Best email hosting services in 2025
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Having a domain-based email address is essential for any business that wants to appear professional and trustworthy. Generic email addresses like @gmail.com or @yahoo.com can come across as unprofessional or even scammy, especially in a business context. In contrast, using a custom domain instantly gives your communication more credibility.
Over the past year, I’ve tested various web and email hosting services. Some were great, but many were awkward to use or didn’t deliver on their promises. Not every service is worth your time or money.
In this article, I handpicked my top choices for email hosting in 2025 based on my testing. I walk you through my experience with each provider and review each provider’s pricing, ease of use, security, features, and any unique extras worth knowing about.
Best email hosting for business in 2025
 |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Provider | Google Workspace | Microsoft Email | Hostinger business email | Proton Mail | Zoho Mail | DreamHost |
| Rating | ||||||
| Best for | All business types, versatile and scalable | Large businesses and enterprises | Budget users and small businesses | Users prioritizing privacy and security | Small businesses wanting a free email option | Beginners, freelancers, and small to medium-sized businesses |
| Exclusive deal | Visit website | Visit website | Get up to 78% OFF Hostinger + free months | Get up to 25% OFF Proton Mail | Get Zoho Mail for just $1/month! | Get DreamHost, now 72% OFF |
| Pricing | From $3.50/month | From $6.00/month | From $0.59/month | From $3.99/month | From $0.00/month | From $1.67/month |
| Storage | 30GB-5TB | 1-TB | 10GB-50GB | 15GB-1TB | 5GB-50GB | 25GB |
| Forwarding rules | 1-30M | 1-100 | 1-50 | Unlimited | 1-6 | 1-10 |
| Aliases | 1-30 per user | 1-400 per user | 1-50 | 10-unlimited | 1-30 | Unlimited |
Our in-house research team and expert writers work hand in hand to regularly test hosting services and provide accurate and fact-checked information. Discover the ins and outs of how we test and evaluate website hosting providers.
What is business email hosting?
Business email hosting lets you create and manage email accounts using your own domain name. This means that instead of using @gmail.com or another generic domain, you can fully personalize it to suit your brand, e.g., [email protected].
However, it's not just about a professional appearance. It also enhances security with encryption and malware protection, while helping to build customer trust, as clients are more likely to take your business seriously.
Do I need email hosting?
If you want a professional-looking email like [email protected], I strongly advise you to use email hosting services. Email hosting allows you to change the generic @gmail.com email to a custom one. This small investment has a great payout in credibility and customer trust.
I'd say you need email hosting if:
- ✅ You run an eCommerce business and send order confirmations or newsletters
- ✅ You already have a website or a domain name
- ✅ You need to maintain your brand identity
- ✅ You use email for marketing, customer support, or automated responses
- ✅ You need better security, spam protection, and data control
- ✅ Your business is growing
You don’t need email hosting if:
- ❌ You’re a freelancer or a small business with minimal email needs
- ❌ You don’t communicate via email that much
- ❌ You don’t have a domain or a website
- ❌ You’re satisfied with the features and security of a free email service
Best business email hosting services – my detailed review
To help you find the best email hosting, I tested over 10 providers over the last 3 months and selected 6 of my favorites. These options offer solid storage, robust security, useful features, and competitive pricing.
1. Google Workspace – top email hosting provider in 2025
| Rating: | |
| Price per mailbox: | From $3.50/month |
| Mailbox storage: | From 30GB |
| Money-back guarantee: | ❌ No, but 14-day free trial |
| Aliases: | 1-30 per user |
| Forwarding: | 1-30M per 24 hours |
For me personally, Google Workspace has always been the #1 choice for business email hosting. It strikes the perfect balance between a clean, intuitive interface and powerful tools that scale with your business. I particularly like it because of how seamless everything is – from email to documents to AI tools.
Here are the key features you get with Google Workspace:
- Access to Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Calendars. With the whole Google Workspace suite, you can easily work on the go and keep up with tasks.
