If you are a small business, freelancer, or entrepreneur, and you find yourself using a free, generic email address to conduct your business, then we have one word for you: Business Email

You need an email address that matches your brand (business email) and offers powerful features to help grow your business, a good email provider takes what you love about your existing personal email and adds to it tenfold.

Why Have an Business Email For Your Small Business?

If you work in a professional setting, having business email services is key when it comes to presenting yourself in the best light possible.

A professional email address is something distinctive and memorable, like yourname@company.com. A personal email address, on the other hand — yourname@gmail.com or firstname1111@yahoo.com — doesn’t make you stand out as particularly credible or trustworthy.

Why? Because, while a personal email is zero-cost and low-effort, it doesn’t grant you the opportunity to establish your business. A branded, professional email immediately builds trust and makes a positive impact on the people you interact with through it, and showcases just how ready you are to invest in your own business.

The Problems With Personal Email

Gmail and other similar personal email services are great for personal correspondence, but may not be suitable for business. 

Firstly, they are neither secure nor reliable. Your emails are at the mercy of the provider’s servers, which can experience outages and other technical glitches. Not only that, but emails sent and received through personal email addresses are not encrypted, leaving them vulnerable to hackers; in fact, over 94% of malware is delivered via personal email.

Personal email services are limited in terms of how much storage they offer, how many emails you can send per day, and how they can be customized. This often leads to disorganization in the form of not being able to efficiently organize important folders and contacts. 

Additionally, personal email services aren’t necessarily optimized for effective, streamlined business communication. While they may offer some useful tools, using an email that’s built specifically for professional use will help you streamline many of your day-to-day processes, all while elevating your brand with each email you send.

The Solution: Business Email Services For Your Small Business

The issues associated with using free email services such as Gmail for business tasks can be effectively resolved by transitioning to a business email service. These services are specifically designed for business operations, hence they come with a plethora of features tailored to enhance security, reliability, storage capacity, customization, and overall communication efficacy.

Professional email services prioritize security by implementing robust protocols like end-to-end encryption, thus ensuring that your sensitive business correspondence is safeguarded against malicious threats. This is a stark contrast to personal email services where security can often be lax, leaving you exposed to the significant risk of cyber threats, including malware.

Reliability is another area where professional email services shine. They offer substantial uptime guarantees backed by resilient infrastructure, minimizing the potential for server outages or technical glitches that can disrupt business operations.

Storage limitations that hamper personal email services are typically non-issues with professional email platforms. These platforms provide abundant storage space, allowing businesses to store vast amounts of emails and attachments without concerns about reaching capacity limits.

When it comes to customization and organization, professional email services offer extensive options. This can range from custom domain names that help promote your brand identity, to advanced email management features that facilitate effective organization of important folders and contacts, thus ensuring smoother operations.

Best Free Business Email Providers : List of 20 Small Business Emails

Best Free Business Email Providers : Free Trial

1. Neo

Neo is one of the best free business email providers that helps small businesses strengthen their brand and grow your business. If you don’t already have a domain for your business, Neo offers a free .co.site domain that you can get started with. One of the rarest email service which offers you business email with domain name. For example, let’s say you’re starting a marketing agency called BrandBuzz, but you don’t yet have a domain to match, like BrandBuzz.com. You can get started on Neo with a free brandbuzz.co.site address—and, as a bonus, this comes with a free one-page website to match! You can create your business email without domain.

Top Features:

• A free, customizable domain so you can get started with a professional email 
• Read Receipts that notify you the instant your recipient opens your email.
• Ready-to-use Email Templates so you can quickly respond to your most commonly received inquiries.
• Follow-up Reminders that nudge you to circle back on a conversation in case of no reply.
• A Priority Inbox that automatically prioritizes your most important emails first, so you can focus on the things that matter most.
• Advanced Anti-spam, Two-Factor Authentication, and the ability to block unwanted emails, senders, and domains.
• A simple, one-Page template. Quickly and easily set up
• Mail-integrated forms.
• WhatsApp and social integration.

Price: Starting from $1.99/Month/User

Free Trial: 30 days

Strengths:

• Simple and intuitive interface, ideal for businesses seeking ease-of-use.
• Offers strong email management and organizational features.
• Suitable for users who do not own a domain

Weaknesses:

• As a relatively new service
• Does not have an offline mode

2. Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite for small to mid-size business that helps you get work done from anywhere on any device. It combines all of the productivity applications that you know and love — like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, and Calendar — in one place for easy collaboration. It's an excellent option for small businesses due to its robust capabilities and seamless integration features.

