Best email hosting services 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

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Not all inboxes are created equal. While free email platforms offer the basics, dedicated email services generally look more professional, inspire trust, and offer customization options that help you promote your brand. The best hosts will provide streamlined inboxes, productivity tools, AI assistance, storage options, and a variety of security features to keep accounts and businesses safe from phishing and intrusion attempts.

I've found the best email hosting services for individuals, small businesses, and large organizations. Whether you need secure email, a custom email address, scalable infrastructure, or a security focus, my recommendations will meet your needs.

Also: The best web hosting services: Expert tested

In ZDNET's March update, we made editorial updates, refreshed our FAQs, and updated our guide with the latest news in the email hosting space.

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What is the best email hosting service right now?

Our favorite email hosting provider is Google Workspace. It's a familiar email hosting provider that offers ample storage, a straightforward, easy-to-understand pricing structure, tailored email addresses, and reliable infrastructure. Business starter plans are available for $7 per user per month on an annual plan.

Free email accounts are available to individual users.

Also: Best CRM for small business of 2026

Alternatively, if you are looking for an email hosting provider that gives you professional domains for an affordable price, we recommend Hosting.com. Previously branded as A2 Hosting, Hosting.com offers plans starting at $3 per month with up to 100GB of storage, AI tools, 2FA security, calendars, and calendar booking.

ZDNET has tested many email hosting providers over the years. We monitor email trends and predictions, pricing and deals, and market changes that could influence your decision on the right email hosting service.

Read on to explore our 2026 recommendations for the best email hosting providers specializing in email and office productivity, alongside solid web hosts offering email packages with a personalized touch.

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Best email hosting services of 2026

Google Workspace integrates an enterprise-level Gmail management interface with Google Docs, Google Meet, Google Calendar, and other tools.

But thankfully, it's not just for enterprises, making it one of our favorite email hosting services.

Why we like it: Given Google's approach to security, its tool suite, the fact that it's free, and used by billions of people worldwide, it's no surprise this service as the backbone of custom email addresses and inboxes for many.

Features available include custom email, pooled storage ranging from 30GB to 5TB, security options, and video meetings for between 100 and 500 participants outside of custom enterprise plans.

In addition, all Workspace plans now include generative artificial intelligence features such as AI assistance and the Gemini chatbot. Google is pushing ahead with AI integration within its inboxes. The company revealed a range of updates including free Gemini-based email suggested replies, writing assistance, and overviews.

Also: Best chatbots we've tested

Pricing is far easier to understand with Workspace than with Microsoft Office 365, as Microsoft offers various licensing pricing structures. Google gives you three simple choices: $7 per month per user, $14 per month per user, or $22 per month per user on a yearly contract, depending on your desired management features. Enterprise clients can contact Google for tailored solutions.

Who it's for: Everyone. Google's email hosting service includes free options and plans for individuals, startups, small businesses, and enterprises.

You can also test out the service for free for 14 days. Customers say Google Workspace is a reliable host, but some customer support issues should be ironed out.

Who should look elsewhere: If you prefer the Microsoft ecosystem or want to avoid Google and Microsoft altogether, consider another email host, such as Hostinger or Hosting.com.

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Hosting.com, a rebrand of A2 Hosting, is my favorite small business option for its user-friendly tools and flexible plans.

Why we like it: Hosting.com offers multi-account access, 24/7 support, a variety of migration tools, anti-spam filters, administrator tools, useful email templates, and between 10GB and 30GB of storage per account.

As a bonus, this email hosting service is cheap. Plans start at only $3 per month per user for 10GB storage and one secure socket layer (SSL) certificate with a one-year contract. Premium and Ultra options, from $4 per month, include up to 100GB of mail space, audio and video chat, attachment and link tracking, 2FA, file storage, and an AI writing assistant.

Who it's for: Hosting.com is an excellent option for small businesses. This email hosting service could be your best bet for a new business venture and will serve you well until you need to scale up.

Small business owners will also appreciate the mailbox migration on offer, 24/7 support, and a useful blog that often publishes guides for email and web domain management.

Who should look elsewhere: Enterprise and larger business clients. While customers appreciate the host's speed and reliability, some express frustration with the level of emergency support provided. The plans are better suited for SMEs and startups with a smaller number of seats.

I also dislike that two-factor authentication isn't available on the basic Pro plan. This security measure is now standard across many online services and shouldn't be paywalled.