- Gmail with custom domain support. You get a professional address with a custom domain [email protected], backed by Google’s powerful email infrastructure.
- Multiple email aliases. You can create up to 30 email aliases per user, such as [email protected] and [email protected].
- Forwarding options. Google Workspace allows you to set up automatic forwarders to manage communication efficiently.
- Gemini AI integration. Google’s built-in AI assistant can help draft emails, summarize threads, auto-complete replies, and even take notes during meetings, helping you save time and resources.
- Summary Cards in Gmail. Important details like order confirmations, travel updates, and event invites are neatly displayed on top of your inbox.
- At least 30 GB of cloud storage per user. This amount of storage allows to store files and backups safely.
💡 Is Google Workspace email secure?
Google Workspace email is highly secure, and that’s one of the main reasons it's my top choice. The spam filtering is excellent – it reliably catches junk, phishing attempts, and malicious emails, moving them straight to the spam folder so your inbox stays clean. I found it to be one of the most effective filters I used across any provider.
Google Workspace also encrypts all emails with TLS and S/MIME, which helps keep your communication private and secure. Another must-have for me is two-factor authentication (2FA). Google offers a wide range of options: physical security keys, prompts, authenticator apps, backup codes, text or voice call verification, and passkeys.
While Gmail sometimes gets criticized for collecting user data, Google Workspace doesn’t use business emails for ad targeting, which I really appreciate. You can use it with peace of mind, knowing your email content stays private.
My experience using Google Workspace
I used Google Workspace across multiple projects and setups, and honestly, it’s been one of the most seamless platforms I’ve worked with. The interface is clean, intuitive, and everything is right where you expect it to be. Switching between Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Meet is smooth, and it all works together effortlessly.
Compared to other providers I tested, Google Workspace stands out for how easy it is to navigate in daily use. Features like email aliases, filters, and forwarding are easy to set up, even if you’re not tech-savvy.
The Gemini AI tool is also a big plus. It’s available across all apps and sits right on the side of your screen. I used it while drafting emails, summarizing documents, and taking notes during meetings, and it’s made a noticeable difference in how quickly I get things done.
My only real complaint is the limited offline functionality. While you can still access and edit Docs and Sheets offline, some features and formatting tools aren’t available unless you’re connected to the internet.
2. Microsoft Email – email hosting for businesses and larger organizations
| Rating: | |
| Price per mailbox: | From $6.00/month |
| Mailbox storage: | From 1TB |
| Money-back guarantee: | ❌ No, but 1 month free trial |
| Aliases: | 1-400 |
| Forwarding: | 1-100 |
I believe Microsoft Email is a top pick for larger teams and organizations that rely heavily on collaboration and project management. However, it also works well for individuals.
Here’s what you get with Microsoft email hosting:
- Collaboration tools like Outlook Groups, Yammer, and SharePoint. Shared inboxes and calendars, real-time document editing, and team communication features make it easy to stay aligned.
- Focused Inbox and powerful search. Microsoft email allows you to prioritize important messages and find what you need faster, making it perfect for high-volume inboxes.
- Support for multiple accounts and aliases. Great for managing different departments or roles under one domain.
- 2FA. You can add an extra layer of protection by setting up double authentication via authenticator apps, text messages, or phone calls.
- Microsoft Copilot AI. This AI tool helps draft emails, organize your inbox, and enhance productivity.
- Built-in AI security tools. Microsoft’s AI can detect unusual patterns, block phishing attempts, and even remove malicious emails post-delivery.
💡 Is Microsoft Email secure?
I found Microsoft to be a secure email provider. I liked that it offers multiple 2FA options, which adds an extra layer of protection and peace of mind. I was also impressed by how Microsoft’s AI algorithms help block threats before they ever reach your inbox. During my testing, Outlook’s spam and phishing filters performed well – most junk emails were caught automatically.
Microsoft also offers Exchange Online Protection for just $1.00/month per user. This add-on includes a firewall, stronger spam and virus protection, added security for your company’s IP address, and access to 24/7 support.
