9 Legit Ways To Get A Free Business Email Address In 2022

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every business owner needs a credible email address for business use, and small businesses and start-ups often need it to be as affordable as possible. To help, we rounded up nine legit ways to get a free business email address. some are completely free, while others bundle free email accounts with other products your business uses or needs, like office software and web hosting.

free business email options at a glance

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*requires separate domain purchase **billed annually, renews at higher rate after first year ***billed annually; monthly billing is also available at a higher cost. Take our quiz to find out the best way to get a free business email address for yourself.

zoho mail – best for free email addresses on your domain

zoho is a leading provider of cloud-based software with a suite of affordable marketing, sales, support, human resources, and accounting tools for small businesses. zoho mail users can get up to five free email accounts on their company domain.

what’s unique about free business email through zoho mail is that it can be easily integrated with other zoho applications, such as zoho crm, to view and record customer activity on the go. however, zoho mail plans do not come with a domain name, so you will need to purchase one separately to use zoho mail for free.

so while zoho mail gives you up to five free email addresses, you’ll need to spend $12-$15 per year on a custom domain, like @yourbusiness.com, to give your email address a more professional appearance. If you don’t already have a domain name, check out our list of the best domain name registrars for small businesses.

how to get a free business email address with zoho

Here’s how to set up your free email address for business use through zoho mail in four easy steps:

register a domain name (if you haven’t already)
go to zoho.com/mail/ and click “pricing” on the top menu
scroll down to find the “free forever” plan and click “sign up now”
follow the instructions to create your free business email account

On the free plan, you can create up to five business email addresses. To learn more, visit our guide to getting business email with Zoho.

visit zoho

perspective: the best credible free email address without a custom domain

If you’re not ready to buy and connect a custom domain for email (for example, yourname@yourcompany.com), choose outlook. is one of the most professional-looking free email account options for businesses. unlike free email providers like hotmail.com, outlook seems more reliable, more secure and is one of the most reliable free email services on the market.

In addition to being completely free, Outlook also integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 web and mobile tools (Powerpoint, Word, Excel, Skype, etc.). To get the desktop versions, you’ll need to upgrade your account to at least the second-tier premium plan, called Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, at $8.25 per month, or pay $12.50 per user each month for the web and desktop versions, which are also available. Includes Microsoft collaboration tools.

And of course, when you’re ready to upgrade your email to a custom domain, you’ll need to purchase a Microsoft 365 business plan for at least $6. Still, it’s worth considering getting started in the Microsoft ecosystem, as Microsoft 365 offers advanced business productivity tools and Outlook is the best business email provider for businesses that send or receive large attachments.

how to get a free business email address with outlook

Here’s how to get a free business email address from outlook.com:

go to outlook.live.com and click the “create a free account” button
create the name of your email address (for example, smithelectric@outlook.com )
create a password
enter your first and last name
provide your country and date of birth
confirm that you are not a robot
then you will be redirected to your new business email inbox

Even in the free version, Outlook features include sophisticated tools, settings, and automations. For more information, see our comprehensive guide to Microsoft Outlook for business.

visit perspective

gmail: the best free email provider with a simple and intuitive interface

Like Outlook, Gmail is another way to get a high-quality email account completely free if you’re willing to give up the brand credibility of creating an email address on your own domain. However, unlike Outlook, you can also connect an email address that you already own to the Gmail account. This means you can access your business email through the gmail interface you know and love if you already have a business email address.

all you need to do is manually connect your domain name to gmail so you can use your custom email address through the gmail interface. While this is a completely free professional email option, it’s not the easiest to set up. so it’s best for those with some technical experience or the patience to learn.

how to get a free business email address with gmail

Here’s how to create a free business email address from gmail.com:

create a free google account at accounts.google.com/signup
enter your first and last name, username, and create and confirm your password, or enter an email address existing to connect to gmail by clicking “use my current email address instead” (see optional instructions below)
enter a phone number where google can text you a verification code and then enter the code when prompted
enter your date of birth and gender (optional)
agree to the terms and conditions and start using gmail

add an existing email (optional): update the settings in gmail to “add another email address”. go to gmail > settings > accounts > add another email address > treat as an alias > update credentials (eg stmp server).

debate between gmail and outlook? Get the full comparison to help you determine the right free business email service for you by checking out our article on Gmail vs Outlook.

visit gmail

protonmail: better security & privacy in a free business email solution

protonmail is proton’s answer to a secure email service, and they take security very seriously. They are based in Switzerland, which means your account is protected by Swiss privacy and neutrality laws. They guarantee end-to-end, zero-access encryption, not only on your mail, but also on your proton contacts and calendar. proton also encrypts mail sent to your recipients (even those not on proton) with its password protected email feature.

In addition to encryption, protonmail allows you to send self-destructing messages to any contact, even those who are not in the proton system. proton also automatically blocks tracking pixels and hides your ip, so your email can’t be used to generate ads.