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Microsoft 365 includes Office desktop apps, Office online apps, Microsoft Teams, Exchange's benefits, calendaring, mobile apps, and more. This makes it a one-stop solution for those hoping to combine email with other software packages.

Why we like it: Microsoft 365 is available in Basic, Standard, and Premium tiers. You can opt for features such as business-class email, spam and phishing protection, security packages, webinars, large-meeting virtual solutions, IAM access control, and custom business email addresses.

Without Teams, you will only pay $4.75 per user per month.

Also: Best CRM software | Best business desktops

Customer feedback indicates that this option is great for businesses of all sizes, although some users would prefer more control over update cycles. The Redmond giant recently introduced Copilot Cowork, which you can make requests of to handle tasks relating to your email, meetings, messages, and more.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $6 per user per month, whereas Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available for $12.50 per month per user. This may be a better option if you want to use Loop for collaborative workspaces. Microsoft 365 Business Premium, priced at $22 per month per user, includes enterprise-grade device protection and advanced identity and access management. You can purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365 as an add-on with any package.

Who it's for: If you are comfortable with the Outlook email client and Microsoft software, you should consider Microsoft 365 Business as a trusted, well-known solution for your email hosting. Microsoft also rolls out frequent security updates for its software, including its email services.

Who should look elsewhere: If you're outside the Microsoft ecosystem and prefer alternatives like Gmail or independent email hosting providers, check out our other recommendations.

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I reviewed Hostinger positively when evaluating website hosting providers. It's an excellent option for individuals and businesses of all sizes that want to combine email and web services.

Why we like it: I signed up with Hostinger last year to operate a website and email, and so far, I am impressed with the service.

I experienced a few periods of maintenance downtime, but aside from that, everything has functioned as expected. The email inbox interface is clean and easy to understand, though it's not as streamlined, modern, or intuitive as Gmail. It's good for the basics, but you won't get much more than that.

Also: Hostinger web hosting review: Good support and a killer entry-level price

Android and iOS apps are also available, as well as read receipts, aliases, email templates, calendars, contacts, forwarding rules, two-factor authentication, anti-spam measures, and more, depending on your plan.

Who it's for: Individuals and businesses that want a combined web and email hosting solution. The company's standard web hosting plan includes email accounts and mailboxes. In comparison, Hostinger's dedicated hosting service uses the customer and business-centric Titan email hosting service.

It's also an interesting choice for quick website creation and hosting. I had the opportunity to try out the AI-backed Horizons website builder, and on the basis of a simple prompt, it's quite impressive what the automatic builder can create.

Who should look elsewhere: A gripe I have with Hostinger is the steps you need to take to receive support. The live chatbot is irritating, and you need to press your case to receive human assistance. If you're new to web hosting and email services or have complex email hosting needs, look elsewhere.

Hostinger's Premium plans, which combine web and email hosting, begin at $2 per month per user, and business plans start at $3 per month per user. Both options include three months of free service.

However, if you opt for business email hosting alone, for only $0.35 per month per user, you can enjoy up to 10GB of inbox storage, ten forwarding rules, and 50 email aliases. For $1.56 per month per user, you receive 50GB of storage and a free domain for one year. Two months of free service have been thrown in to sweeten the deal.

Also: Best free web hosting 2026

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Proton Mail offers free, business, individual, and family plans with a focus on security.

Why we like it: Proton Mail's free plan offers one email address and 1GB of storage, and you don't need to provide any payment card details. Email is end-to-end encrypted, making it a great choice for security and anonymity -- making it a top choice for private communication.

Proton is headquartered in Switzerland, adheres to the country's strict data protection and privacy laws, and has a long-standing commitment to user privacy. The organization also developed Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass.

According to Proton Mail's latest product roadmap, smarter email inboxes, business email improvements, and an onboarding platform for companies transitioning from Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to Proton are in development. The company also rolled out improvements to its Android and iOS mail apps.

Who it's for: Consider Proton Mail if you want a security-first email hosting solution, a VPN, or a free email hosting plan. The company also recently launched a secure 2FA authenticator.

While I do recommend Proton Mail as a free option, if you are happy to pay for a subscription, Mail Plus is $4 per month and comes with 10 email addresses, 15GB of storage, and a custom email domain.

Proton Mail's business plans start at $7 per month per user and include features such as secure business email, custom email addresses, a calendar, access to a writing assistant, and cloud storage.

Proton Business Suite costs $13 per month and provides 1TB of storage and 20 custom email addresses per user, access to Proton VPN, a password manager, and cloud storage.

