Best email hosting services 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
Whether you want to launch a new online project or you need a way to communicate with friends and family, a reliable email service is a must.
While free email platforms offer the basics, dedicated email services generally look more professional, inspire trust, and offer customization options, helping you promote your brand. They may also provide improved email user interfaces, better security, and productivity tools -- including templates, SEO, and AI -- that you won't find in limited, free plans.
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.
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. Considering its recent price hikes, we have also removed Rackspace from our recommendations.
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What is the best email hosting service right now?
My favorite email hosting provider is Google Workspace. If you want a familiar email hosting provider that offers plenty of storage with a direct and easy-to-understand pricing structure, tailored email addresses, and reliable infrastructure, this is the right host for you. Business starter plans are available for $7 per user per month on an annual plan, although sometimes, they are available on sale.
Free email accounts are on offer for individual users.
Also: Best CRM for small business of 2026
Alternatively, if you are looking for an email hosting provider for a small to medium-sized business, consider Hostinger. Hostinger is an affordable option that combines email and web hosting for $3 per month with three months free. The service's business email starter packages start at only $0.35 per month.
ZDNET has tested many email hosting providers over the years. I 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 my 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.
Sort by All Security Features PriceBest email hosting services of 2026
Show less View now at GoogleGoogle 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 my favorite email hosting services.
Why we like it: Given Google's approach to security, tool suite, free service, and the fact that it is used by billions of people worldwide, it's no surprise that many use this service as the backbone of their custom email addresses and inboxes.
Features available include custom email, pooled storage ranging from 30GB to 5TB, security options, and video meetings for between 100 and 500 participants.
In addition, all Workspace plans now include generative artificial intelligence features, without the need for bolt-on purchases, such as AI assistance and the Gemini chatbot. End-to-end encrypted email systems are also in beta.
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 the enterprise.
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.
Google Workspace features: Your own domain name: Yes | Mailbox size: 30GB, 2TB, or 5TB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone | Archiving and storage: Depending on the plan | 14-day free trial
Security 10 Features 9 Price 8Pros
- Up to 5TB of storage
- Flexible pricing
- Familiar to free Gmail users
- AI tools
- Doesn't offer unlimited storage for enterprises
Google Workspace
Best email hosting service overall
4.4 / 5 ScoreGoogle 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 my favorite email hosting services.
Why we like it: Given Google's approach to security, tool suite, free service, and the fact that it is used by billions of people worldwide, it's no surprise that many use this service as the backbone of their custom email addresses and inboxes.
Features available include custom email, pooled storage ranging from 30GB to 5TB, security options, and video meetings for between 100 and 500 participants.
In addition, all Workspace plans now include generative artificial intelligence features, without the need for bolt-on purchases, such as AI assistance and the Gemini chatbot. End-to-end encrypted email systems are also in beta.
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 the enterprise.
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.
Google Workspace features: Your own domain name: Yes | Mailbox size: 30GB, 2TB, or 5TB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone | Archiving and storage: Depending on the plan | 14-day free trial
Microsoft 365 encompasses all the Office desktop apps, Office online apps, Microsoft Teams, Exchange's benefits, calendaring, mobile apps, and more.
Why we like it: Microsoft 365 is available in Basic, Standard, and Premium packages with prices starting at $6 per month per user. You can opt for features like business-class email, 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.
Customer feedback indicates that this option is great for businesses of all sizes, although some users would prefer more control over update cycles. Last month, the Redmond giant introduced GPT-5.2 to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot Studio.
Existing 365 subscribers should be aware of looming restrictions on the default Onmicrosoft domain due to abuse by spammers, which will be throttled to 100 external email recipients as of December.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $6 per user per month, whereas Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available for $12.50 per month per user, and 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 would prefer other options, such as Gmail and Google Workspace, check out our other recommendations.
Microsoft 365 Business features: Your domain name: Yes | Cloud storage size: 1TB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone | Archiving and storage: Depending on the plan | One-month free trial
Security 8 Features 9 Price 10Pros
- Starts at 1TB cloud storage
- Spam and virus protection
- 24/7 support
- Entry package
- Advanced security only included in Premium plans
- Copilot is a bolt-on
Microsoft 365 encompasses all the Office desktop apps, Office online apps, Microsoft Teams, Exchange's benefits, calendaring, mobile apps, and more.
Why we like it: Microsoft 365 is available in Basic, Standard, and Premium packages with prices starting at $6 per month per user. You can opt for features like business-class email, 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.
Customer feedback indicates that this option is great for businesses of all sizes, although some users would prefer more control over update cycles. Last month, the Redmond giant introduced GPT-5.2 to Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Copilot Studio.
Existing 365 subscribers should be aware of looming restrictions on the default Onmicrosoft domain due to abuse by spammers, which will be throttled to 100 external email recipients as of December.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs $6 per user per month, whereas Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available for $12.50 per month per user, and 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 would prefer other options, such as Gmail and Google Workspace, check out our other recommendations.
Microsoft 365 Business features: Your domain name: Yes | Cloud storage size: 1TB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone | Archiving and storage: Depending on the plan | One-month free trial
I have 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 have been impressed with the service.
I've experienced a few periods of downtime for maintenance, but aside from that, everything has functioned as expected. In regard to email, the inbox interface is clean and easy to understand, although it's not as streamlined or as intuitive as Gmail.
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, whereas 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've 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, you may want to look elsewhere.
Hostinger's Premium plans, which combine web and email hosting, begin at $1.99 per month per user, and Business plans start at $2.99 per month per user. Both plans include three months of free service.