Top Features:

• Integration with Google Apps (Drive, Docs, Meet, Calendar)
• Advanced search and smart tagging in Gmail
• Data loss prevention and vault for eDiscovery
• Shared drives and live collaborative authoring

Price: Starting at $6 per user/month for Business Starter plan

Free Trial: 14 days

Strengths:

• Seamless integration with other Google applications makes collaboration and organization very easy.
• Robust security features, including two-factor authentication, spam and phishing reporting, email blocking and encryption.

Weaknesses:

• The interface may be overwhelming for new users due to the sheer number of features and applications.
• Custom domain emails cost extra, which may not be suitable for some small businesses on a tight budget.

 3. Outlook for Business

Microsoft 365 is an all-in-one productivity solution that provides the familiar Microsoft Office applications and powerful cloud services like Teams and OneDrive. The business email service included in the suite, Outlook, has been a popular choice among businesses for years, offering extensive features and high reliability.

Top Features:

• Integration with Microsoft Office apps
• Outlook with 50 GB mailbox
• Microsoft Teams for video conferencing and collaboration
• 1TB of OneDrive storage for each user

Price: Starting at $5 per user/month (annual commitment) for Business Basic plan

Free Trial: 30 days

Strengths:

• Excellent integration with Microsoft Office suite which is well-known and commonly used in business environments.
• Large storage capacity.

Weaknesses:

• The mobile versions of apps are not as robust as the desktop versions.
• Some users report that customer service can be slow.

4. Zoho Mail

Zoho Mail is one of the best free business email service for small businesses that puts a strong emphasis on security and user privacy. It offers a clean, ad-free interface, which sets it apart from many other free email services. In addition to its email capabilities, Zoho Mail also provides the Zoho Office Suite, a great alternative to Google Workspace or Microsoft 365.

Top Features:

• Integration with Zoho CRM
• Ad-free user interface
• Policy-based email filters
• Calendar, task, notes, and contacts modules

Price: Free for up to 5 users, with paid plans starting at $1/user/month

Free Trial: 15 days

Strengths:

• Strong privacy protections, with a clear commitment to keeping data private.
• The free tier is a good option for very small businesses or startups.

Weaknesses:

• While it offers many integrations, it may not integrate as smoothly with non-Zoho products.
• Less storage compared to Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

Best Free Business Email Providers - Highly Secured Services

 5. ProtonMail

ProtonMail is a Swiss-based business email provider that puts a premium on security. The service uses end-to-end encryption and doesn't log IP addresses, making it a favorite for businesses that need to keep their communications secure. Despite its emphasis on security, it maintains a user-friendly interface that's easy to use.

Top Features:

• End-to-end encryption
• Open-source cryptography
• Self-destructing messages
• Easy-to-use interface

Price: Starting from $5/user/month

Free Trial: Yes

Strengths:

• High Security: ProtonMail uses end-to-end encryption, which means only you can access your emails.
• Privacy Protection: ProtonMail's servers are located in Switzerland, a country known for strong privacy laws.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Free Tier: While ProtonMail does offer a free tier, its capabilities are somewhat limited.
• Limited Integration: ProtonMail may not integrate as smoothly with third-party services compared to other popular email services like Google's Gmail or Microsoft's Outlook.

6. FastMail

FastMail is a highly secure, independent business email service that provides professional email, personal email, and domain registrations. It offers robust spam protection, easy-to-use webmail, and useful features for businesses like shared calendars and contacts.

Top Features:

• Support for custom domains
• IMAP/POP support
• 2-step verification
• Calendar and contact sharing

Price: Starting from $5/user/month

Free Trial: 30 Days

Strengths:

• Privacy and Security: FastMail prides itself on its robust security features, including the ability to block tracking in emails.
• Fast and Clean Interface: FastMail has a sleek, easy-to-use interface that doesn't include ads.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Integration: Similar to ProtonMail, FastMail may not integrate as smoothly with third-party services.
• No free tier: FastMail doesn't offer a free tier for users.

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7. Amazon WorkMail

Amazon WorkMail is a secure, managed custom business email and calendar service with support for existing desktop and mobile email clients. It offers high security and compliance features.

Top Features:

• 50GB mailboxes
• Integrated with AWS Key Management Service
• Migration tools
• Compliance features

Price: Starting from $4/user/month

Free Trial: 30 Days

Strengths:

• High Security: WorkMail is integrated with AWS Key Management Service, which handles encryption of data at rest.
• Large Mailbox Size: Each user gets a 50GB mailbox.