My experience using Microsoft Email
After using Microsoft’s email platform for a while, I found it to be a strong choice, especially if you're already working in the Microsoft ecosystem. The interface takes a little more getting used to than Google’s, but once you’re familiar with it, everything works smoothly.
Features like Focused Inbox and shared calendars are super useful for managing a busy schedule. And I liked how easily I could create aliases and forwarders – it’s flexible enough to handle complex team setups.
That said, Microsoft Email does feel like it's built for larger organizations. If you're a solo user or running a very small team, some of the tools might be more than you actually need. But if you're planning to scale or need deep integration with other Microsoft products, it’s a great option.
3. Hostinger business email – hosting for budget-conscious users
| Rating: | |
| Price per mailbox: | From $0.59/month |
| Mailbox storage: | From 10GB |
| Money-back guarantee: | ✅ Yes, 30 days |
| Aliases: | 1-50 |
| Forwarding: | 1-50 |
Personally, I think Hostinger's business email hosting is an excellent, budget-friendly option for those who need a simple yet reliable email. Also, it’s a good option for those considering switching from their current provider. It offers solid security, straightforward usability, and decent storage options.
Here are the key features you get with Hostinger business email hosting:
- Up to 50GB of cloud storage. With Hostinger Business email, you get 10GB or 50GB of storage, depending on your plan, and you can send up to 3000 emails per day. This is a good amount for small to medium-sized businesses.
- Intuitive interface. The control panel allows to easily find all the essentials, including easy drag-and-drop attachments, reliable spam filtering, and customizable folders and labels to keep your inbox organized.
- Compatibility with multiple protocols. Hostinger Business email allows seamless integration with third-party apps such as Outlook, Apple Mail, and Thunderbird.
- Flexible features. You get convenient tools like an auto-responder for out-of-office notifications, email forwarding to multiple addresses, and a Catch-All function that captures emails sent to incorrect or misspelled addresses.
- Access to logs and detailed action tracking features. This allows you to easily review account activity and strengthen your email security.
💡 Is Hostinger Email secure?
From my personal experience, Hostinger provides safe and secure email hosting. I was impressed by its built-in protection against spam emails, phishing attempts, and unauthorized access, helping me maintain a clean and secure inbox. I particularly liked the advanced server-level protection that actively prevents spam, malware, and phishing threats, alongside automated email backups for easy recovery if something goes wrong.
What surprised me most was how robust Hostinger's integrated security features actually were. With built-in DKIM, DMARC, and SPF protection that authenticates outgoing emails, my domain emails were safe from spoofing, viruses, and unauthorized activities. Having these standard protocols already in place gave me some peace of mind that all my emails are safe.
My experience using Hostinger Email
I personally used Hostinger's email hosting for some time and found it to be smooth and straightforward. I was particularly impressed by how intuitive its hPanel was, which made tasks like configuring settings, creating email aliases, and setting up auto-responses quick and easy. I also connected my Hostinger email with Gmail, so I could send emails from my phone. The process took just a few minutes thanks to Hostinger's helpful setup guides.
The main drawback I noticed was the storage limitation on the basic plan, as it offers only 10GB. This might feel restrictive for larger organizations or teams with heavy email traffic. However, given its affordability, ease of use, and reliable performance, Hostinger remains an excellent choice for individuals and smaller businesses seeking dependable email hosting on a budget.
4. Proton Mail – email hosting with robust security
| Rating: | |
| Price per mailbox: | From $3.99/month |
| Mailbox storage: | From 15GB |
| Money-back guarantee: | ✅ Yes, 30 days |
| Aliases: | 10-unlimited |
| Forwarding: | Unlimited |
Proton Mail stood out to me because of its secure and privacy-focused email hosting. When I first tried it, I immediately noticed the difference in security compared to other email providers. Proton emphasizes privacy with strong end-to-end encryption and extra layers of protection, which gave me confidence whenever I emailed sensitive information.