If you opt for business email hosting alone, for a $0.35 per month per user starting subscription, 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
Hostinger features: Your domain name: Yes | Mailbox size: 10GB to 50GB or 1GB per inbox | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone (surcharge for priority support) | Archiving and storage: Basic, plus exports | 30-day money-back guarantee | Trustpilot rating: 4.7/5
Pros
- Email hosting included in web hosting plans
- 24/7 support
- Cheap email plans, currently on sale
- No archiving options
- Limited starter email options
I have 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 have been impressed with the service.
I've experienced a few periods of downtime for maintenance, but aside from that, everything has functioned as expected. In regard to email, the inbox interface is clean and easy to understand, although it's not as streamlined or as intuitive as Gmail.
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, whereas 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've 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, you may want to look elsewhere.
Hostinger's Premium plans, which combine web and email hosting, begin at $1.99 per month per user, and Business plans start at $2.99 per month per user. Both plans include three months of free service.
If you opt for business email hosting alone, for a $0.35 per month per user starting subscription, 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
Hostinger features: Your domain name: Yes | Mailbox size: 10GB to 50GB or 1GB per inbox | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone (surcharge for priority support) | Archiving and storage: Basic, plus exports | 30-day money-back guarantee | Trustpilot rating: 4.7/5
Hosting.com, a rebrand from A2 Hosting, is my favorite small business option due to its user-friendly tools and flexible plans.
Why we like it: It 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 options, from $4 per month, include up to 100GB of mail space, audio and video chat, attachment and link tracking, 2FA, and file storage.
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 and 24/7 support.
Who should look elsewhere: Enterprise players should look elsewhere. 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 small 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.
Hosting.com features: Your domain name: Yes | Inbox storage size: Up to 30GB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone, Guru Crew Support | Archiving and storage: Depending on the plan | 30-day money-back guarantee | Trustpilot rating: 4.7/5
Security 8 Features 7 Price 10Pros
- Affordable
- Long-term, simple plans
- Migration tools
- Web and mobile apps
- Storage relatively low on basic plans
- Email sending limits
- Two-factor authentication limited to Premium
Hosting.com
Best affordable email hosting for small businesses
4.3 / 5 ScoreHosting.com, a rebrand from A2 Hosting, is my favorite small business option due to its user-friendly tools and flexible plans.
Why we like it: It 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 options, from $4 per month, include up to 100GB of mail space, audio and video chat, attachment and link tracking, 2FA, and file storage.
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 and 24/7 support.
Who should look elsewhere: Enterprise players should look elsewhere. 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 small 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.
Hosting.com features: Your domain name: Yes | Inbox storage size: Up to 30GB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone, Guru Crew Support | Archiving and storage: Depending on the plan | 30-day money-back guarantee | Trustpilot rating: 4.7/5
Read MoreDeveloped by the same organization behind Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass, Proton Mail offers free, business, individual, and family plans with a security focus.
Why we like it: Proton Mail's free plan provides users with one email address and 1GB of storage, and you don't need to hand over any payment card details. Email is end-to-end encrypted, making it a great choice for security.
The company behind this email solution is headquartered in Switzerland, adheres to the country's strict data protection and privacy laws, and has a long-standing commitment to user privacy.
According to Proton Mail's latest product roadmap, smarter email inboxes, improvements for business email, and an onboarding platform for companies transitioning from Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to Proton are in development.
Who it's for: Proton Mail should be considered 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 $3.99 per month and comes with 10 email addresses, 15GB of storage, and a custom email domain.
Proton Mail's business plans start at $6.99 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 $12.99 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 say they like the simple interface and security provisions, but note that customer support needs improvement. Avoid this option if you think you may need rapid, ongoing customer support.
Proton Mail features: Your domain name: Yes | Mailbox size: 1GB to 3TB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Email, online form | End-to-end encryption | Desktop app | Free option | 30-day money-back guarantee | Trustpilot rating: 2.6/5
Pros
- Security focus
- Free plans available
- Family options
- Swiss company, strong privacy laws
- VPN
- Poor customer support reviews
Proton Mail
Best free email hosting service
3.7 / 5 ScoreDeveloped by the same organization behind Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass, Proton Mail offers free, business, individual, and family plans with a security focus.
Why we like it: Proton Mail's free plan provides users with one email address and 1GB of storage, and you don't need to hand over any payment card details. Email is end-to-end encrypted, making it a great choice for security.
The company behind this email solution is headquartered in Switzerland, adheres to the country's strict data protection and privacy laws, and has a long-standing commitment to user privacy.
According to Proton Mail's latest product roadmap, smarter email inboxes, improvements for business email, and an onboarding platform for companies transitioning from Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 to Proton are in development.
Who it's for: Proton Mail should be considered 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 $3.99 per month and comes with 10 email addresses, 15GB of storage, and a custom email domain.
Proton Mail's business plans start at $6.99 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 $12.99 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 say they like the simple interface and security provisions, but note that customer support needs improvement. Avoid this option if you think you may need rapid, ongoing customer support.
Proton Mail features: Your domain name: Yes | Mailbox size: 1GB to 3TB | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Email, online form | End-to-end encryption | Desktop app | Free option | 30-day money-back guarantee | Trustpilot rating: 2.6/5
Great name aside, IceWarp is an excellent browser-based email hosting option that combines cloud and on-premise technologies, making it a suitable choice for startups and larger businesses.
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.
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. One month of free service is added to the length of the contract.
Business plans start at $3.50 per month per user, but you'll need to agree to 10 user accounts at a minimum. 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.
IceWarp features: Your domain name: Yes | Mailbox size: 200GB + 1TB file storage | Spam and virus protection: Yes | Aliases: Yes | 24/7 support: Chat, ticket, or phone | Archiving and storage: Included | 14-day money-back guarantee | Trustpilot rating: 3.1/5
Security 7 Features 8 Price 7Pros
- Desktop app suite
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