To get all these features, simply create a free protonmail account. With this account you will also get limited access to calendar, vpn and proton drive. To upgrade your features, like access to a custom domain for your emails, purchase a business account starting at $3.99 per month. You’ll also get up to 10 email addresses, 15GB of storage, and unlimited messages.

how to get a free business email address with protonmail

These are the steps to get a free business email address with protonmail:

go to https://proton.me/mail and click “create a free account”
click “get free proton” on the next page
fill in your account information and create an account
verify your account
choose a display name

After creating your free email account on Proton, you can also import your existing email to Proton’s servers using “easy switch”. easy switch is a one-step email import solution found in the menu on the left.

visit protonmail

ionos – Ideal for businesses looking for email on a custom domain

ionos (formerly 1&1 by ionos) is not yet a household name for domain registration and web hosting in the us. us, but is one of the main suppliers in europe. it’s also one of the cheapest business email providers.

ionos email hosting plans start at $1 per month and come with a free email domain. however, you can also get a free email account through ionos by purchasing a business domain name for $1 the first year ($20 per year thereafter).

If you need a website, you can also get a free business email address on ionos’ all-in-one website builder plans, starting at $1 per month or $5 per month for the first year, even for e-commerce sites. You can learn more about ionos website builder in our list of the best cheap website builders for small businesses.

With your free ionos professional email address, you can receive your email through any browser on ionos’ proprietary email interface. it’s intuitive and easy to use, with additional benefits, including a calendar, address book, and tasks.

You can also import multiple email accounts to see all your emails in one place. It’s also easy to set up your new email account in outlook or gmail via imap or pop and other settings, so you can use your free business email through any business email app you prefer. If you need help, you can quickly connect with an ionos technician via web chat or call back for personalized support.

Getting your email free through ionos starts with choosing a domain name. If you need help, read our article on choosing a domain name for your business.

how to get a free business email address with ionos

You can get a free email account on ionos website builder plans, web hosting plans, or with the purchase of a domain. Here are the steps to receive your email when purchasing a domain from ionos:

go to ionos/domains/domain-names and search for the desired domain
follow the steps to buy the domain and create your ionos account
on your ionos control panel, navigate to email addresses and create a new email address
(optional) add your new email to outlook or gmail (and other business email apps) by following the instructions available in the ionos knowledge base

visit ionos

bluehost: ideal for companies that need multiple email accounts

bluehost is one of the leading web hosting providers that includes free business email with their web hosting plans. It is best for those who plan to create a website with WordPress and need a domain name (for example, yourbusiness.com) and web hosting. bluehost also comes with one of the best wordpress page builders.

For as little as $2.95 a month, businesses get a free domain name, free ssl certificate, and web hosting, plus five free business emails. For unlimited email addresses, upgrade to at least the $9.95 per month business plan. see how to create a custom email address with examples from bluehost.

how to get free business email addresses with bluehost

It’s easy to get a free professional email address through bluehost, which you can connect to gmail or outlook or access through any web browser through bluehost webmail. Here’s how to get a free custom email address through bluehost:

go to bluehost and buy a web hosting plan
choose a domain name
navigate to the email manager and create one or more email addresses business email
connect your bluehost email address to gmail or outlook

Want to learn more about how you can get a business address through a bluehost plan? Get detailed step-by-step instructions on how to set up email on bluehost.

visit bluehost

google workspace: better email & productivity suite for collaborative teams

google workspace (formerly known as g suite) is a complete set of productivity and collaboration tools, such as a word processor (google docs), a spreadsheet (google spreadsheets), presentation software ( google slides), video conferencing (google hangouts), calendar, and of course business email via gmail. In short, Google Workspace is Google’s version of the Microsoft 365 suite, and they are the top two contenders in the US. and all over the world.

If you know that you and your staff will need an office productivity suite in addition to an email client like gmail or outlook, knowing which one to choose can be difficult. We’ve tried to make this easier by comparing them one-on-one and we invite you to read our Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 review for more information.

A clear advantage that Google Workspace offers over Microsoft 365 is for collaborative teams. Microsoft users can share documents back and forth, but team members can’t work on them simultaneously, whereas they can with workspace apps.

In addition, Google Workspace apps are cloud-based, so all features are available to users across mobile and desktop starting at the basic level. Microsoft 365 users must upgrade to the Apps plan (excludes Teams) or the second-tier Standard plan to get desktop apps.

If you’re a small business hesitant to spend but still want the Google experience, getting a free email account through Gmail may be the best option for you. If your team needs office software, getting free email accounts as part of your productivity package will save you money compared to separate email hosting.

