5 Cheap Email Hosting Providers (Best of 2024)
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In today’s digital landscape, having a professional email address is more important than ever. Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or an individual looking to establish credibility, a custom email address using your own domain name sets you apart. But finding an affordable email hosting provider that doesn’t skimp on features can be a challenge.
That’s where we come in. At Web Hosting Buddy, we’ve sifted through countless options to bring you the best cheap email hosting providers for 2024. These providers offer a perfect blend of affordability, reliability, and functionality, ensuring you get the most bang for your buck.
Affiliate Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. But don’t worry—we don’t recommend low quality services!
Now, let’s dive into what you should consider when choosing an email hosting company.
Considerations When Choosing an Email Hosting Company
Selecting the right email hosting provider isn’t just about the lowest price tag (although price is a big part of it). You need to consider factors like storage space, security features, ease of use, and customer support. After all, your email is a critical communication tool for both personal and professional use.
The Limitations of Email-Only Hosting Services
Email-only hosting services like Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) are popular choices for many businesses. They offer robust features, seamless integration with other Microsoft products, and reliable service. However, they often charge per user or per inbox, which can quickly add up.
At the time of writing, Microsoft offers several plans:
- Exchange Online Plan 1: $4 per user per month
- Exchange Online Plan 2: $8 per user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50 per user per month
While these plans come with advanced features like large mailbox storage, anti-malware protection, and compliance tools, the per-user pricing model can become expensive for businesses needing multiple email accounts. Additionally, you might end up paying for features you don’t necessarily need.
If you want to have multiple inboxes (not just forwarders), this can quickly spiral up to $50/month or more vs. the cost of running your own email server on a shared web hosting account and configuring it the way you want.
In some cases, yes, Microsoft (or similar email only services) might be a good option (especially if you require some of their business tools). But for many people with a mom and pop site, looking for a handful of email accounts and forwarders, they might be better served by shared hosting and setting up their own inboxes.
The Advantages of Full Hosting Accounts with Email Hosting Services
On the other hand, full web hosting accounts that include email services often provide better value for money. These hosting providers often have unlimited email accounts (or at least a minimum of 100), generous storage, and additional features like website hosting—all for a flat monthly fee. This approach can be significantly more cost-effective, especially for small businesses or individuals needing multiple email addresses.
By bundling your email and website hosting together, you also benefit from centralized management, making it easier to handle your online presence. Plus, many of these providers offer excellent customer support to assist you with any issues that may arise.
Cheap Email Hosting Providers – The Best Options
Now that you’ve got a bit better idea of the various types of email hosting, here are our top picks for affordable email hosting providers in 2024.
1) Bluehost
Bluehost is a well-established name in the hosting industry, known for their reliability and user-friendly services. Their shared email hosting plans come packed with features, including unlimited email accounts (on Plus and higher tiers) and storage, making them an excellent choice for email hosting.
What We Like About Bluehost for Email Hosting:
- Unlimited Email Accounts: Create as many email addresses as you need without worrying about additional costs (on their Plus plan and higher, email accounts are limited on the Basic plan).
- User-Friendly Interface: Bluehost’s intuitive control panel makes it easy to set up and manage your email accounts.
- Excellent Customer Support: 24/7 support via chat, phone (with certain plan tiers), or email to assist with any issues.
- Affordable Pricing: With our Web Hosting Buddy Bluehost coupon, plans start at $1.99 per month, offering great value for both email and web hosting.
Bluehost also offers dedicated Professional email hosting plans for $24.99/year and $44.99/year, with 25-50 email aliases, although we think their shared hosting options for email are a bit better. Beyond that, they also offer Professional Email plans as a 3-month trial, that renews at $2.49/mo on top of your shared hosting plan, if you want access to Professional Email services like a web drive and task scheduling (beyond what you can do in cPanel).
Setting up your email with Bluehost is straightforward. They provide detailed guides and an easy-to-navigate control panel, so even if you’re not tech-savvy, you can get your professional email up and running in no time—so be sure to check them out!