Weaknesses:

• Integration: Amazon WorkMail doesn't offer the same level of integration with other productivity tools compared to other options.
• No Standalone App: As of 2021, Amazon WorkMail didn't offer a standalone app for their email service.

8. Mailfence

Mailfence is a secure and private mail service that gives you control over your data. It offers end-to-end encryption and a suite of other features that help secure your business communication.

Top Features:

• End-to-end encryption
• Digital signatures
• Calendar, contacts, documents
• POP/IMAP/SMTP

Price: Starting from €2.50/user/month

Free Trial: Yes Basic Version

Strengths:

• High Security: Mailfence provides end-to-end encryption, securing your data from interception.
• Complete Suite: Comes with integrated calendar, contacts, and document storage.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Integration: May not integrate well with third-party services.
• No Dedicated App: As of September 2021, there's no dedicated Mailfence app for mobile devices.

9. Front

Front is a collaborative email platform that brings all your communication channels into one place, making your team more efficient. It aims to transform the traditional email inbox into a workable platform that allows teams to collaborate on responses to inbound messages.

Top Features:

• Collaborative email inbox
• Integrated apps and plugins
• Shared drafts
• Automated rules
• Assign and track tasks

Price: Starting from $19/user/month

Free Trial: 7 Days

Strengths:

• High Efficiency: Front turns your email into a collaborative workspace where team members can manage, assign, and monitor communications.
• Integration Capabilities: It can be integrated with various other platforms like CRM systems, project management tools, etc.
• Transparency: Shared inboxes and the ability to comment on emails foster transparency and streamline communication within teams.

Weaknesses:

• Price: Front is a bit pricier compared to some other options.
• Learning Curve: It may take time for some users to get used to the platform due to its unique collaborative features.

10. Tutanota

Tutanota is a secure business email service with a strong focus on privacy and security. Based in Germany, it offers end-to-end encryption for your emails, ensuring that only you and your intended recipients can read your messages.

Top Features:

• End-to-end encryption
• Open-source
• Ad-free interface
• Integrated calendar
• Supports custom domains

Price: Starting from €1.20/user/month

Free Trial: Yes, Basic Version

Strengths:

• High Security: Tutanota's end-to-end encryption and open-source nature ensure the highest level of security for your emails.
• Privacy-focused: As a German company, Tutanota is subject to stringent EU data protection laws, ensuring your privacy is respected.
• Integrated Calendar: The encrypted calendar within the service allows secure scheduling and planning.
• Affordable: Tutanota offers competitive pricing, making it accessible for small businesses.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Integrations: Unlike some other email providers, Tutanota doesn't support many third-party integrations due to its focus on security and privacy.
• User Interface: While it's easy to use, some users have noted that the interface could be more modern and visually appealing.
• Customer Support: Some users have reported that the customer support could be more responsive.

11. Hushmail

Hushmail is a best free business email service known for its emphasis on security and privacy. It offers encrypted email services, making it a popular choice for businesses in industries like healthcare and law where data privacy is paramount.

Top Features:

• Built-in encryption
• Secure web forms
• Two-step verification
• Support for custom domains
• POP/IMAP/Webmail

Price: Starting from $5.99/user/month

Free Trial: 14 Days

Strengths:

• High Security: Hushmail's built-in encryption ensures the privacy of your email communications.
• Secure Web Forms: Hushmail's secure web forms can be used for various business needs, including collecting sensitive data from customers.
• Health Industry Suitability: Hushmail complies with the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), making it a good choice for healthcare providers.

Weaknesses:

• Limited Free Tier: Hushmail's free tier is limited and only available for personal use.
• Higher Price: Compared to some other email service providers, Hushmail is relatively pricier.
• Limited Third-Party Integrations: Due to its emphasis on security, Hushmail may not offer as many integrations with third-party tools as other email providers.

12. IceWrap

IceWrap is a feature-rich business email, team chat, and collaboration platform that provides a wide array of productivity tools for businesses of all sizes. IceWarp is a highly secure and reliable service that prioritizes user convenience and customization.

Top Features:

• Unified communication with email, chat, and team collaboration in a single platform
• Web-based access and mobile appAdvanced anti-spam and antivirus protection
• Calendar, contacts, and file storage

Price: Starting at $2.50 per user/month for Basic plan

Free Trial: 14 days

Strengths:

• Provides a comprehensive set of communication tools, all accessible within a single platform.
• Strong security features including encryption and anti-spam protection.
• Flexible pricing options suitable for businesses of all sizes.

Weaknesses:

• The interface may not be as intuitive as some other email platforms.Some users might find the customization options overwhelming.

