Email hosting is similar to web hosting in the fact that it offers a hosting service – in this case, for emails. If you want to setup a custom email address or professional email address for your website or business, this kind of hosting is essential.
Some web hosts kindly include email accounts as part of their package, whereas others offer this as an additional service. It is generally quite affordable, depending on the amount of email accounts you require, storage space you need, and some other factors which we’ll pick up on later in this article.
WebHostingProf has signed up to the best email hosting services in 2023. We’ve tried and tested them all to give you an honest analysis so you can choose the right hosting for your business.
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Who Needs Email Hosting?
If you run a business and are seeking a professional way to communicate with your clients, or you’re an individual who wants to establish and promote their personal brand, email hosting can help you achieve your goals.
In order to sign up to an email hosting service you’ll need a domain name. If you have a website established already then you’ll already have a domain name (unless you’re using a subdomain from a free service like a website builder). If you don’t have a domain name you can either purchase one from your web hosting company, source one from a domain registrar, or nab a domain name for free with selective TLDs.
1. A2 Hosting (Best Overall Email Hosting)
A2 Hosting
From just $2.49 per month, A2's shared hosting Startup plan includes hosting for 1 website, 100GB website storage, multiple data center locations, free unlimited email addresses, spam protection, and compatibility with webmail, POP3, IMAP, and SMTP. All of A2 Hosting's shared hosting plans include unlimited email accounts for free.
2. BlueHost (Best For Microsoft 365 Email)
BlueHost
BlueHost's email hosting plans start at $2.59 per month for the first year and require a hosting plan. Their Email Essentials plan includes 15GB storage, an email set up with your business domain name, Outlook web access, automatic updates, and security. For businesses that require access to Microsoft 365 products, you can get the online versions for free with the Business Plus plan priced at $5.99 per month, or for $9.99 on the Business Pro plan which includes full Microsoft 365 access and 50GB email storage.
3. iPage (Best For All-in-one Hosting)
iPage
iPage offer one hosting plan that covers all you need to get started with hosting a website and access to email. Their plan is just $1.99 per month and includes hosting for unlimited websites, a free domain, free SSL certificate, customizable email address, Webmail and POP3/IMAP accounts, email forwarding, and virus checking. You won't need to purchase a separate domain or email hosting as iPage provides it all.
4. Hostinger (Best Cheap Hosting)
Hostinger
Hostinger is famous for offering cheap and reliable hosting, and this doesn't change when it comes to email hosting. Their email hosting plans start from $0.99 per month and provide 10GB email storage, multi-device support, anti-spam, one-click import of existing email, and iOS and Android apps. If you're not happy with your email hosting, Hostinger offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.
5. SiteGround (Best For Performance)
SiteGround
SiteGround's shared hosting plans include free unlimited email accounts, starting from $6.99 per month. You can have an unlimited number of free email accounts at your domain name, use forwarders and aliases, and have access to Webmail. SiteGround's StartUp plan includes 10GB storage space for one website, unlimited MySQL databases, and a free CDN. Although SiteGround are priced higher than the other web hosts in this list, they do offer superior performance and a solid uptime guarantee.
6. InMotion Hosting (Best Secure Email Hosting)
InMotion Hosting
InMotion offer 3 shared hosting plans, all of which include free email hosting and a free domain name. The Launch plan is $5.99 per month and includes 10 email accounts for free. You'll also get a free SSL and access to Google Apps like Gmail. If you want unlimited email accounts then you'll need to sign up for their Pro plan which is $14.99 per month. InMotion hosting offer great value for money.
Best Business Emails
Business email hosting customers may be looking for something more than just emails. Reliability is key because if your email hosting goes down, you won’t be able to send emails or respond to customers. You’ll also want access to multiple email clients so you can send and receive emails on the go, in different locations, and so on.
iPage (Best for Small Businesses)
iPage is a low-cost hosting provider which is ideal for small or growing businesses who may be on a tighter budget. iPages all-in-one hosting plan is just $1.99 per month and includes a free domain upon registering. The plan also includes unlimited domains and emails.
You can create as many email accounts and addresses you need for your small business. For example you could create an email address for sales, support, or individual team members. iPages email tools includes webmail, email forwarding, autoresponders, and email security like spam filters.
InMotion (Best For Large Businesses and Enterprises)
InMotion hosting focuses heavily on security and performance. Their hosting plans use fast SSD storage and include a free SSL certificate which will protect your website and its customers. InMotion’s email hosting includes unlimited storage, unlimited emails, domains, and SPAM Safe protection.
InMotion provide plenty of helpful resources to help you set up your email client, troubleshoot any email issues you encounter, email marketing, and lots more. They also make it incredibly easy to integrate your existing email software like Office 365 of Google so you don’t have to move your existing accounts.
Best Personal Email Hosting
Even if you’re not running a business, a professional email address and email account could make the difference between landing a job, building up your portfolio, or marketing your skills.
Let’s say you want to submit your CV or resume to a potential employer for freelancing work. Do you think they’re more likely to take you seriously if your email address is tom_1986@hotmail.com or tom@tomhenson.com?
I’m not saying you would be excluded from being considered for a job, but it looks much more professional if you show that you’ve put the time and effort into getting your name out there. Whether you’re an individual or business, email hosting can be an affordable step in the right direction.
Hosting companies like SiteGround not only offer fantastic web hosting services, they also provide reliable and user-friendly email services that are compatible with email clients. All of your accounts will be protected with anti-spam protection and you can access your email settings via cPanel.
Free Domain Email Hosting
Domains can cost anywhere between $1 to $15+ per year. You’ll need to register a domain if you want to attach a professional email to it, e.g. support@mywebsite.com
Thankfully there are a few great web hosting companies that not only offer free emails, but they also throw in a domain name for free for the first year. This is a great deal if you can get it as you’ll get web hosting, domain hosting, and emails included within the price.
iPage’s shared hosting plan costs $1.99 per month and includes all of the above. Bluehost also offer similar features – both hosting companies are great for personal websites, small businesses, and blogs.
Email Hosting Roundup
Now that you understand what email hosting is and when you need it, it’s time for a quick recap. We’ve looked at the best email hosting services in 2023 and have concluded that A2 Hosting is the best overall hosting company. Their shared hosting plans include unlimited email accounts and you can get all of this for just $2.49/mo.
Email hosting services don’t have to be expensive, but they do have to be reliable. If you’re starting your first website, you may want to opt for a hosting provider that includes a domain and email for free to save some money.
However, if you’re not too stretched in terms of budget, a provider like InMotion could offer the best of both worlds, including outstanding performance and security.3