If you own a business, you’ll need a business email address. But if you don’t have the large budget to create one, fortunately, there are ways to get a free business email address, sometimes even with a custom domain. Some platforms offer one completely free with no strings attached, while others offer one as a freebie with other plans. Below, I’ve rounded up the seven best free business email providers and how to get one from them.
- Zoho Mail: Overall best way to get free business email addresses
- Neo Mail: Best for a free custom email domain
- Google Workspace: Best for an email address with productivity software
- IONOS: Best free business email with a domain purchase
- Proton Mail: Best free business email with advanced security
- Hostinger: Best free business email with a website purchase
- DreamHost: Best for a free email address with WordPress websites
Google Workspace smoothly integrates the business solutions your team needs to work anywhere on any device —all in one place. |
|
Best Free (& Low-cost) Business Email Providers at a Glance
Free Email Plan | Starting Cost of Paid Plans | Starting Email Storage (GB) | Free Domain | Our Score out of 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ✓ | $1 | 5 | ✕ | 4.83 |
 | ✓ | $1.86 | 10 | ✓ | 4.63 |
 | X | $6 | 30 | ✓ | 4.53 |
 | X | $1 | 2 | ✓ | 4.49 |
 | ✓ | $6.99 | 1 | ✕ | 4.37 |
 | X | $1.95 | 1 | ✓ | 3.72 |
 | X | $8.95 | 25 | ✓ | 3.68 |
Zoho Mail: Overall Best Way to Get Free Business Email Addresses
Pros
- Get up to 5 business email addresses 100% free on a domain you own.
- The free plan also allows 5GB email storage per user and 25MB attachment limits.
- Zoho Mail’s paid Workspace plans also have productivity tools like online documents and spreadsheets for $3/month.
Cons
- Zoho Mail doesn’t provide a free domain on the free plan—you’ll need to own one first to get a free email address (or buy one separately).
- On the free plan, you can only use the Zoho Mail app for your emails (it doesn’t have IMAP Internet Messaging Access Protocol /POP Post Office Protocol protocols).
- Only the free plan supports multiple email addresses; paid plans only support single email addresses.
- Visit Zoho Mail and enter your name, input an email address or phone number, and set a password to create your account.
- Choose either “Use my own domain” or “Get a domain” (you can also purchase a domain through Zoho during sign-up).
- Verify your domain by adding Zoho name server records where your domain is hosted.
- Update your mail records to officially receive emails from your domain. Zoho also provides a one-click verification process for IONOS and GoDaddy domains.
We go through this process in further detail in our guide on setting up email accounts on Zoho Mail.
Free | Mail Lite | Mail Premium | Workplace | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Cost | $0 | $1 | $4 | $3 |
Email Addresses | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Email Storage per User | 5GB | 50GB | 30GB | |
Attachment Limits | 25MB | 250MB | 1GB | 500MB |
IMAP/POP Access | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Tasks, Notes, Bookmarks & Calendars | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Email Backups | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
Online Documents, Spreadsheets, Presentations & Meetings | X | X | X | ✓ |
Zoho Mail also provides more Workplace plans. Visit its website to learn more.
Zoho Mail is our overall best free business email provider, as you can legitimately get up to five business email accounts for free, no strings attached—as long as you already own a domain name. Unfortunately, Zoho Mail does not provide free domains, even on its paid plans. This means that to use the platform, you’ll need to already own a domain or purchase one separately.
But so far, that’s Zoho Mail’s only major drawback. No other business email platform provides five email addresses absolutely free of charge, and they even come with 5GB storage and a 25MB attachment limit each.
Even beyond the free plan, Zoho Mail is one of the most cost-effective email platforms around. Its paid plans cost no more than $4/month per user, and its Workplace plans even support documents, spreadsheets, and presentations—like Google Workspace, but at a fraction of the cost. Plus, Zoho Mail is very beginner-friendly, so it’s overall a suitable choice for first-timers to business email.
