If you’re running a business, it’s smart to get an email domain that’s consistent with your brand. Using a personal address to communicate with your clients looks unprofessional and could undermine your credibility. however, finding a free email domain can be tricky.
There are many email providers on the market, but none of the most popular solutions offer free business emails. What you need to consider here is that you need a separate business email address, even if you are a small business owner. for example, you’d expect a large e-commerce store to have one when they check out, so you can assume your customers will expect the same from you.
Many web hosting companies offer free email domains if you buy one of their plans. Some of them are a real bargain and you can easily connect them to your gmail account. Alternatively, if you don’t want any associated costs, there are other solutions that might be more suitable for you.
In this article, we’ll look at four methods you can use to create a free email domain, with or without the purchase of web hosting or your own domain name. let’s dive!
- get a free email domain with mail.com
- create an email domain with zoho mail
- get a free email domain from bluehost
- get a free email domain from dreamhost
👉 frequently asked questions regarding free email domains
what is an email domain?
In simple terms, an email domain is the part of the address that comes after the @ symbol. for example, if your email address is john.smith@yourdomain.com, then the email domain in this case is yourdomain.com.
The great thing about email domains is that they allow you to have a completely personalized email address that includes your company name or any other unique phrase you want to use, and not the usual endings associated with big companies.
method 1: get a free email domain with mail.com
If you want a 100% free email domain without the need to purchase your own web hosting and/or domain name, you may want to consider using mail.com. This service provider won’t let you create a custom email domain, so it may not be the best solution for established businesses. however, if you are self-employed or just starting out and don’t mind using a generic domain name from a ready-made catalog, it might be right for you.
mail.com allows you to set up an industry-specific email account that is completely free. you can choose from a variety of domain names like example@graphic-designer.com or example@programmer.net. just sign up for an account to get started:
Once you have filled in your details and chosen your password, click on I agree. create an email account now. then select activate your account now and you’re done:
Please note that this option will unfortunately not allow you to send or receive emails via outlook or gmail. you’ll need to log in to mail.com each time you want to use it.
method 2: create an email domain with zoho mail
If you already have a domain name (e.g. for your website), you can use Zoho Mail to set up a matching email address for free. This email service offers a variety of plans, including a Forever Free Plan with access for up to five users, 5GB of data, and a 25MB attachment limit.
To set up your free email domain, go to the zoho mail pricing page and scroll down to the forever free plan. You’ll find it near the bottom of the page and it’s less obvious than the paid plans.
You will then need to add your existing domain or purchase one through zoho. you can buy a domain name for around $10 per year:
select add now under add an existing domain. then fill in the information in the popup:
once you click add, you will land in your configuration area, where you will need to verify your domain using the txt, cname or html method. zoho mail’s detailed setup guide gives you step-by-step instructions on how to achieve this:
Once you’ve verified your domain, you can create your first email address, which will also become your primary administrator account. click create.
Next, it’s time to set up your email delivery. you will need to log in to your web hosting portal, go to the dns manager and locate the section with your mx information:
here you will need to add a new record, specify the value as mx.zoho.com and set the priority to 10. the exact steps may differ between companies, so contact your domain registrar or web host if not If you’re sure, you can also refer to the zoho mail setup guide for a setup tutorial with godaddy.
Once you save your new mx record, it may take about 30 minutes for it to take effect. after that, you can login to your account via zoho and start using your new business email.
method 3: receive a free email domain from bluehost
This method requires you to purchase a web hosting plan, so it’s not completely free. However, if you need to host a website anyway, you can use an affordable option like Bluehost and get a custom domain email address as part of the deal, as well as a free domain name for a year and a free SSL certificate. .
This is a great option if you want to establish a professional online presence. It’s easy to set up, works seamlessly with wordpress websites, and gives you plenty of tools to get you started on your first website.
First, go to bluehost and choose your plan. the cheapest option starts at $2.75 per month, which is still more affordable than buying a new domain or dedicated email hosting service.
once you have selected your plan, you will be able to register a website domain. If you’re not sure which name to choose, you can use a domain name generator that will give you suggestions and confirm availability.
once you have finished setting up your account, log in to your bluehost panel and in your control panel go to advanced → email accounts. From here, you will be able to configure your email domain.
There are several ways to get started with your new email domain. For example, you can use the Bluehost webmail interface or connect to a popular email client like Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, or Gmail. some users prefer this solution because it is more convenient as you don’t need to log in to your hosting account to check your inbox.
bluehost offers excellent support documentation, including tutorials on how to connect your bluehost email to outlook. you can also follow the instructions on how to set it up through gmail.
method 4: get a free email domain from dreamhost
DreamHost offers a custom and free email domain with some of its hosting plans. Again, this method isn’t completely free. However, if you’re also in the market for a hosting provider, this could be a cost-effective solution.
Please note that the email domain is not free with all hosting plans. for example, you will have to pay more for an email address if you choose the shared starter package. therefore, we recommend selecting the dreampress option, starting at $16.95 per month.
once you fill in all your details and pay for your hosting package, you will be able to choose a custom email domain address. You can do this by going to your dreamhost control panel and navigating to mail → manage email.
then select create new email address and enter your details. you’ll need to enter your chosen work email address, password, and storage space you’d like to allocate to your inbox.
From here, you can reply to emails directly from your dreamhost control panel. Alternatively, you can integrate your new address with a third party platform like Outlook. It’s that easy!
frequently asked questions about free email domains
We’ve just provided a few different ways to get a free email domain. now we will answer some of the nagging questions you may have.
can I choose the exact domain with a free email domain?
With many free email domains, you can’t choose the exact domain. You will need to use a brand address or choose from a list provided by the company. however, if you receive a free email domain through your hosting provider, you will usually have full control over the domain name.
Is a free email domain worth it?
A free email domain can be worthwhile if it reflects the domain name of your website. if you have to choose a random email ending, it will do little to distinguish your address from “hotmail.com”, “yahoo.com”, “gmail.com” or similar. therefore, we recommend checking if your website’s hosting provider allows you to fully customize your domain and retain your company branding.
conclusion
To summarize, here are the four methods of acquiring a free email domain and free email account that we have discussed in this post:
- mail.com: The best option if you want a completely free email domain and don’t mind using a generic address.
- zoho mail : Free or affordable plans for those who already have a domain name.
- bluehost: Ideal if you need web hosting and a custom email domain.
- dreamhost: suitable for users who want reliable web hosting with a custom email domain.
If you’re willing to pay a small monthly fee, you can also use Gmail with your own custom domain name through Google Workspace (formerly G Suite). you can learn more in our comprehensive google workspace email tutorial.
Still have a question about how to create a free branded email address? ask us in the comments!
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