overall, the Fossibot DT2 offers decent performance for its intended audience, which is people working in the field who may be subjected to harsher environments such as wind, rain, and dust. However, it will not satisfy users requiring higher processing power for intensive tasks. The other feature in the DT2 favour is the battery life, with only limited charging required through the three-week test period. This will again appeal to those working in the field or anyone who needs a connected device but knows that they will be off the grid for an extended period.

• Performance: 3 / 5

Fossibot DT2: Final verdict

The Fossibot DT2 is a rugged tablet that has been designed for professionals needing a durable device for fieldwork or adventurous types needing a computing device that will work off the beaten track. The DT2's robust build that features a reinforced frame and textured, rubberised casing all proved through the test to protect it from drops, water, and dust and proved that it will survive more than most other tablets and is an ideal choice for harsh environments. If you need a tablet that will be used away from the office, then this tough build will ensure that it works in almost any environment. 

The other choice feature is the bright 10.4-inch 2K IPS display, which, through the test, proved to offer excellent visibility in bright sunlight, although in the brightest situations, a little screen shielding is needed. Again, if you're working outdoors, then a screen with this level of brightness is an essential feature.

One of the things that impressed me was the battery life. The 22000mAh battery only required a couple of full charges through the test period despite hours of use and prolonged testing. If you know that you're going to be away from mains power for prolonged periods or only have access to solar power, then this again will be a great solution. 

The tablet performed well for Google Docs, browsing, and video playback, making it an ideal solution for use in the field. When you load in a SIM or connect to Bluetooth through a tethered connection, the speed of the connection is decent enough to further supporting it's use as a tablet to be used in the field rather than in the office, 

However, the DT2's heavyweight may appeal only to some users, and its Helio G99 processor and 12GB of RAM, while adequate for basic tasks, struggle with demanding applications and high-end gaming. Despite these drawbacks, the DT2 offers excellent value for its intended use, providing durability, a bright display, and exceptional battery life, making it a strong choice for professionals in need of a reliable fieldwork tablet.

Should you buy a Fossibot DT2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

We reviewed the best rugged laptops and the best rugged phones - see what passed the drop-test

HP Z40c G3: 30-second review

The pure scale of the HP Z40c G3 WUHD IPS USB-C Curved Monitor is apparent as soon as the lid of the box is lifted, and even the assembly instructions highlight that the base should be fitted to the monitor prior to lifting and removal. Initial assembly is quick, with the stand clicking into position and the base screwing neatly into place before the monitor is lifted from the box and manoeuvred into its final position. 

Due to the size of the curved screen and gloss finish, a position had to be found to limit reflections and glare from overhead lighting, windows, or anything else that could cause issues, an issue all monitors have but amplified here due to scale. 

That aside, once the position was sorted and the monitor switched on, the HP Display Control and Device Bridge software solutions were installed before a DataColor SpyderX2 was used to calibrate the screen ready for use. 

Having tested the best monitors, as a standard display, the additional real estate offered by HP Z40C is instantly beneficial. It enables you to quickly shift screens and content around the screen rather than needing to close down windows, and it's a far neater solution than a dual monitor setup. What makes the use even more effective is the ability, through the HP Display control software, to snap windows to different areas of the screen. This effectively enables you to accurately layout all your windows at different sizes and positions, which is extremely useful if you're switching between jobs.

While the Display Control is useful, the Device Bridge takes things a step further, enabling you to utilise one keyboard and mouse across two systems as long as they're connected through USB Type-C. This system also enables two machines to be hooked up to the same display, and then through the OSD, you can select to split the screen to show the displays of the two different machines on the same display and to cross over the use of the keyboard and mouse, it's like a switcher but more advanced. 

After a while of using the monitor with a couple of machines, the actions through the OSD become more natural, and the benefits of using the monitor really help in terms of workflow. For general administration, Word documents, and office work, the monitor's benefits are obvious, and a single-screen base takes up far less space than multiple monitors. However, when you switch over to photography, the monitor's colour profile is limited to the P3 standard, and it only reaches 88% of the Adobe RGB scale. However, with several Gamut profiles, it is possible to switch between pre-calibrated options when needed quickly, including REC 709 for video. 