Zoho Mail provides up to five email addresses for free on a domain you own, along with a beginner-friendly email interface. (Source: Zoho Mail)
Our Expert Opinion
If you need 100% free business email accounts, Zoho Mail is our top recommendation. It gives you not one or two but five email addresses completely free, as long as you already own a domain. And even beyond the free plan, it still provides a lot of value—including productivity tools—which is why I also recommend it as the best alternative to Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 if you’re looking for a more low-cost option.
Neo Mail: Best for a Free Custom Email Domain
Pros
- Neo Mail provides a 100% free email address and custom domain (as long as your desired domain is available).
- The Neo Mail platform is also easy to set up and navigate, suitable for beginners.
- Your free email address and domain will also come with a free basic website with that same domain.
Cons
- You can only get a free email address if you also get a domain from Neo Mail. If you want to use a domain you own, you’ll need to subscribe to a paid plan.
- All free domains can only come with a .co.site domain extension—Neo Mail doesn’t support other extensions like .com or .net.
- Security measures like antispam and antivirus aren’t guaranteed on the free plan. To get them, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
- Visit Neo Mail, then click on “Get Started for Free.”
- In the next screen, click on the “I need a new domain” option.
- Search for your desired domain. If it’s available, it’s completely yours to use, free for one year. Click on the “Get Domain” button.
- Add a username to your new domain and click “Create mailbox” to complete your email account setup.
Free | Starter | Standard | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Cost | $0 | $1.86 | $3.74 | $7.49 |
Email Addresses | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Custom Domain | ✓ | X | X | X |
Email Storage | 10GB | 15GB | 50GB | 100GB |
AI Website Builder | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-spam and Antivirus Protection | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Appointment-booking Tools | X | X | ✓ | ✓ |
A fundamental part of any business email address is a custom domain. A custom domain (for instance, tcook@apple.com) makes your emails branded and promotes your business. It also signals your credibility. Most of the time, domains aren’t free because they’re like internet real estate. You have to pay for them to own them. However, there is one platform that provides free business email with a free custom domain: Neo Mail.
Neo Mail is a new player in the game, having only started in March 2023, but it’s already noteworthy for being one of the few platforms offering a 100% free domain. The catch is you have to check to make sure your desired domain name is available (just like with any other domain registrar). And, you can only have .co.site domain extension (i.e., yourdomain.co.site). Unfortunately, Neo Mail doesn’t provide any other domain extensions like .com or .net yet.
Also, it’s worth noting that an email address on Neo Mail is only free if you also get a domain from the platform. If you already have your own domain you want to use, you’ll need to subscribe to a paid plan.
However, for a completely free platform, it’s still a lot of value, and it’s by far one of the best ways to get a free email domain. Once you get on the Neo Mail platform, you’ll simply need to search for your desired domain name, and if it’s available, it’s completely yours to use, along with an email account, free for one year. You can even build a simple website on Neo Mail with that same domain.
Our Expert Opinion
Neo Mail is one of the best new free business email providers in recent years, especially for getting a custom domain. I also like how easy it is to navigate, which is helpful if you’re completely new to business emails and domains. You’ll also get up to 10GB of storage on the free plan. If you don’t mind the .co.site domain extension and want somewhere you can get a 100% free email address and custom domain, Neo Mail is a good place to get started.
Google Workspace: Best for an Email Address With Productivity Tools
Pros
- Google has the best-in-industry productivity tools, including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Meet, which are included in all plans.
- All your emails also come with a custom domain.
- Google Workspace has long been one of the most trusted email platforms in the world by millions of businesses.
Cons
- Google Workspace isn’t 100% free—you’ll need to purchase a plan to get a business email address as a freebie.
- There are no plans for multiple users until the Enterprise plan, so it’s better suited for large-scale organizations than small businesses.
- The first Google Workspace plan only supports 30GB of storage, which is shared across your emails and Google Drive.
- Go to Google Workspace, sign up for a plan and number of users, and enter your contact info. Your plan will automatically first sign up for the 14-day free trial.
- Set up your administrative console from the Google Workspace homepage.
- Verify your domain (unless you purchase it from Google during the checkout process).