Here are the key features you get with Proton Mail hosting:
- Intuitive interface. I enjoyed how easy it was to customize the themes and layouts to make navigating my inbox simpler and quicker.
- Advanced email management tools. Proton Mail includes helpful features like auto-replies, catch-all emails, and contact groups, helping me communicate smoothly and efficiently.
- End-to-end encrypted emails. This means only intended recipients can access the content I sent, which is perfect for sending confidential information securely.
- AI tools. Proton Scribe is an AI-powered writing assistant that I found extremely useful for drafting emails quickly.
- Password-protected emails. I felt confident sending highly sensitive information with these extra layers of security in place.
- Temporary email addresses. Proton’s disposable address feature prevented spam and helped protect my main inbox from unwanted exposure.
💡 Is Proton Mail secure?
After trying Proton Mail myself, I can confidently say it's one of the most secure email hosting providers I've tested. Its end-to-end encryption ensures that only you and your recipients can read your emails, which gave me peace of mind when sending sensitive messages. Proton Mail also proudly emphasizes that it’s based in Switzerland, a country well-known for its strict privacy laws.
I was particularly impressed by Proton Sentinel, a security feature designed to identify and automatically block unauthorized attempts to break into your email account. Knowing Proton Mail actively protects accounts from phishing, hacking, and other security threats made me feel much more secure using its platform for my day-to-day email communication.
My experience using Proton Mail
Overall, my experience with Proton Mail was really positive. I found its interface intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate even if you're not particularly tech-savvy. I also appreciated being able to use Proton Mail directly through its mobile app, something other hosts like Hostinger don't provide. Proton Scribe was another helpful surprise, allowing me to quickly draft clear and polished emails using AI without sacrificing security or privacy.
However, there were some disadvantages as well. Proton Mail was slightly pricier compared to other email services I tested and lacked some inbox organization features. Despite these limitations, I still think Proton Mail is an excellent choice if strong security and privacy are your top priorities.
5. Zoho Mail – free email hosting provider
| Rating: | |
| Price per mailbox: | From $0.00/month |
| Mailbox storage: | From 5GB |
| Money-back guarantee: | ✅ Yes, 45 days |
| Aliases: | 1-30 |
| Forwarding: | 1-6 |
Zoho Mail is another decent email hosting provider worth considering, particularly if you're looking for a free or budget-friendly option. When I tested its free plan, I was able to set up mailboxes with my custom domain for up to five users, which makes it suitable for individuals and small teams. Zoho also offers paid Premium and Business plans that deliver reasonably good value if you need more advanced features.
Here are the main features you get with Zoho Mail:
- Mobile apps. You can manage your inbox, calendar, contacts, and files from anywhere using Zoho’s mobile apps for iOS and Android.
- Attachments up to 250MB. You can attach larger files like videos and high-resolution images directly in your emails.
- Offline email access. This feature allows you to read, compose, and respond to emails without an internet connection, storing emails locally in your browser until you reconnect.
- Email recall feature. You can retract emails sent by mistake within 30 minutes (or 24 hours for administrators). However, this feature only works for messages sent within your own organization.
- SecurePass emails. You can send sensitive messages protected by passwords for additional security.
💡 Is Zoho Mail secure?
In terms of security, Zoho Mail left me feeling confident when managing important messages. The SecurePass feature allowed me to set password protection for sensitive emails, which I appreciated. It also includes robust spam protection, antivirus, and safeguards against phishing attempts built into its highly secure server infrastructure.
Additionally, Zoho encrypts emails both at rest and in transit and supports advanced encryption standards like S/MIME and OpenPGP. I liked seeing TLS indicators clearly showing when messages were securely encrypted, adding extra peace of mind whenever sending or receiving confidential emails.
My experience using Zoho Mail
When I tested Zoho Mail, one thing I particularly appreciated was its support for third-party add-ons. These integrations can help you bring extra functionality into your inbox and expand what you can do with emails. I also liked that Zoho allows you to customize the interface to match your preferences. You can choose how emails display and select the order or grouping style that works best for your workflow.
