Are you still relying on a generic free email address for your business? It’s time to explore the benefits of email hosting.
For businesses of all sizes, dependable email is essential. A branded email address featuring your company name enhances trust and credibility with clients.
We have personally evaluated a variety of email hosting solutions and currently use Google Workspace for our team. However, we recognize that Google Workspace may not be the perfect fit for every business.
In this article, we will explain what email hosting is and guide you on how to choose the best email hosting service tailored to your business requirements.
Short on time? Check out our quick comparison of the top email hosting services to expedite your decision-making process:
| Provider | Best For | Starting Price | |
| 🥇 | Google Workspace | Businesses of all types, including Gmail users | $6/user/month |
| 🥈 | Hostinger | New websites, with bundled hosting and email services | $2.69/month |
| 🥉 | Bluehost | WordPress users, with bundled hosting and email services | $2.99/month |
| 4 | Microsoft Office 365 | Businesses requiring Office applications and Microsoft Suite users | $6/user/month |
| 5 | Namecheap | Ideal for startups and users on a budget | $1.24 per month |
| 6 | Rackspace Email | Perfect for SaaS companies and advanced users | $2.99 per user per month |
| 7 | Zoho Mail | Great for secure email and mobile users | $1 per user per month |
What is Email Hosting?
Email hosting is a service that allows you to use your own domain name for email addresses, providing storage for your emails and attachments. By subscribing to an email hosting provider, you can create professional business email addresses.
The key difference between email hosting and free email providers like Gmail or Yahoo is that with email hosting, you can use your brand name in your email address.
For example, a free email service will include its own domain name in your email address, such as john.doe@gmail.com.
In contrast, with an email hosting service, you can create branded email addresses that look like this: john.doe@example.com.
Why Use an Email Hosting Service?
Using an email hosting service enhances the professionalism of your emails. It builds credibility and trust with your audience, leaving a lasting impression and fostering brand awareness.
In addition, email hosting provides enhanced security features. Many providers include two-factor authentication (2FA), spam filtering, anti-phishing and anti-spoofing measures, as well as end-to-end encryption and more.
Another benefit of using an email hosting provider is the increased storage capacity. Standard email services often come with limited storage, which can fill up quickly. In contrast, email hosting services typically offer expanded storage options.
Let’s explore the key factors to consider when selecting the best email hosting service.
How We Evaluate and Review the Top Email Hosting Services
When selecting the best email hosting provider, we take into account the following criteria:
- Email Storage – Each email hosting service provides a designated amount of storage space for your mailbox. We prioritize services that offer flexible storage options to accommodate attachments and other email content.
- Email Protocols – Various email protocols such as IMAP, SMTP, and POP3 facilitate email delivery and access across different devices. When choosing an email hosting service, we assess how well the provider supports these protocols.
- Email Security FeaturesOne of the key benefits of email hosting is its enhanced security features. The top services provide end-to-end encryption, robust spam protection, virus and malware scanning for attachments, two-factor authentication (2FA), and anti-phishing measures.
- Email AliasesYou can set up additional email addresses or aliases without needing a new account. This allows you to forward emails sent to the alias directly to your primary account. When selecting an email hosting provider, we ensure they support the creation of email aliases.
- PricingEmail hosting services come with a cost, so we carefully consider pricing when choosing a provider. Many services offer various pricing plans with different features and storage capacities. We recommend selecting a host that aligns with your budget.
Why Trust CanadaCreate?
With over 16 years of experience in assisting users to build successful websites, our team understands the importance of reliable email services. We have dedicated years to researching, testing, and reviewing numerous email hosting options. Our thorough evaluations help us identify the best solutions for diverse needs. For details on how we create unbiased and comprehensive reviews, please refer to our editorial process.
Now, let’s explore some of the top email hosting services available for you to choose from.
Choosing the Best Email Hosting Service
Numerous email hosting providers are available today. Here are some of the top services to consider.
1. Google Workspace
Google Workspace, formerly G Suite, is an email hosting service that provides excellent value. It offers flexible plans suitable for businesses of all sizes.
One of the key advantages of Google Workspace is the ability to use Gmail for your custom-branded email addresses. This eliminates the need to configure Gmail with other email hosting providers, streamlining the process.