For a monitor of such scale and with the features to match, there is little not to like about the HP Z40c G3. Screen quality is superb as long as you avoid reflections, and for most general use, office, gaming, graphics, and video work, this monitor absolutely nails it.

HP Z40c G3: Price and availability

• How much does it cost? £1439 / $1699
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it from the HP website

The HP Z40c G3 monitor is available for purchase directly from HP's website and various authorized retailers. Prices typically range around $1,699, but may vary based on promotions and retailer pricing. The monitor includes a three-year limited warranty covering parts, labour, and on-site service. It is recommended to check HP's official website or trusted retailers for the most up-to-date pricing and availability information. 

• Value: 4.5 / 5

HP Z40c G3: Specifications

HP Z40c G3: Design

The monitor's scale and curved nature mean that every component needs solid materials and build to balance and support the weight. Thankfully, the all-metal base and mixture of plastic and metal used throughout the design give the monitor a high-quality look and feel.

However, anything of this size is going to need some careful manoeuvring, and HP has gone to lengths on the packaging, instructions and labelling to ensure that when the box containing the monitor arrives, you follow the procedure for removal. This makes what could be a tricky and weighty manoeuvre for the monitor into position into something that is actually quite easy, although a bit of muscle power or an additional pair of hands will make things easier. 

The monitor extraction process starts with the screen remaining in the box and then involves clicking the stand into the back of the still-seated monitor and then bolting in the base. This all takes a couple of minutes, and then, when secure, the monitor can be lifted out and positioned on your chosen desk. As always, it's worth having a good clear surface so you can easily attach the cables to the rear of the monitor, even more so here, with the scale of the monitor initially requiring as much space as you can give it. Once in place and it's time to connect up, there's a good selection of ports for HDMI and USB Type-C, as well as a Display port and, of course, the AC power, which is of the standard kettle lead type. 

The power and volume-up/down buttons are under the right side of the monitor, and a control pad on the rear right of the monitor gives you access to the extensive OSD.

Once plugged in through USB Type-C, the monitor fires to life; if you go through HDMI, then an additional USB Type-B can then be fitted with a more standard Type-A to go into your computer for the data connection. Otherwise, everything can be connected through USB Type-C, which makes it easier. The data connection enables the connection abilities to the HP software, which is essential if you are to make the most of what this monitor has to offer and to access some of the more advanced features, such as monitor splitting and window alignment. 

While there are obvious design differences between this large-scale curved monitor and a traditional flat example, there are other smaller design differences that are less apparent. Most notably, you can plug two machines or video sources into the same monitor and then split the screen so those sources display side by side. 

• Design: 4 / 5

HP Z40c G3: Features

The HP Z40c G3 monitor boasts a range of features that make it ideal for professional environments, especially those requiring large amounts of screen space or connection to multiple machines. Firstly, the physical dimensions are impressive, with the ultra-wide 21:9 aspect ratio screen measuring 39.7" and offering a maximum resolution of WUHD (5120 x 2160) on the IPS panel screen.

On arrival, the HP Z40c G3 comes with factory colour calibration, which achieves a Delta E of less than 2. This ensures that colour differences are virtually indistinguishable to the human eye and should provide incredibly accurate and true-to-life colours. This means that if you are a professional graphic designer, video editor, or another field where colour accuracy is important, you can start using the monitor without the need for calibration. In this test, we ran the SpyderX2 colour calibration on the monitor, and sure enough, the initial calibration was excellent.

Like many of the best business monitors, the large scale here makes it ideal for large video meetings, with plenty of space for everyone to appear on screen alongside presentations. As standard, the screen comes with Zoom certification that guarantees seamless integration with Zoom's software. Keeping things neat and backing up that Zoom partnership, the monitor features a built-in Mic, speakers and a webcam that pops out of the top of the screen and offers Windows Hello compatibility and a discrete IR sensor for additional security. Through the OSD, you also have the option to customise the webcam and audio settings, which enables adjustments to brightness, exposure, and volume with simple sliders.