Who should look elsewhere: Customers like the simple interface and security features, but note that customer support needs improvement. Avoid this option if you think you may need rapid, ongoing customer support.

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IceWarp is an excellent browser and mobile-based email hosting option that combines cloud and on-premise technologies, making it a suitable choice for startups and larger businesses alike.

Why we like it: Its offerings include shared contacts and calendars, collaborative document editing, mailing list management, web meetings, ChatGPT integration, audio and video calls, mobile apps, synchronization, and archiving. The dashboard also sports an attractive interface for accessing emails, calendars, meetings, and files.

The company also offers a "hybrid" service for Microsoft 365 users. IceWarp's email service and collaborative tools run alongside M365. The service says this "optimizes your email and collaboration server, allowing you to keep the same email name and email history" for a low price.

If you want to use your email hosting service to also handle calendar bookings, IceWarp provides a booking feature and in-app calendar management functions to streamline the process.

Who it's for: Startups and small businesses. IceWarp offers various subscriptions, including a basic plan, which I recommend for startups and small businesses. This tier provides up to 10 accounts for $23 per month, 200GB of email storage, and 1TB of file storage per user.

Business plans start at $3.50 per user per month, but you'll need to agree to a minimum of 10 user accounts. This plan covers up to 500 users, with 200GB of email storage and 1TB of file storage per user. There is an optional desktop app suite. Custom plans, starting at 500 user accounts, are also available, alongside self-hosted email licensing.

One month of free service is available when you sign up for an IceWarp plan.

Who should look elsewhere: Customers find this service reliable and easy to use, although some say migration can take a while. So, if you need urgent migration from another service, you might want to consider a different solution.

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When you're on the hunt for a new email hosting provider, you may end up paying only a few dollars per month unless you have a large team to support, all of whom may need a dedicated email address. To help you decide, we've highlighted the noteworthy features of each email hosting provider below.

Email hosting service	Starting price	Storage	Your domain
Google Workspace	$7 per user per month	30GB, 2TB, or 5TB	Yes
Hosting.com	$3 per user per month	5GB+	Yes
Microsoft 365 Business	$4.40 per user per month	1TB+	Yes
Hostinger	$2 per user per month. Email alone costs $0.35 per month	10GB+	Yes
Proton Mail	Free/$4 per user per month	1GB - 3TB	Yes
IceWarp	$3.50 per user per month	200GB	Yes

It's not always necessary to pay for email hosting. There are free options from reputable companies including Google and Microsoft. These companies tick many of the boxes for typical users, and millions of us use these services for free.

For individuals, a free inbox is often enough, but if you want additional storage space or access to advanced features, there will usually be a small monthly fee.

However, small and medium-sized businesses should view email hosting services as an investment. They offer far more customization options than free plans do. This includes custom domains, collaboration and productivity tools, setup assistance, enhanced privacy and security measures, and flexible storage options.

There are countless email hosting providers and we've highlighted the top picks in the market. The best email hosting providers are listed below, with their best features for each use case.

Choose this email hosting service…	If you want…
Google Workspace	The best email hosting service overall. Google Workplace provides a comprehensive office suite and you prefer the Google ecosystem. Google is familiar and trusted as an email hosting service and offers straightforward pricing with different storage options. AI tools are a bonus, too.
Hosting.com	An affordable email hosting plan over the long term. Hosting.com -- previously A2 hosting -- is popular in the market for its offerings to smaller businesses, and rightly so. There are options to scale, although basic email plans are quite limited in terms of storage.
Microsoft 365 Business	A comprehensive office suite and you prefer the Microsoft ecosystem. If you want an email host focused on Outlook, stick with Microsoft. This option is helpful if you are expected or want to use Teams frequently, as well as other software solutions from the Microsoft marketplace.
Hostinger	Email hosting, and you're also buying web hosting. As a combination, Hostinger is a solid choice to manage both, especially if you are working on a budget. I've been a customer for years and with the exception of a few moments of downtime, I have no complaints.
Proton Mail	A security-first email solution, a free plan, or a VPN and email bundle. Proton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted service with extremely high security standards. Specialist security support is available.
IceWarp	Comprehensive email services, but prefer to avoid Microsoft and Google. This is an excellent option for startup companies that need up to 10 inboxes and the option to scale as business grows.

Choosing the right email hosting provider is tricky, especially as you will likely be tied to a contract for at least a year. When you are looking for a new email hosting provider, consider the factors below.