2) Hostinger
Hostinger has quickly risen through the ranks to become one of the most popular hosting providers, thanks to its affordable plans and high-quality services. They offer robust email hosting features as part of their web hosting packages.
What We Like About Hostinger for Email Hosting:
- Affordable Plans: Starting at just $2.69 per month with our Web Hosting Buddy coupon, Hostinger offers some of the lowest prices in the industry.
- Powerful Email Hosting Features: Benefit from features like anti-spam protection, email forwarding, and autoresponders.
- User-Friendly hPanel: Hostinger’s custom control panel is intuitive and easy to use.
- Scalable Solutions: As your business grows, you can easily upgrade your hosting plan to accommodate more resources.
Hostinger’s email hosting is ideal for those who need a budget-friendly solution without sacrificing quality. Their customer support is responsive and helpful, ensuring any issues are resolved promptly.
They also offer professional email hosting plans with without web hosting for $0.99/mo and $2.99/mo respectively, but again, we think the shared hosting account with included email options area a bit better because they include 100 email inboxes with up to 1GB of storage for each. If you’re looking for solid email hosting, definitely check out Hostinger!
3) SiteGround
SiteGround is renowned for its exceptional performance and top-notch customer service. While they might be a bit pricier than some competitors, the value they provide is undeniable.
What We Like About SiteGround for Email Hosting:
- Reliable and Secure Email Hosting: Benefit from daily backups, spam protection, and secure data centers.
- Easy Email Management & Unlimited Accounts: Their control panel simplifies the process of creating and managing unlimited email accounts (not limited to fewer emails on their base plan like some other email hosting companies).
- Excellent Customer Support: 24/7 support with knowledgeable staff ready to assist.
- Competitive Pricing: With our discount, plans start at $2.99 per month.
SiteGround’s email hosting is ideal for businesses that prioritize performance and reliability. Their infrastructure ensures your emails are delivered promptly and securely, and their support team is one of the best in the business—seriously, their chat support is out of this world, and they are definitely worth checking out!
4) InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting is a favorite among businesses for its robust features and excellent customer service. They offer a comprehensive email hosting solution that’s both powerful and affordable.
What We Like About InMotion Hosting for Email Hosting:
- Unlimited Email Accounts: Create and manage as many email addresses as you need (on Launch tier plans and higher, 10 on Core tier plans).
- Generous Money-Back Guarantee: A 90-day money-back guarantee gives you ample time to test their services risk-free.
- Advanced Security Features: Benefit from spam filters, virus protection, and secure protocols.
- Affordable Pricing: With our Web Hosting Buddy discount, plans start at $2.29 per month.
InMotion Hosting provides a balance of affordability and high performance. Their lengthy money-back guarantee reflects their confidence in their services, giving you peace of mind when choosing them as your email host.
5) DreamHost
DreamHost has been a trusted name in the hosting industry for over two decades. They offer reliable email hosting services with a focus on user experience and satisfaction.
What We Like About DreamHost for Email Hosting:
- Improved Proprietary Control Panel: DreamHost’s custom control panel has become more intuitive and user-friendly over the years.
- Unlimited Email Accounts: Create multiple email addresses without extra costs.
- Strong Security Measures: Enjoy features like spam filtering and secure email protocols.
- Affordable Pricing: Plans start at $2.59 + $1.67 (to add email) per month with our coupon. With the Shared Unlimited plans, email is included and it’s $3.95/mo which includes unlimited email.
DreamHost’s commitment to continuous improvement has made their email hosting service both reliable and easy to use. Their focus on customer satisfaction ensures you have the support you need to manage your email effectively.
Email Hosting FAQs – Your Questions Answered
Got questions about finding affordable email hosting, or email hosting in general? We answer some of the most popular questions below!
Q: What is email hosting?
A: Email hosting is a service that allows you to create and manage custom email addresses using your own domain name (such as: you@yourdomain.com). It typically includes features like email storage, spam filtering, and access through webmail or email clients.