- Create your business email address from the admin console by adding a user.
Business Starter | Business Standard | Business Plus | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Cost Per User | $6 | $12 | $18 | Custom |
Business Email Address | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Custom Domain | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Storage Per User | 30GB | 2TB | 2TB | 5TB (Expandable) |
Number of Users | 1 | 1 | 1 | Custom |
Productivity Suite (Google Docs, Sheets, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Security | Standard | Standard | Advanced | Advanced |
You probably already know Google Workspace. While it’s not technically a free platform (for the business version with a custom domain), it’s still one of the best business email platforms around with some of the best value, especially if you have a large team. While the first three plans don’t offer plans for multiple users, Google Workspace’s Enterprise plan can give you tools for your business’ exact needs.
Of course, that also includes email addresses on the Gmail platform, along with Google’s world-famous productivity suite (e.g., Google Docs, Sheets, and Meet). You won’t find many other productivity software as intuitive and easy to use. There’s a reason Google Workspace is used by millions of businesses across the globe. All your emails will also come with a custom domain and Google’s world-class support, with advanced support available on higher plans.
The obvious disadvantage of Google Workspace is that it’s not entirely free (except for the personal Gmail accounts), unlike providers like Proton Mail or Neo Mail, which both have 100% free plans.
However, the value you get is almost always worth it. I’ve used Google Workspace for many years now and haven’t had many glitches. Another drawback is that you can’t get one-on-one support if you need help because Google Workspace has so many clients. Fortunately, though, there is a massive knowledge base available with solutions for just about any problem you might encounter.
Google Workspace isn’t technically free, but it’s one of the most trusted email platforms in the world.
Our Expert Opinion
Google Workspace isn’t free, but you won’t find many other business email platforms that can give just as much value for your money. It’s still the leading email platform in the world feature-wise, and it has just about everything you need for your email—especially productivity tools. If you have a team that collaborates frequently, even from remote locations, Google Workspace’s tools are hard to beat.
IONOS: Best Free Business Email With a Domain Purchase
Pros
- IONOS is one of the most affordable ways to get a business email with a custom domain and advanced security (starting from $1).
- Your custom domain can include extensions like .com, .net, or .online.
- IONOS also provides an online email platform with an easy-to-navigate platform.
Cons
- The first plan only includes 2GB mailbox storage, less than Zoho Mail or Neo Mail’s free versions.
- IONOS doesn’t have a completely free version.
- The highest email plans can only accommodate up to 10 users—not great if you have a larger team.
- Go to IONOS and search for your desired domain.
- Follow the steps to purchase the domain and create your IONOS account.
- In your IONOS dashboard, click on “Email,” select the “Mail Basic” plan on the next screen, then input your info to create your free email address on IONOS.
As mentioned, domains aren’t usually free because they’re like internet properties you have to pay for. However, the good news is that most domain purchases come with a free email address for business, all at a low cost. One of the best and most reliable platforms for that is IONOS, which is also one of the best low-cost email hosting providers overall.
IONOS’ plans start at just $1 a month, and they already come with a custom domain (including domain extensions like .com and .net) and an email account. Plus, your email will also have anti-spam and antivirus protection, as well as an online email platform with a simple, easy-to-navigate interface. Higher plans even come with tools like shared calendars and tasks.
While it isn’t exactly free, it’s one of the lowest costs to get an email address with a custom domain—plus industry-standard security—for an even lower cost than Google Workspace. The one main drawback with IONOS is that its first plan only comes with 2GB of email storage, which is meager compared with others at the same price point. Also, its highest plan only supports up to 10 users—not ideal if you have more people on your team.
IONOS offers low-cost business email with a custom domain from $1/month.
Our Expert Opinion
IONOS has long been one of the most reliable email and website hosting services around and one of the most cost-effective. It even has all-in-one plans with a website builder plus email with a custom domain from $1 a month. So if you don’t absolutely need a free business email but want a low-cost option that can also provide reliable security and a domain, I recommend IONOS.