Features: Software bundles, AI tools, custom domains, email writing assistants, security guarantees, and billing options could sway your choice. What features are most important to you?
Affordability: Most email hosting providers require customers to sign up for at least a year. Consider the rolling fees over time and match your budget with the right host. Keep in mind that promotional prices may not last, and so you may pay more after the first year.
Reliability: Ensure you pick an email hosting provider with minimal downtime. There's no point in paying for an unreliable host that could impact your access to the services you signed up for.
Scalability: If you own a small or midsize business, you may need to expand your operation in the future. Choose a provider that can scale quickly to meet evolving needs.
Security: As email services are often the gateway to our other online services, choosing an email provider with a strong security record is worthwhile. Unfortunately, even the largest and best companies may eventually experience a breach. You want to find a company that consistently works to improve its security posture -- and is transparent about it.
Contracts: Before you sign up, decide how long you will likely use the service. You could choose a month-to-month service or a rolling contract over a year or two, and you may want flexibility in the contract's terms. Read them carefully before you commit to a new email service.
Support: Customer support channels and availability vary by provider. If this is important to you, check which resources are available before signing up for a service.

Over the years, I've helped several small businesses launch, from website designers to artist e-commerce shops. When you start a new venture, every cent counts, but I always advise new business owners to consider email a priority and worth investing in.

It's one of the main ways your customers communicate with you, and a branded email address tends to instill more trust than a generic free one or email provided by an unfamiliar provider. Dedicated email addresses also add a layer of professionalism to a new brand, and for what might only be a few dollars a month, it's worth it.

Many of us at ZDNET have decades of experience with email hosting providers. In making recommendations, we have taken this experience and combined it with crucial factors, including:

Familiarity: We included vendors that ZDNET authors are personally familiar with and feel comfortable recommending.
Pricing: We included a range of email hosting providers that offer services and price points suitable for different clients. There's no point in paying for multiple inboxes or advanced features if you are unlikely to use them.
Email-only: Many email hosting providers now package their email solutions with other services. We want to outline a variety of options including cheaper email-only plans and broader web and email hosting plans.
Reliability: We only pick vendors with a track record of high uptime and stable service. Reliability is crucial to managing workflows, and email communication is crucial for today's businesses.
Backups: We like to see email hosting providers that offer a range of backup options including automatic scheduling and export options.
Security: In today's world, with data breaches and cyberattacks on the rise, security must be at the forefront of your online communication channels. We selected providers known for their robust security practices and frequent upgrades, improvements, and audits. Encryption options are a must.
Scalability: We like to see various email and hosting plans, including family and business options and contracts with different time frames. It's important that customers have the option to scale over time.
New technologies: As AI chatbots have entered the scene, we have considered options that offer AI bolt-ons and features, such as email management or website creation.
Customer support: Signing up for a new email hosting service or switching providers can be stressful. We prefer to showcase companies that provide solid customer support via email, phone, and chat, as well as online documentation.

Latest news

AgentMail raised $6 million to build an email service specifically for AI agents.
Hong Kong-based web and email hosting provider UDynamics filed with the SEC for an initial public offering (IPO).
Rackspace increased its email inbox pricing with little warning to $10 per month, minimum, a move that has angered some customers. As a result, we have removed Rackspace from our top recommendations.
CVC has acquired a majority stake in Namecheap for approxomately $1.5 billion.

Imposing tariffs on software, subscriptions, or outsourcing is difficult. This doesn't mean the email hosting service will not be indirectly impacted. As email hosting services require a vast infrastructure, including data centers, servers, and physical equipment, it may be that this industry will feel the sting. As a result, potentially, higher equipment costs could be passed to customers.

There is an active, albeit temporary, tariff exemption for consumer electronics, including tablets and laptops. However, this could change at any time.

Paid email hosting is typically a service that allows customers to use their own custom domain names in their email addresses rather than being stuck with the email provider's domain. For example, I could set up [email protected] rather than [email protected] or [email protected].

Free accounts usually limit which domains you can use and often have storage caps.

Email hosting often provides a wide range of useful add-ons, including email management suites and collaboration tools. They may also provide custom inboxes, aliases, and heightened security.

While it is certainly possible to self-host your email, and local backup options are an attractive prospect, you will need technological acumen and be willing to undergo the setup process -- whether at home or by renting a server. For most users, signing up for an email hosting service is easier, quicker, cheaper, and requires less management.

However, if you are absolutely sure you want to self-host, I recommend that you check out Mailcow or Roundcube.

When you sign up for an email hosting service, you pay for email addresses, the space required to store your emails, as well as the platform to send, receive, and organize your email.

