Because of convenience and how it’s connected to everything use Gmail for the generic.
Use https://proton.me/mail for private email.
Proton
I’ve never used AOL and don’t know how you use it so can’t really say of there’s a bulk download option.
If you go to AOL through a browser, you’ll probably have to do a “save as” for each email individually. You have to experiment with that because you may lose attachments and pics.
If you get to AOl using something like Microsoft Outlook, all your emails are probably already downloaded into Microsoft mail boxes that you can archive. However, you’d need Outlook to continue to read them in the future so you’d have to play the same game figuring out a way to save them so they can be read by browsers or text editors.
AOL in particular is a pain in a browser due to all the ads. If you're using a web browser, you can add your AOL account to Microsoft Mail on your computer. This video shows some of the nuances of setting it up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=no5GI5A7MWY
Once you've added your AOL account to Microsoft Mail (or Outlook), you may find it works perfectly and that you don't need to switch to another mail provider. It's just... well, mail.
On a related note, the files in Microsoft Mail are stored on the hard drive and can be backed up or transferred to a new computer.
Thunderbird (Mozilla) can be configured to download all messages.
I have had terrible problems with AOL mail.
Son and SIL are both work in Tech and neither could fix the problem from my end.
They suggested I switch to G Mail - told me it’s the most stable.
Yeah...anything but AOL.
What is your specific problem?
How are you using AOL?
As a direct and paying AOL subscriber, or riding along on AOL as a former Verizon Email account that is allowed to remain a Verizon acct hosted now by AOL? The former gets AOL tech support while the later does not?
Second: do you just go to the AOL Email web page, or do you use an Email PC client application like Outlook or Thunderbird?
Third: If you use an Email PC client application is it configured for POP, or not?
AOHell is still around? Wow. I haven’t received one of their CDs in decades.
Best of luck finding a solution, of course!
I can lend you my AOL CD