13. Private Email

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Private Email is a secure business email hosting service with a free trial offered by Namecheap, a leading domain name registrar and web hosting provider. It provides businesses with custom email addresses that match their domain names.

Top Features:

• Custom domain email addresses
• Intuitive webmail interface with calendar and contacts
• Email forwarding and autoresponders
• IMAP, POP, and SMTP support

Price: Starting at $11.88 per user/year for Starter plan

Free Trial: 60 days

Strengths:

• Affordable email hosting with custom domain options.
• User-friendly webmail interface with essential productivity features.
• Long free trial period offers ample time to evaluate the service.

Weaknesses:

• Lacks the more advanced features of some other email providers.
• Storage limits on lower plans may not be suitable for businesses with high email volume.

14. Runbox

Runbox is an email hosting provider that combines professional webmail services with a secure and privacy-oriented approach. Based in Norway, Runbox is committed to protecting user data with robust security measures and strict privacy policies.

Top Features:

• Powerful spam and virus filters
• Secure and private email service
• Calendar and contact integration
• IMAP, POP, SMTP, and WebDAV support

Price: Starting at $19.95 per year for Micro plan

Free Trial: 30 days

Strengths:

• High focus on security and privacy.
• Clean and user-friendly interface.
• Offers a comprehensive set of email feature

Weaknesses:

• Price plans are based on annual payments, which might not be suitable for all businesses.
• Some users may find the storage limits on the lower plans restrictive.
• It's expensive

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15. Thexyz

‍Thexyz is a secure business email provider that offers premium email services for businesses and professionals. It is known for its strong privacy protections, easy-to-use webmail, and excellent customer support.

Top Features:

• Secure and private email with encryption
• Ad-free webmail interface
• Mobile sync for email, contacts, and calendars
• Custom domain support
• Premium anti-spam and antivirus filtering

Price: Starting at $2.95 per user/month for Premium Webmail

Free Trial: 30-day free trial available for Premium Webmail

Strengths:

• Focuses on privacy and security with encrypted email
• Ad-free experience with a clean and user-friendly interface
• Excellent customer support and easy migration from other providers
• Reasonable pricing with a free trial available

Weaknesses:

• Some advanced features may require additional costs
• User interface may not be as modern as some competitors

16. Mailbox.org

Ah, Mailbox.org, a breath of fresh European air in the world of email services! Rooted in Germany, this provider isn’t just about giving you an email address. It’s about ensuring privacy, security, and efficiency, all wrapped up in one neat package.

Top Features:

• All About Privacy: Originating from Germany, they adhere to stringent European data protection standards. So, no prying eyes!
• Office Tools: Need a calendar, address book, or task manager? They’ve got it all, integrated smoothly.
• Spam & Virus Protection: Their filters ensure you’re shielded from those nasty unwanted emails and potential threats.
• Eco-friendly: They're committed to the environment, with a carbon-neutral footprint, making them the eco-warrior of email providers.
• File Storage & Sharing: You can safely store and share files with ease, enhancing collaboration.

Price: Plans start at €1 per month, but if you’re looking for more bells and whistles, they've got more extensive packages.

‍Free Trial: They offer a 30-day trial, so you can test the waters before diving in.

Strengths:

• Their commitment to privacy is not just talk; it’s built into their service.
• Comes with an all-in-one office solution, not just email.
• Eco-conscious? They’ve got your back with their green initiatives.

Weaknesses:

• Might not be as feature-packed as some of the larger email giants.
• The interface can be a bit traditional for those seeking a modern look.

Best Business Email Providers - With No Free Trial

17. Posteo

Ever craved a digital space where security meets sustainability? Welcome to Posteo! Hailing from Germany, Posteo is a testament to how privacy can be seamlessly integrated into everyday email services, all while keeping it green.

Top Features:

• Pay with Privacy: No personal data is required to create an account. Even payments can be anonymized!
• Encryption Mastery: Your data is encrypted, whether it’s your address book, calendar, or mail storage.
• Green Power: Posteo operates entirely on green electricity. Eco-friendly and proud!
• Ad-Free: Your inbox stays clean, not just from spam, but from ads too.
• Migration Service: Thinking of making the switch? They offer a helpful tool to move your old emails and contacts.

Price: Starting at €1 per month, it's a small price to pay for a clean, secure, and sustainable email environment.

‍Free Trial: While there's no traditional trial, you can set up an account, test the features, and then decide to add credit or not.

