TL;DR
The Gmail app listed on the App Store is roughly 760–761 MB, making it one of the largest apps among top free titles on iOS. The size jump is striking compared with the native Mail app and with Gmail’s Android install size, and it contributes to storage pressure on devices.
What happened
Mohamed Akram inspected app sizes on an iPhone running iOS 26.2 and found Gmail listed at about 760.7 MB on the App Store and around 673 MB when installed. That places Gmail among the top three largest apps in the App Store’s top 100 free apps. The post contrasts Gmail’s footprint with other clients and platform apps — Outlook at about 428 MB installed, Apple Mail at roughly 8.7 MB, and Google Home at about 630 MB. Historical context is noted: Axios reported a major jump in several top apps’ sizes around 2017, when Gmail’s package reportedly climbed from roughly a dozen megabytes to hundreds. Akram says his device’s apps (excluding their data) use about 35 GB and app data another 35 GB, with iOS occupying about 25 GB, leaving limited space for media. He also checked Gmail on an Android phone and observed an install size near 185 MB, considerably smaller than the iOS listing.
Why it matters
- Large app packages consume significant device storage, limiting space for photos, video and other media.
- Hefty apps increase the frequency and data cost of re-downloading when iOS offloads or users reinstall.
- Bigger installs can worsen performance on devices with low free space, according to the author’s observations.
- Disparities between iOS and Android package sizes may affect user choices about which app or platform to use.
Key facts
- Gmail is listed at about 760.7 MB on the App Store and measured around 673 MB installed on the author’s iPhone.
- Outlook was measured at roughly 428 MB installed on the same device.
- Apple’s native Mail app was measured at about 8.7 MB installed on iOS 26.2.
- Gmail on an Android phone was observed at about 185 MB (checked on someone else’s device).
- Other large apps mentioned include Tesla and Crypto.com at around 1 GB, and Google Home at about 630 MB.
- Average sizes reported: popular Google apps ~250 MB, Microsoft apps ~330 MB, top 100 free apps ~280 MB, expanded set including games ~200 MB.
- The author’s device storage breakdown: apps (excluding data) ~35 GB, app data ~35 GB, and iOS ~25 GB.
- The author references a 2017 Axios report noting Gmail’s size rose from about 12 MB to over 200 MB around that year.
What to watch next
- Whether Google or Apple publish explanations or technical notes about differences between App Store package size and installed size — not confirmed in the source.
- Any future app updates that reduce the installed footprint or modularize components to shrink on-device size — not confirmed in the source.
- Whether the discrepancy between iOS and Android Gmail sizes reflects platform packaging differences or additional bundled features on iOS — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- App Store size: The file size listed for an app on Apple’s App Store; this can differ from the size reported after installation.
- Installed size: The amount of storage an app actually occupies on a device after installation, which may exclude or include cached data.
- Offloaded app: An iOS feature that removes an app’s binary to free space while keeping its user data, allowing re-download later.
- Play Store: Google’s Android app marketplace; package sizes there can differ from App Store listings and may be harder to check without a device.
Reader FAQ
Why is the Gmail app so much larger than Apple Mail?
The source documents the size difference but does not provide a definitive technical explanation for why Gmail is much larger than the native Mail app — not confirmed in the source.
Is the large Gmail size an iOS-only problem?
The author observed Gmail at about 185 MB on an Android phone, suggesting the iOS listing is larger, but whether this is systemic or due to platform packaging is not confirmed in the source.
Do big apps cause device slowdowns?
The author reports that running low on free space can slow device behavior and force cloud re-downloads of media and offloaded apps, but broader performance impacts are not detailed in the source.
Will deleting or offloading apps free up space?
The piece notes that offloaded apps must be re-downloaded when needed and implies deleting or offloading reduces used storage, but specific steps or outcomes are not confirmed in the source.
Why is the Gmail app 700 MB? Jan 6, 2026 · Mohamed Akram The Gmail app, on the App Store, is currently 760.7 MB in size. It is in the…
Sources
- Why is the Gmail app 700 MB?
- Why is the Gmail app taking up almost 700MB of storage …
- Why Does Gmail Take Up So Much Storage on iPhone?
- iPhone 'Mail App' using too much storage space
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