Q: Why should I use a custom email address?
A: Using a custom email address enhances your professionalism and brand image. It helps build trust with clients and customers, indicating that you’re serious about your business or personal brand.
Q: Can I host my emails and website with the same provider?
A: Yes, many hosting providers offer packages that include both web and email hosting. This simplifies management and can often be more cost-effective, and this is possible with all the recommended email hosting providers in our list—in fact, we think it’s generally the best way to go.
Q: Is it difficult to set up email hosting?
A: Most hosting providers offer user-friendly control panels and setup wizards, making it easy for even beginners to create and manage email accounts. A lot of them use cPanel (or proprietary panels like DreamHost’s panel, and Hostinger’s hPanel). These panels are quite intuitive and easy to use (and if you need help, they all have support).
Q: Are there limits on the number of email accounts I can create?
A: It depends on the provider and plan. Many providers, like Bluehost and InMotion Hosting, and SiteGround offer unlimited email accounts, it just depends on the tier of your plan, as not all providers offer unlimited emails on all tiers.
Q: How do I access my emails?
A: You can access your emails through webmail interfaces provided by the host or configure email clients like Outlook, Thunderbird, or mobile apps using POP3 or IMAP protocols.
Q: What is the difference between POP3 and IMAP?
A:
- POP3: Downloads emails from the server to your device and usually deletes them from the server. It’s suitable if you access your email from one device.
- IMAP: Syncs emails across multiple devices, keeping them on the server. Ideal if you need to access your email from various devices.
Q: Can I migrate my existing emails to a new hosting provider?
A: Yes, most providers offer migration tools or support services to help you transfer your emails and contacts seamlessly.
Q: Is my email secure with these hosting providers?
A: Reputable hosting providers implement robust security measures like SSL encryption, spam filtering, and virus protection to keep your emails secure.
Q: Do these providers offer customer support?
A: Yes, providers like Bluehost, Hostinger, and SiteGround offer 24/7 customer support via chat, phone, or email to assist with any issues.
Q: What if I need more storage space for my emails?
A: Many providers offer scalable plans or the option to purchase additional storage as your needs grow.
Q: Are there any hidden fees I should be aware of?
A: It’s important to read the terms and conditions. Some providers may have higher renewal rates after the initial term or charges for additional services, or charge extra if you want to add emails on base plans, or offer standalone professional email with some extra features (but at an extra cost).
Q: Can I set up autoresponders and email forwarding?
A: Yes, most hosting providers include features like autoresponders, email forwarding, and customizable email filters.
Q: Is it possible to use third-party email clients with these hosting services?
A: Absolutely. You can configure email clients like Outlook, Apple Mail, or Thunderbird using the settings provided by your host.
Q: What if I outgrow my current email hosting plan?
A: Hosting providers usually offer scalable solutions, allowing you to upgrade your plan or resources as your needs expand.
Affordable Email Hosting – Closing Thoughts
Choosing an affordable email hosting provider is a crucial step toward establishing a credible and professional online presence. While email-only hosting services like Microsoft 365 offer advanced features, they may not be the most cost-effective choice for everyone, especially when multiple email accounts are needed.
Full hosting accounts that include email services often provide greater value, combining affordability with a robust set of features. Providers like Bluehost, Hostinger, SiteGround, InMotion Hosting, and DreamHost offer reliable and cheap email hosting solutions tailored to various needs and budgets.
In 2024, there’s no need to break the bank to get professional email hosting. The providers we’ve highlighted not only offer competitive pricing but also deliver on performance, security, and customer support.
Remember, a professional email address does more than just facilitate communication—it reinforces your brand every time you hit send. By choosing one of these affordable email hosting providers, you’re setting yourself up for success with a reliable service that grows with you.
At Web Hosting Buddy, we’re committed to breaking down the best hosting solutions out there. We hope this guide has provided valuable insights on the world of email hosting!