This monitor really comes into its own if you work with multiple devices. Using the HP Device Bridge 2.0 software enables you to control two devices with one keyboard and mouse and even copy, paste, drag, and drop files between them. 

When it comes to sustainability, the Z40c G3 is made using 80% recycled plastics, and the packaging is 100% recyclable.

Another area that HP has invested in with this monitor is eye health. With the HP Eye Ease technology, this always-on low-blue light filter helps to reduce eye strain without impacting colour accuracy. Monitor position and adjustability are other important health factors, and here, the monitor enables adjustable tilt, height, and swivel settings.

Finally, the Z40c G3 offers extensive connectivity options, with most being positioned on the back; these include USB-C, HDMI, DisplayPort, and multiple USB-A ports, with two on the underside of the bottom of the monitor.

• Features: 4.5 / 5

HP Z40c G3: Performance

The HP Z40c G3 is a versatile monitor that will suit a variety of settings, including an office environment. The large screen with plenty of real estate is ideal for laying out multiple documents, video conferencing, or working across two machines on one display. 

During our benchmarks, the monitor demonstrated decent overall performance, with a gamut score of 5/5, showing that it covers the standard sRGB and P3 colour spaces exceptionally well. This makes it suitable for most office applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, where accurate colour reproduction is essential for creating visually appealing documents and presentations.

The tone response also scored a perfect 5/5, ensuring that the monitor delivers smooth gradients and detailed shadows. This is particularly beneficial for viewing complex spreadsheets and detailed charts in Excel, as well as for creating more graphically led PowerPoint presentations. The 21:9 aspect ratio and WUHD resolution provide a substantial amount of screen real estate, enabling you to multitask easily by having multiple windows open side by side. This wide-screen format is ideal for productivity, essentially reducing the need to switch between tabs and lessening the need to minimise windows.

The contrast ratio, rated at 5/5, ensures deep blacks and bright whites, enhancing the readability of text and clarity of images. The luminance uniformity score of 4.0 and colour uniformity score of 4.5 suggest that the display maintains consistent brightness and colour accuracy across the entire screen, which is crucial for prolonged use without causing eye strain. Again, eye health protection is further backed up with the HP Eye Ease technology.

While the white point score of 3/5 indicates that the monitor's colour temperature might not be perfect out of the box for your location, it can still be calibrated to meet personal preferences. This score is based on the ambient light temperature compared to your monitor and is an important consideration if you're working on colour-sensitive work. The built-in HP Eye Ease low blue light filter also helps reduce eye strain during extended periods of use, making this monitor a solid choice for office environments.

In a creative studio setting, the HP Z40c G3 offers mixed performance. Its large, curved display and high resolution make it one of the best monitors for photo editing and best monitors for video editing, benefitting from the expansive screen space. The ability to show and share content from two devices simultaneously using HP Device Bridge 2.0 is a huge boost to workflow and is almost worth the purchase just for this ability, enabling you to drag and drop files between a workstation and a laptop, for example.

However, the monitor's colour accuracy, rated at 4.0, is OK for most design tasks, but it does have limitations. The fact that it only covers the sRGB and P3 colour gamuts, and not the wider AdobeRGB, can be a drawback for photographers and graphic designers who require precise colour matching for print work. However, for video editing, the inclusion of REC 709 as a preset does make things easy, ensuring that video projects are edited with a colour space commonly used in the industry.

The HP Z40c G3's built-in features, such as the pop-up privacy webcam and integrated speakers, add to its appeal for a studio environment. They enable easy video conferencing and the ease of a laptop when it comes to making video calls with no need to search for where you've put the webcam, mic or speakers. The overall rating of 4.5 reflects its performance and versatility, although the limitations in colour gamut coverage should be considered depending on the specific needs of the creative professional.

• Performance: 4 / 5

HP Z40c G3: Final verdict

The HP Z40c G3 is a versatile and high-performing monitor that excels in both general office use and creative studio environments. Its impressive colour calibration for general use, expansive screen real estate, and stylish design make it a great option for general professional use. While it may not cover the wider Adobe RGB colour gamut, it performs exceptionally well within the sRGB and P3 spaces, making it suitable for most professional tasks. Overall, it offers excellent value for money.

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