Proton Mail: Best Free Business Email with Advanced Security
Pros
- Proton Mail provides end-to-end encryption and password protection for your emails, even on the free version.
- The free-forever plan also comes with 25MB attachment limits, 5GB drive storage, and VPN for up to five countries.
- Proton Mail also has online documents, calendars, and shared folders, and its interface is easy to navigate.
Cons
- Unfortunately, Proton Mail does not provide any custom domains for your email address, even on its paid plans. You’ll need to get a domain separately.
- Its free plan also only supports a Proton Mail domain.
- Go to Proton and click “Create a free account.” Fill out your account information, including your username, and then click “Get Proton for free” on the next page.
- Verify via captcha or email to complete the setup of your business email on Proton Mail.
Proton Free | Mail Essentials | Mail Professional | Proton Business Suite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly Cost Per User | $0 | $6.99 | $9.99 | $12.99 |
Email Storage | 1GB | 15GB | 50GB | 1TB |
Drive Storage | 5GB | 15GB | 50GB | 1TB |
End-to-end Encryption & Password Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Email Domains | 1 Proton Mail Domain | 3 Custom Domains | 10 Custom Domains | 15 Custom Domains |
VPN | 5 Countries | 5 Countries | 5 Countries | 110 Countries |
Two-factor Authentication | X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Password Manager | X | X | X | ✓ |
Proton Mail also has plans for individuals and families. Visit its website to learn more.
If advanced security for your emails is what you’re after, Proton Mail takes security seriously. It’s headquartered in Switzerland, so your account is protected by Swiss privacy and neutrality laws. It also guarantees end-to-end and zero-access encryption—not just in your mail but also in your contacts and calendars. This means all the emails you send from Proton Mail will be encrypted—even those you send to recipients not on Proton Mail.
And it even offers all of these on its free-forever plan, which is far more secure than you’ll get from other free email providers. Security and privacy are built into Proton Mail’s DNA. It even automatically blocks tracking pixels and hides your IP, so your mail can’t be used for ads. Aside from security, its free plan also has notable features like a 25MB attachment allowance, calendars, and cloud storage, all protected by the same security.
However, a notable drawback with Proton Mail is it doesn’t provide any custom domains, even on its paid plans. Its free plan only lets you use a Proton Mail domain, and for higher plans, you’ll need to purchase your domain separately before connecting it to Proton Mail. It’s Proton Mail’s biggest disadvantage by far that docks it some points. Its lowest plan also has just 1GB of storage—although the highest plan allows up to 1TB.
Proton Mail offers some of the highest security for your emails, even on its free plan.
Our Expert Opinion
If you already own a domain and just need to create email addresses with it, Proton Mail is one of the best email providers, especially for security. You’d be hard-pressed to find a platform dedicated to your emails’ security and privacy. This same dedication also applies to its free version, although it only supports Proton Mail domains. But if you value security above all else, Proton Mail is a good bet.
Hostinger: Best Free Business Email With a Website Purchase
Pros
- Hostinger’s website builder plans offer 100 email addresses and 100 websites for just $1.95/month.
- You’ll also get a free custom domain for your emails and websites.
- Your emails automatically come with anti-spam and antivirus protection and email aliases.
Cons
- Your email inboxes will only have 1GB of storage each, which isn’t expandable.
- All website builder plans are locked to two-year contracts.
- The Hostinger email platform isn’t as intuitive or user-friendly and has no handy tools like documents or spreadsheets.
- Subscribe to the website builder plan on Hostinger, create your account, and claim your domain.
- After setting up your account, select the Emails section from the left-hand panel, then select your domain.
- Click on “Create email account” and enter the email address and password.
- Visit Hostinger Webmail to use your new business email.