At CanadaCreate, we utilize Google Workspace and can confidently recommend it as the leading email hosting provider.
Another advantage of Google Workspace is access to various Google products while creating a professional email address in Gmail. This includes Google Drive storage, Google Docs and Sheets, Google Teams, and more.
With Google Workspace, you can choose storage options ranging from 30GB to 5TB. Additionally, it supports video meetings with up to 1000 participants and includes numerous security features such as two-step verification, phishing and spam protection, and an ad-free email experience.
While Google Workspace offers robust features, it may be too costly for startups and small businesses. It is better suited for organizations with flexible budgets that can consider custom plans.
Advantages:
- Utilize a professional email address with Gmail
- Enjoy storage options ranging from 30GB to 5TB
- Benefit from advanced phishing and spam protection
- Access multiple security features
- Gain access to a variety of Google products
Disadvantages:
- Pricing plans can be high, particularly for small businesses
- Unlimited storage is not available
Pricing Information:Google Workspace plans start at $6 per user per month, which includes 30GB of storage. Additional plans provide increased storage, enhanced security options, and more features.
2. Hostinger
Hostinger is recognized as one of the fastest WordPress hosting providers available. If you are launching a new WordPress site and looking for a hosting solution, Hostinger includes free email addresses with every pricing plan.
The best part is that there are no additional fees for email hosting, and you can create up to 100 email addresses, each with 1GB of storage.
Hostinger’s web hosting plans come with a variety of benefits, including free domain names, WHOIS protection, free SSL certificates, unlimited bandwidth, and website backups. This makes Hostinger an excellent choice for value.
In addition to its web hosting services, Hostinger provides standalone email hosting plans powered by Titan, offering up to 50GB of storage space.
Key features include an integrated calendar and contacts, auto-reply functionality, customizable email templates, follow-up reminders, support for up to 10 email aliases, IMAP/POP3 compatibility, spam and phishing protection, as well as antivirus and malware scanning.
Advantages:
- Free email hosting included with web hosting plans
- Rapid performance and quick loading times
- Generous storage capacity of up to 50GB
- Round-the-clock customer support
- Complimentary domain name and SSL certificate
- Robust security features
Disadvantages:
- Higher renewal fees
Pricing Information:Hostinger offers an exclusive 78% discount for CanadaCreate users on web hosting plans, with prices starting as low as $2.69 per month.
3. Bluehost
Bluehost is the world’s largest WordPress hosting provider, allowing you to create professional email addresses using your domain name for personalized email communications.
Similar to Hostinger, Bluehost includes email hosting as part of its web hosting package. Additionally, you receive a complimentary domain name, SSL certificate, and numerous other features.
Bluehost’s email hosting provides a personalized inbox and calendar. You can schedule tasks and automatically save contact details. Depending on your chosen plan, Bluehost offers up to 100GB of storage and 50 email aliases.
Moreover, Bluehost includes various security features such as spam filters, antivirus protection, a safe unsubscribe option, real-time anti-phishing measures, file encryption, and more. It also supports multiple email protocols, including IMAP and POP.
If you’re considering a hosting plan or already use Bluehost for your WordPress site, Bluehost is an excellent choice. Its email hosting plans are cost-effective and packed with features suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Advantages:
- Complimentary domain name, CDN, and SSL certificate
- One-month free trial for email hosting services
- Robust email security features
- Up to 100GB of storage and 50 email aliases available
- Fast and straightforward setup process
- Exceptional customer support
- Officially endorsed by WordPress
Disadvantages:
- High renewal fees for domain names
Pricing Information:CanadaCreate users can take advantage of an exclusive 83% discount on Bluehost hosting plans, starting at just $2.99 per month. Use our special Bluehost promo code to get started today.
4. Microsoft Office 365
Microsoft Office 365 is a widely-used email hosting service that competes with Google Workspace. It allows you to easily set up a professional business email and provides access to a variety of Microsoft tools.
With Microsoft 365, each mailbox includes up to 50GB of storage. Additionally, it features advanced security measures such as cloud-based email filtering for spam and malware, multifactor authentication, customizable permissions, and password policy management.