If you don’t already have a domain name, Google Workspace makes it easy to register one during the registration process. You can purchase a domain during the account creation process, which will automatically connect to your new personalized email account, eliminating the headache of manually setting up domains and mail exchange (mx) records.

how to get a free business email address with google workspace

Unlike the first four options on this list, there is a cost to getting your email account through Google Workspace, including the purchase of a Google Workspace domain and plan. Here’s how to set up your free email address when you use Google Workspace:

get a domain name from one of the major commercial domain registrars (or buy one when you sign up for google workspace)
go to google workspace and buy a plan
set open your administrative console from the google workspace homepage
verify your domain
create your business email address

Interested in using Google Workspace for your business email? Get the full breakdown, including step-by-step instructions on how to set up a business email, in our guide to gmail for business.

visit google workspace

microsoft 365: better email & productivity suite for advanced features & automations

Just like Gmail and Google Workspace, receiving Outlook email through Microsoft 365 provides a complete collaboration and productivity package for your organization. This includes popular Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, which made our list of the best video conferencing software for small businesses.

while microsoft and google have similar tools for productivity and collaboration, microsoft’s cheapest plan allows up to 300 members in video conferencing, while google has a limit of 100 (for the same price). Similarly, Microsoft 365 wins at the lower levels of storage per user, giving 1TB versus 30GB with the Google Workspace base plan.

also, microsoft 365 software is often more advanced (but therefore also more complex, making it somewhat less intuitive) than google workspace. this also applies to outlook business email, and you can see the differences in how gmail and outlook compare by reading our direct comparison.

something unique to microsoft 365 is that it has a power automation feature that automates daily tasks within the microsoft ecosystem. this low-code feature has a drag-and-drop tool, making it easy for businesses to work more efficiently through artificial intelligence.

Also, many third-party integrations are ready for Outlook. Plus, within the email interface, you’ll find many ways to automate the way your emails are sorted and how to customize the look of your interface. For more details, read our list of 10 Outlook features that can improve your team’s productivity and efficiency.

how to get a free business email address with microsoft 365

Like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 doesn’t come with a free domain name, so you’ll want to purchase a business domain name before signing up. Here’s how to connect an existing domain to set up your Microsoft 365 account (and Outlook Business Email):

get a domain name
go to microsoft 365, select a plan and add your contact information, set a username and add your payment information
go to https://admin.microsoft.com/ (and sign in, if you haven’t already)
then choose “go to settings”
add your domain at the appropriate step
follow the rest of the setup wizard instructions
create a business email address

For a more detailed guide, please read our step-by-step instructions on how to set up microsoft outlook business email.

visit microsoft 365

squarespace: ideal for companies that need a complete web presence

squarespace is one of the best website builders for small businesses, offering a way to easily create a website and grow your business online. Squarespace’s Business Plan provides a free one-year subscription to Google Workspace, including a free Gmail business email account on your domain (also included in plans billed annually).

While this sounds expensive ($23 per month, billed annually), consider everything that is included. This plan comes with a free domain ($12-$15 value), website hosting with unlimited storage and bandwidth, a drag-and-drop site builder, 100+ free square space templates to get you started, and the suite of productivity, which would otherwise cost $6 to $18 a month.

Still, this isn’t the most cost-effective solution unless you haven’t yet built a website for a small business and plan on doing so. if you already have an existing website and domain then zoho mail would be a much cheaper option. You can set up up to five email accounts completely free, or get Zoho’s collaboration and productivity software on plans starting at $3 per user.

Like the idea of getting web hosting and a free domain and business email account for a year on a site builder plan, but prefer Microsoft 365? opt for a godaddy website builder plan starting at $9.99 for the first year.

how to access google workspace through squarespace

To get started, go to squarespace and sign up for an account. You’ll be prompted to choose a theme and then taken to the easy-to-use site editor where you can create your site. to publish your site, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan. After doing so, you can choose a domain and access your free Google Workspace account, which includes business email.

here is how to get google workspace via squarespace:

go to squarespace and create an account
choose a template and create your site
buy a business plan
set up your free gmail for business email address in user panel

First, see how good squarespace is with our full squarespace review. then learn how to use squarespace to create a website in a few easy steps.

visit the square space

frequently asked questions (faqs)

how do i get free business email without a domain?

If you don’t want to buy a custom domain to use for email, we recommend Outlook. You can create a free email address for your business that leverages the credibility of Microsoft’s reputation with an Outlook extension, such as businessname@outlook.com. Then, when you’re ready, buy a domain and set up a Microsoft business email to build your brand presence and reputation.

what are the best business email providers?

The best business email providers are reliable, easy to use, and affordable, with feature-rich platforms and ample storage. We recommend Bluehost for those who need web hosting and Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 for those who already have a website but need business email. however, if budget is your main concern, check out our list of the best cheap email hosting providers for small businesses.

which is better for business email: outlook or gmail?

Your choice of email client between Outlook and Gmail comes down to which features you want, as well as which productivity suite (Google Workspace or Microsoft 365) you prefer. If you’ve already engaged with productivity software, use the corresponding email app. if not, gmail is the best option for collaborative teams (just like google workspace). Small businesses looking for advanced features and security will find Outlook (and Microsoft 365) to be the best.

end result

Business email can add up quickly for those who need multiple email addresses, as there is no legitimate way to get a number of free business email addresses. The best way to get a high volume of email addresses is through a web host, like bluehost, which includes lots of free business emails, a free domain name, and web hosting for your wordpress site for just $2.95 per month.