Ecommerce Websites | Premium Website Builder | Business Website Builder |
|---|---|---|
Monthly Cost (Two-year Term) | $1.95 | $2.95 |
Websites | 100 | 100 |
Free Email Addresses | 100 | 100 |
Email Storage | 1GB | 1GB |
Free Domain | ✓ | ✓ |
Email Aliases | ✓ | ✓ |
Anti-spam and Antivirus | ✓ | ✓ |
AI Website Builder | ✓ | ✓ |
Free Email Addresses | X | ✓ |
Ecommerce Websites | X | ✓ |
If you need an email address, you might also need a website to round out your business’ digital presence. Websites and business emails go hand-in-hand, and they often share the same domain. It’s for this reason that many website platforms also offer free business email accounts, and one of the best is Hostinger.
Hostinger stands out best as a website builder (it’s one of our best website builders for small businesses), but its website builder plans also include email addresses—even up to 100 of them—from just $1.95 a month. This means you can build up to 100 websites on Hostinger, create up to 100 email addresses, and even get a custom domain for free. The Hostinger platform is also intuitive and easy enough to navigate.
However, one major drawback with Hostinger is that all its mailboxes on the website builder plans only come with 1GB storage per inbox, which is paltry compared with other platforms (for comparison, Neo Mail offers 10GB storage for free). Also, all of Hostinger’s plans are locked to two-year contracts. There are no month-to-month plans, even if the cost per month is less than $2.
Hostinger provides up to 100 email addresses and websites and a custom domain for just $1.95/month.
Our Expert Opinion
Hostinger is one of the best business and website platforms around, but it’s better viewed as a website builder than an email platform. Still, you can’t deny its value. If you need a high volume of websites and email addresses (but don’t need much storage), Hostinger is worth checking out.
DreamHost: Best for a Free Email Address With WordPress Websites
Pros
- DreamHost is the only platform (so far) that gives you a free email address, unlimited WordPress websites, and a free domain.
- The WordPress website builder is AI-powered, so you don’t need any coding knowledge to build them.
- Your email address and website will share the same domain, which is essential for branding.
Cons
- You can only get a free email address through the Shared Unlimited plan, which starts at $8.95/month, not on any other plans.
- DreamHost, unfortunately, doesn’t support multiple users on its plans, so it’s not ideal for scaling up.
- Your mailbox storage is capped at 25GB, and it’s not expandable.
- Visit DreamHost, click on “Get started,” and sign up for the Shared Unlimited plan.
- Choose a domain, then finalize your email account setup.
Shared Unlimited | |
|---|---|
Monthly Cost | $8.95 |
Unlimited Email Addresses | ✓ |
Unlimited WordPress Websites | ✓ |
Free Domain | ✓ |
Email Storage | 25GB |
Anti-spam and antivirus | ✓ |
DreamHost also offers standalone email plans, which start at $1.99/month per inbox.
While platforms like Hostinger and IONOS can get you a free business email address with a website purchase, DreamHost can give you one with a WordPress website specifically. WordPress is the industry leader for content management systems (CMS), which are necessary if you publish lots of content on your site, say if you have a content marketing strategy.
What’s more, DreamHost also uses AI to build your WordPress website, so you don’t need any coding knowledge to build one. And, of course, its plans also come with free email accounts for businesses—particularly on its Shared Unlimited plan, which costs $8.95 a month. This plan also supports unlimited WordPress websites.
However, the drawback is that DreamHost’s email storage only goes up to 25GB per mailbox, which is smaller than average, especially compared with Hostinger, which allows 100GB of email storage at a lower starting cost. Also, DreamHost doesn’t support multiple users, so it’s not very scalable if your team grows. On the plus side, your email domain will also match your website’s, which is essential for building a strong brand presence.
DreamHost provides an all-in-one platform for WordPress websites and business email. (Source: YouTube)
Our Expert Opinion
Overall, DreamHost still provides a lot of value. However, it’s only best suited for very specific use cases, like if you particularly need several WordPress websites and want to build them quickly and easily. DreamHost lets you do just that, and it provides multiple free business email addresses.
How We Evaluated the Best Free Business Email Providers
Getting business email for free isn’t always a straightforward process. Business emails often entail custom domains, security, and other productivity tools, which also mean more cost. But it’s not always impossible. And even if they aren’t always free, many platforms provide plenty of value for your emails at a low cost.