An email forwarder does none of these things. All a forwarder does is redirect emails received by one email address -- such as [email protected] -- to another email address, like [email protected].

Email hosting and web hosting are both online services, but each serves a different purpose. Email hosting focuses on providing customers with custom email addresses and associated services, like email storage and archiving.

In comparison, web hosting services provide storage for website files and content, whereas email platforms provide storage for email messages. They may also give subscribers a free domain name.

There are also differences in terms of cost. Email hosting services are typically priced per account or in groups for business use. Web hosting pricing structures can be based on time periods, storage requirements, and services, including e-commerce or CMS support.

Once you select your new email hosting provider, you will be prompted to enter information, such as an existing email address, your name, and payment card details (on paid plans).

Once you have set up an account, you will be given credentials to access your dashboard. You may also need to set a new password or enable two-factor authentication (2FA).

The dashboard is where you can create new email addresses, add custom domains, and more. If you become stuck, search for "email setup" along with your email hosting provider's name, as many companies provide how-to guides.

Domain purchases alone will not net you free email services. Instead, you will need to sign up for hosting, and some plans include free, professional email hosting for a year. Take note of the renewal price after this promotional period ends, and be prepared to migrate if you're not happy with the bill.

GoDaddy provides a range of services, including web and email hosting. You can buy standalone email hosting services with plans starting at a few dollars. The company's email services center around the Microsoft 365 suite, including additional tools such as web apps and improved security.

In most cases, you get what you pay for. Some robust and functional free email services are available, but keep in mind that they likely have limitations. These could include a cap on the number of emails you can send daily, your email addresses, or the amount of storage available.

My best recommendation for a free, secure email service is Proton Mail, which offers 1GB of storage, one user account, and one email address.

There are free email services available, but be careful. Free services often come with other costs, including privacy. Since it's costly to maintain an email hosting service, using free services may not get you much support or bombard you with ads every time you access your inbox.

Also, beware of free services that are essentially phishing sites, capturing all the emails you get, including personal identifying information. That said, mail.com is a reasonably safe service that offers email addresses with the linuxmail.org and musician.org domains. Other free services, like Yahoo and Google, allow you to set up email aliases, so if you have another mailer that supports .org, you can get that email at your Yahoo or Gmail account.

Email hosting is usually very cheap. It will normally cost you a few dollars (plus tax) per month. Be aware that, depending on the plan you choose, you may have to cover a year or so upfront. You may also be given one or two free email addresses when you sign up for website hosting plans. One thing to keep in mind is that prices may increase after promotional periods end if you signed up during a sale.

When AI is integrated with email hosting services, this can take many forms. Most often, you'll find AI is used to power inbox email functions, and you may also have access to an AI chatbot that you can ask questions.

Other functions include inbox management, language and writing assistance, predictive writing, automated email drafting, and follow-ups. AI can also be used for security purposes, marketing, and lead generation.

Latest updates

March 2026: In ZDNET's March update, we made editorial updates, refreshed our FAQs, and updated our guide with the latest news in the email hosting space.
January 2026: In ZDNET's January update, we performed a thorough review of our recommendations for the best email hosting services for 2026, including refreshing copy and revising our FAQs. We have also removed Rackspace from our recommendations due to its recent price hikes.

Alternative email hosting services to consider

GoDaddy offers cheap, no-nonsense email hosting services and a variety of web hosting solutions perfect for side hustles and startups. Email is available based on Microsoft 365, starting at $1.99 per month for 10GB inboxes, and you can easily scale up as your business grows.

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DreamHost provides top-notch, ad-free, and professional email services suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. If you're operating a smaller company, DreamHost is likely to appeal to you, as its plans start at only $1.67 per month for 25GB of inbox space and custom email addresses. There's a new AI-based website builder available, too, if you want to host your website alongside email.

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As an AWS-based service, WorkMail integrates with all the other AWS services, letting you build a cloud-based, customized infrastructure for your business. Amazon WorkMail costs $4 per user per month and includes 50GB of mailbox storage per user. A free trial is available.

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Zoho Mail is a solid option for small businesses that want an ad-free, clean email experience. There are plenty of plans available, starting at $1 per user per month, although the basic subscription includes only 5GB of space per user. The best option is to go premium, which provides a reasonable 50GB of storage per mailbox.

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If you want to go beyond email hosting services, check out our top picks for the best web hosting services of 2026, the best web hosting services around for small businesses, and the best cloud hosting services in the market.

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