That said, setting up and configuring these third-party tools wasn't always straightforward. Some integration setups were tricky and required extra time to figure out. However, once configured correctly, the additional features were very useful. Zoho Mail also has decent options for managing emails through categories, filters, and folder structures. However, from my experience, they weren't quite as advanced or intuitive as what you get with Google Workspace. It's worth noting that the free plan includes fewer features than Zoho's paid plans, but honestly, the fact that it's completely free for up to five users is still pretty impressive.
6. DreamHost – email hosting with a beginner-friendly interface
| Rating: | |
| Price per mailbox: | From $1.67/month |
| Mailbox storage: | From 25GB |
| Money-back guarantee: | ✅ Yes, 97 days |
| Aliases: | Unlimited |
| Forwarding: | 1-10 |
Dreamhost stood out to me as a beginner-friendly option for email hosting, especially if you're looking for something straightforward and secure. When I set it up for the first time, I quickly saw why many users appreciate its clear and user-friendly control panel that simplifies the whole process.
Here are the key features you get with DreamHost email hosting:
- Custom-built control panel. Dreamhost’s interface felt intuitive and easy to use from the start, making email management straightforward even for beginners.
- Built-in ad-free webmail. Your inbox stays clean and completely free from advertisements, which I really appreciated.
- Integrated security filters. Dreamhost provides built-in spam, virus, and phishing protections, ensuring your emails remain secure against various online threats.
- Email organization tools. It lets you easily drag and drop messages between folders within webmail and use custom aliases to automatically route or sort emails.
💡 Is Dreamhost Mail secure?
From my experience, Dreamhost provides solid email security. It's built-in spam, virus, and phishing filters effectively protected my inbox from most threats. The secure servers and integrated protections gave me extra peace of mind when managing important messages or sensitive data.
My experience using Dreamhost Mail
Overall, I enjoyed using Dreamhost's email platform and found its clean, straightforward interface very convenient. I particularly liked the drag-and-drop functionality, which made organizing my inbox quick and efficient. Setting up filters and managing emails was easy and quick. I appreciated that Dreamhost allowed me to use the mail web app on mobile, which was great for staying productive on the go.
However, one downside is that email hosting isn't included in Dreamhost's cheapest hosting plan, so I had to purchase it separately as an add-on. This may feel disappointing if you're working with a limited budget. Still, considering the ease-of-use and clarity Dreamhost provides, it can be a good choice if simple setup and user-friendly management are your priorities.
How I tested and ranked the best email hosts
At Cybernews, we follow a comprehensive and transparent hosting testing methodology to help you see exactly how we picked and ranked these top providers. First, I looked at some of the most popular providers out there and ruled out any that didn't offer reliable email hosting options. After narrowing down the list, I compared the remaining choices based on criteria that really matter in day-to-day usage. Here’s what I focused on when evaluating each provider:
- Business suitability (30%). I assessed how well each provider caters to business needs, considering factors like storage, the number of email accounts, uptime reliability, customer support, and security features.
- Features (30%). I also reviewed the providers’ email hosting features. Essential tools like autoresponders, filters, and mail forwards are must-haves. I also looked for more advanced offerings such as anti-malware and anti-spam protection to ensure robust security.
- Ease of use (30%). I paid close attention to providers' email setup and management processes. I made sure the dashboard is easy to navigate and all features are accessible. I also checked whether the provider offers email migration.
- Price-to-quality ratio (10%). When selecting the best email hosts, I focused on affordability and the value you get for your money, looking at how well the service performs and the range of features included in the price.
Based on how well the providers did in terms of email accounts and storage, features, ease of use, and pricing, I compared and ranked them to provide you with well-rounded and credible recommendations for the best email hosting services.
Can I host a business email without a website?