In addition to email, you can utilize other Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, SharePoint, and more. You also receive up to 1TB of cloud storage and real-time monitoring for online threats to your mailboxes.
Microsoft Office 365 is an excellent choice for businesses or organizations that want to leverage the Microsoft Suite for their operations. If you’re unsure whether to choose Google Workspace or Microsoft, check out our comparison of Google Workspace and Office 365.
Advantages:
- Create customized email addresses using Outlook
- Enjoy 50GB of storage for your mailboxes
- Utilize robust Microsoft tools with a professional email address
- 1TB of cloud storage available
- Enhanced security features for your protection
Cons:
- Higher pricing tiers can be costly
- The interface may be challenging for beginners to navigate
Pricing:Microsoft Office 365 plans start at $6 per user per month, with premium options that offer additional features and enhanced security.
5. Namecheap
Namecheap stands out as one of the most affordable email hosting providers on our list. It is also a well-known domain registrar that assists you in finding custom domain names for your business.
With Namecheap’s email hosting, you receive up to 15GB of email storage and 30GB of file storage. The highest pricing plan allows for unlimited aliases and includes mobile synchronization support.
Additionally, Namecheap supports SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 email protocols. It provides solid security features such as two-factor authentication, anti-spam protection, and secure email storage.
Namecheap is a fantastic choice for startups and new website owners seeking an economical email hosting solution.
Pros:
- Cost-effective pricing options
- Unlimited aliases available with the Ultimate plan
- Includes tools such as a document viewer, calendar, and contact management.
- Compatible with SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 email protocols.
- Supports synchronization with mobile devices.
Drawbacks:
- Basic security features may not suffice for advanced needs.
- Storage capacity is limited, even in the highest-tier plan.
Pricing:Namecheap’s email hosting plans start at just $1.24 per month for a single mailbox, and you can take advantage of a 60-day free trial to evaluate the service.
6. Rackspace Email
Rackspace Email is another top contender in email hosting, providing a variety of solutions tailored for SaaS companies and small businesses.
The service guarantees 100% uptime, ensuring high reliability with global data centers and 24/7 customer support available for any issues.
Rackspace offers 25GB of mailbox storage and up to 30GB of file storage, along with unlimited aliases, group lists, and email forwarding options. Additionally, it provides free email migration from other providers.
Advantages:
- A dependable email hosting solution.
- Around-the-clock customer support.
- 25GB of mailbox storage capacity.
- Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Office 365 applications.
- Includes spam and virus protection.
Disadvantages:
- The service has a steep learning curve.
- Additional fees apply for email archiving.
- Limited extra features available.
Pricing:Rackspace email plans start at $2.99 per user per month, and you can try the service with a 14-day free trial.
7. Zoho Mail
Zoho Mail is a leading email hosting service known for its secure platform and the ability to create custom branded email addresses.
With Zoho, you have access to dedicated apps for both desktop and mobile, allowing you to effectively manage and organize your emails. It also provides up to 50GB of mailbox storage, domain aliases, email forwarding, and offline access.
A notable feature of Zoho Mail is SecurePass, which enables you to send sensitive information via email using a passcode.
Additionally, it supports IMAP and POP3 protocols, allows for attachments up to 1GB, and includes anti-spam and malware protection, email encryption, and more.
Advantages:
- User-friendly email hosting platform.
- Dedicated mobile apps for easy access.
- Robust security features.
- Send encrypted emails with SecurePass.
Disadvantages:
- The per-user pricing can be high for small businesses.
- Integrating with third-party tools can be challenging.
Pricing Information:Zoho Email offers plans starting at $1 per user per month, which includes 5GB of mailbox storage.
How to Choose the Right Email Hosting Service
After evaluating various email hosting services, we recommend Google Workspace as the top choice for your email requirements.
Google Workspace allows you to use Gmail with your custom-branded email domain, along with access to a suite of powerful tools.
At CanadaCreate, we utilize Google Workspace and strongly endorse it.
If you’re seeking a more budget-friendly email hosting option, consider Hostinger or Bluehost. Both services are ideal for new websites as they include email hosting with their web hosting plans.
We hope this article has helped you understand email hosting and how to select the best service. You may also want to check out our guide on the best email marketing tools and our comprehensive guide to improving WordPress speed.
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