I gathered the best platforms that do just that in this guide and evaluated them on criteria, which you’ll find below.
25% of Overall Score
I looked specifically at business email providers with free or low-cost plans, aka plans costing less than $6 per month (with a few notable exceptions) and offering month-to-month contracts. But more than their starting costs, I also gave higher points to providers that offered 100% free email addresses and custom domains.
20% of Overall Score
Every business email host should have essential features, like the ability to host multiple email addresses, ample storage for your emails, anti-spam and antivirus filters, and an online email platform. These features make up 20% of each platform’s score.
20% of Overall Score
Any business email platform should do all the essential features, but the best ones can do all those and more. Therefore, I gave extra credit to platforms that offered extra features like productivity tools, higher attachment limits, email aliases, websites, and POP or IMAP support.
10% of Overall Score
By themselves, email platforms shouldn’t be difficult to navigate, but I always give higher consideration to providers that offer ample customer support should you need them. This means longer customer support hours and more avenues to reach them (e.g., phone, live chat, and email). Platforms with knowledge bases or help centers were also given higher grades.
25% of Overall Score
Aside from evaluating what each email platform offers, the Fit Small Business team also has decades of combined marketing experience. So, we also evaluated each platform based on personal experience, particularly on their features, ease of use, and value for money. This evaluation makes up 25% of our score.
How to Choose the Best Free Business Email Address Provider
As you may have noticed, the platforms above all offer different ways to get free business email accounts. Some offer an email address completely free, while others include one as a freebie with other plans. Choosing the best one for your business requires careful consideration. Here are some tips to help.
- Evaluate your needs vs what you already have. Start with what you need most, based on what you already have. If you already own a domain, you probably won’t need a platform that provides one. Meanwhile, if you’re building your online presence from scratch, you might want an all-in-one platform that lets you build a website with an email address on the same domain.
- Evaluate your budget. While some platforms have 100% free plans, other platforms offer paid plans that still have a lot of value. While free platforms work well if you have absolutely no budget, evaluate if you’re willing to pay a little extra for a lot more value. Most email platforms offer features like websites, productivity tools, and cloud storage for less than $6/month.
- Think for the long term. You may only need a free email platform now, but consider how your business might grow in the next few years. It’ll take additional effort to transfer email records if you choose a different email platform later on, so it’s a good idea to choose one email platform now for the long term.
- Evaluate your comfort level. Finally, each email platform has a different level of user-friendliness. Some are easy to navigate even for beginners, like Google Workspace and IONOS, while others might take a little more learning curve, like DreamHost, where you’ll need to access a cPanel (control panel). Consider your comfort level with different email platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, there are platforms that allow users to create business email addresses with a custom domain completely free of charge, like Zoho Mail and Neo Mail. Zoho Mail, in particular, lets you create up to five business email addresses; however, you’ll need to use your own domain.
Neo Mail provides both an email address and a custom domain for free, but you’ll have a .co.site domain extension (for example, jane@yourbusiness.co.site).
Unfortunately, Google Workspace, aka Google’s business email, is not free. Google Workspace plans start at $6/month per user for Gmail with a custom domain, along with Google’s productivity and collaboration tools, as well as advanced security for your emails and files. While Google’s free plan also lets you use the Google productivity suite, your email will be on a Gmail domain, not a branded one, which isn’t ideal for business emails.
Gmail’s free version is one of the easiest to navigate, but it’s not necessarily the best. For example, for more advanced security (including end-to-end email encryption), Proton Mail’s free version is a better choice. Meanwhile, Neo Mail provides a 100% free email account with a custom domain and a website builder. Finally, for up to five free email addresses on a domain you own, also consider Zoho Mail.
Bottom Line
Finding the best free business email provider ultimately comes down to your particular needs. Every email platform has its own specialties and expertise, and the ones above are some of the best in the industry. While not all are entirely free (although some are), they’re all guaranteed to give you good value for your money, whether through business-class security for your emails, plenty of online storage, and a reliable email platform.