Strengths:

• A fortress of privacy. With its strict no-logs policy and encryption, you're in safe hands.
• Sustainability is not an afterthought; it’s at the core of their operations.
• A straightforward, no-frills approach to pricing and features.

Weaknesses:

• It might lack some of the advanced collaboration tools found in bigger suites.
• The user interface, though functional, might seem a tad basic for those used to flashy designs.

18. Yahoo BizMail

Yahoo Bizmail is a premium business email solution tailored to cater to the needs of businesses, big or small. As part of the Yahoo Business suite, it ensures a professional look to your business with a custom domain name, even if you don't already have one. So, if you've just started a new business named "TechTree," you can have an email like ceo@techtree.com, reinforcing your brand identity with every email you send.

Top Features:

• Customizable Domain Name: Allows businesses to establish a brand identity with a unique email domain.
• Email Aliases: Gives the ability to create multiple email aliases under a single account, making it easier to manage different departments or functions.
• Email Forwarding: Helps in forwarding your Yahoo BizMail emails to another email address.
• Large Attachment Limit: Enables sending large files up to 25MB.
• Virus Scanning & Spam Protection: Ensures protection against malware and phishing attacks and keeps spam away.
• Integrated Calendar: Manage your appointments, tasks, and to-dos all in one place.
• 24/7 Customer Support: Assists with any technical or account-related queries.

Price: Starting from $3.19/Month/User
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Free Trial: Not typically offered, but there are occasional promotional offers.
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Strengths:

• Comprehensive and feature-rich platform suitable for all business sizes.
• Reliable with uptime guarantee, ensuring businesses never miss an email.
• Reinforces brand identity with custom domain email addresses.

Weaknesses:

• Might be perceived as pricier than some newer competitors.
• The user interface, while functional, can sometimes feel dated compared to newer platforms.
• Lack of integrations with modern business tools and platforms.

19. Rackspace Email

Rackspace offers a business-class business email solution. It's a good option for those looking for a balance of affordability and features.

Top Features:

• 25GB mailboxes
• Email, calendar, and contacts sync across all devices
• Advanced threat protection
• 24x7x365 support

Price: Starting from $2.99/user/month

Free Trial: No

Strengths:

• Affordable: Rackspace Email is one of the more affordable business email options available.
• Good Support: Rackspace offers 24/7 customer support.

Weaknesses:

• Less Popular: Rackspace isn't as widely used as options like Google Workspace or Microsoft Outlook, which could lead to compatibility issues.
• No Standalone App: As of 2021, Rackspace didn't offer a standalone app for their email service.

20 MXRoute

MXRoute is a business email service that aims to offer affordable solutions without skimping on quality or reliability. It specializes in ensuring deliverability and providing an accessible interface for its users.

Top Features:

• Unlimited email accounts
• CrossBox webmail interface
• Forwarders and autoresponders
• POP/IMAP/SMTP support
• Spam protection

Price: Starting at $40/year for the "Red" plan with 10GB storage.

Free Trial: No, but they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Strengths:

• Affordable plans with unlimited email accounts
• Reliable email deliverability and uptime
• Offers a straightforward approach to email hosting without unnecessary extras

Weaknesses:

• Lacks some of the advanced features found in pricier competitors
• No free trial available, though there's a money-back guarantee

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Conclusion

In conclusion, free business email services are an indispensable tool for every small business. The right platform can streamline communication, enhance productivity, and even help in team collaboration. Whether it's Google Workspace with its suite of intuitive applications, Microsoft 365's robust Office integration, Zoho Mail's focus on user privacy, ProtonMail's emphasis on secure communication, or the simplicity and ease of use offered by Neo Email, each service comes with its unique strengths.

It's important to carefully consider the unique needs of your business and your team's familiarity with the platform when making your choice. Take into account factors such as integration with other tools your business uses, security features, customer support, price, and storage capacity. Also, consider the future growth of your company and choose a service that can scale with your business.

Remember, as this blog is based on information available as of our last update, it's essential to check the official websites of these email service providers for the most accurate and current details about their offerings. Also, the ratings and reviews on Google Play Store and Apple App Store offer valuable insight into the user experience and can aid in your decision-making process.

Every business deserves an email service that suits their specific needs, and with plenty of excellent options available in today's digital market, you're sure to find the perfect fit. Happy hunting!

Disclaimer

*The information shared in this blog post is a result of comprehensive research and practical experience with these platforms. However, it's important to remember that features, pricing, and ratings of these email services may evolve over time. For the most up-to-date and accurate details, we encourage readers to visit the official websites of the listed service providers. For current ratings and reviews, refer to the respective application listings on Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

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