Yes, you can host a business email even if you don't plan on creating a website. All you'll need is a custom domain name and a good email hosting provider. Platforms like Google Workspace or Microsoft Email let you set up professional, domain-based emails without requiring a website.
To host a business email, you'll first need to buy a domain name and then connect it to your email hosting provider. After that, you'll be all set to send and receive emails with a professional address, such as [email protected], without having a website.
How secure is email hosting compared to free email services?
Email hosting services are generally safer and more secure than free email providers, especially for business purposes. When testing various providers, I found that paid email hosting solutions typically offer stronger protection, stricter privacy standards, and greater control over your inbox. Here are the main security differences:
- Stronger encryption. Paid providers often support advanced encryption standards like S/MIME and OpenPGP. Free providers usually only offer basic encryption.
- Enhanced protection. Email hosting includes stronger spam filtering, phishing protection, email authentication tools, and 2FA. Free services usually come with weaker spam and malware protection.
- Better privacy. Free email services like regular Gmail use your data for ad targeting, while paid options, like Google Workspace, typically provide stricter privacy policies and don’t use your email data for advertising.
- Comprehensive security tools. Paid providers commonly include detailed logs, action tracking, and enhanced security monitoring tools to spot suspicious account activity – features that free services lack.
- Reliable backups. Email hosting usually offers automated backups and easier recovery, an important feature rarely available in free accounts.
Overall, although free email accounts are sufficient for basic personal use, paid email hosting providers deliver significantly improved security and more peace of mind for businesses.
What features should I look for in email hosting?
Email hosting providers often advertise lots of attractive features, but from my experience, it’s important to focus on the essentials first. Here are the key features I’d personally consider when choosing an email hosting provider:
- Look for at least 10GB per mailbox, more for large businesses
- Essential security features like spam filtering, phishing prevention, antivirus, advanced encryption, and 2FA
- Automatic backups and recovery options to safeguard your emails
- An intuitive interface and handy tools such as auto-replies, forwarding, aliases, and easy mobile access
- Clear statements in the privacy policy that the provider won’t analyze your messages for advertising purposes
- Reliable and responsive tech support for solving urgent issues quickly
Can I migrate my existing email to a new hosting provider?
Yes, you can easily migrate your existing emails, including all messages and contacts, when switching to a new email hosting service. Most email providers even offer built-in migration tools or assistance to simplify the process.
All providers on my list offer email migration, helpful instructions, and technical support to guide you smoothly through the transition. So, even if you’re already hosting your email with another provider and want to switch, you can easily do so. However, it’s best to check your new provider's website for the exact migration steps.
Final thoughts
A domain-based email is vital to show professionalism and credibility, whether you're an online business owner or a freelancer. With so many providers available, selecting the best one can be challenging.
After reviewing and testing leading email hosting services, I found that Google Workspace performed the best. It's budget-friendly, packed with features, simple to navigate, and even includes Gemini AI tools to increase productivity. However, your ideal choice depends on your needs, and different providers might work better for you in various situations.
FAQ
How much does it cost to host an email?
The cost of hosting an email depends on your needs. You can use free options like Zoho Mail, but they are often very limited. Otherwise, the plans can range anywhere from $1.00/month for a single mailbox to $20.00/month per user.
What is the best free email hosting?
The best free email hosting depends on your needs. If you're looking for an entirely free provider – Zoho Mail provides excellent services. Alternatively, if you have a buck to spend, I recommend Hostinger. It's a great provider for managing your website and email in one place.
Is Mailchimp still good?
Yes, Mailchimp is still a good email hosting provider. Its user-friendly interface makes hosting an email service for your business easy. However, if you need advanced automation or more cost-effective options, check out other providers in my review.
Is Google business email free?
No, Google business email isn't free. However, it does offer a 14-day free trial, after which you must subscribe to one of the available plans to continue using the service.
Which email domain is best for business?
There is no definitive 'best' email domain for business – it all depends on your business's size, nature, and needs. Also, ensure that it matches your business or brand for added credibility.
