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Email hosting service for personal use? (not iCloud or Google)

OldGuyInTheClub

OldGuyInTheClub

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 17, 2025
41
16
Southern California
I have a personal, noncommercial domain for my own use. I have had email hosted by Rackspace for many years at about $3/email/month, 5 email minimum. They just sent an email that in 2 months the price more than triples to $10/email/month (!) I am looking for alternatives.

There's a 2013 thread at https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...offers-push-activesync-mail-delivery.1553668/ but the landscape is very different now.

I don't want to use Apple or Google services for this and am looking for ideas.

My primary email address has ~15GB of legacy messages that I'd like to migrate and keep on the server. The others have far, far less.

Total traffic is about 50 outbound messages/week and ~100-150 inbound/week across all five accounts. I don't do any bulk mail, newsletters, marketing, etc. Just regular traffic with the occasional small attachment.

I will need IMAP access, a webmail interface, push email, and an outbound SMTP server. The provider will have to support SPF, DKIM, and DMARC so I can configure my domain appropriately to keep my domain compliant with current security practices.

Suggestions appreciated.
 
I'm only paying $4/month per email address for Microsoft Office 365 (Exchange) hosting on one domain. Gotta say I'd probably use an IMAP service if it weren't for one user that needs Exchange for Outlook on Windows.

For my other domain I use the simple, low capacity IMAP email provided by the host of the domain. I move messages from that account to folders on another account.
 
You mention prices in $ so this probably isn't much use to you, but for anyone in the UK who stumbles across this thread, I have a "Professional Hosting" plan from 34sp.com which I'm very happy with.

I use it to host a simple website (MySQL, PHP) and my emails. Support is excellent.

www.34sp.com

UK Web Hosting

Hosting UK websites for 25+ years. Backups, SSL, email and more all included for free as standard. Money back guarantee.
www.34sp.com www.34sp.com
 
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Hostway's OX App Suite works well is reasonably priced and has worked well for my uses.
 
BrianBaughn said:
I'm only paying $4/month per email address for Microsoft Office 365 (Exchange) hosting on one domain. Gotta say I'd probably use an IMAP service if it weren't for one user that needs Exchange for Outlook on Windows.

For my other domain I use the simple, low capacity IMAP email provided by the host of the domain. I move messages from that account to folders on another account.
Click to expand...
Thanks. Not sure if you mean that you are using Microsoft's email hosting product or a service capable of running an Exchange server.

I have had email and web hosting from the same provider in the past but had some issues which led me to split them many years ago. Rackspace has been ok though the prices have increased with no upgrade to any features. Email is more important to me than webhosting. If my website goes down, nothing is lost.
 
MacMorrison said:
MXroute looks decent for the OP's purposes.
Click to expand...
Consolidating with @Just_Kevin 's suggestion.

Thanks. I went through a lot of their documentation and had a look at the Reddit page. They are a possibility and I have a few questions about your experience since they do not offer presale support by design. https://docs.mxroute.com/docs/presales/contact.html

1) Do they provide an outgoing SMTP server? The docs refer to an API but I am looking just to reconfigure my desktop and phone IMAP clients with a new outgoing server.

2) How easy or hard is migrating existing data? The docs suggest two web based options both of which are unfamilar and which require payment.
- I could potentially make a local copy of my emails and have the client do a bulk copy to the IMAP server but I am not sure if that will trigger a block by MXroute
- I don't have calendars or anything to migrate. Only email

3) Sustainability: The service seems to sit on one guy's shoulders. Has this been an issue? I was tracking Purelymail for similar reasons a year or two ago and that was also a one man shop. He recently sold to someone else due to burnout.

4) How is support when you need it? I am not a novice but I'm not capable of rolling my own mail server with all that implies, either. Old Reddit thread at:
Reddit thread




​

 
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just commeting to say I look forward to the final "best choice", as I have wanted to change my setup for a while... I feel it costs too much, but works flawlessly, so lack of friction and laziness leaves me paying for Google Workspace for two of my personal email accounts and separate DNS hosting.
 
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OldGuyInTheClub said:
Consolidating with @Just_Kevin 's suggestion.

Thanks. I went through a lot of their documentation and had a look at the Reddit page. They are a possibility and I have a few questions about your experience since they do not offer presale support by design. https://docs.mxroute.com/docs/presales/contact.html

1) Do they provide an outgoing SMTP server? The docs refer to an API but I am looking just to reconfigure my desktop and phone IMAP clients with a new outgoing server.

2) How easy or hard is migrating existing data? The docs suggest two web based options both of which are unfamilar and which require payment.
- I could potentially make a local copy of my emails and have the client do a bulk copy to the IMAP server but I am not sure if that will trigger a block by MXroute
- I don't have calendars or anything to migrate. Only email

3) Sustainability: The service seems to sit on one guy's shoulders. Has this been an issue? I was tracking Purelymail for similar reasons a year or two ago and that was also a one man shop. He recently sold to someone else due to burnout.

4) How is support when you need it? I am not a novice but I'm not capable of rolling my own mail server with all that implies, either. Old Reddit thread at:
Reddit thread




​

Click to expand...
I’ve only been using them 4-6 months maybe? Similar reason as you, previous provider I had jacked up prices and I only need email. I’m no IT Admin either. I know just enough to be dangerous. I’ve probably forgotten half as much as I’ve learned and things have changed a lot since I learned about how email servers work.

Yes to SMTP. I don’t use the webmail client, I use desktop and mobile.

I did not migrate anything over. I keep everything local.

#3&4 I consider related. I know the guy that is the face of the company (Jarland) is in Texas. I’m pretty certain that the co-founder/owner is also US based. The main support guy I believe to be EU based. Jarland has stated that there are contingencies in place should something happen to him.

I was concerned about support, since they pretty much say they are not an IT provider, they run a small/tight ship to keep costs down. Prior to signing up, I inquired about that on the Discord. They do have several non-employees that offer assistance as well. I did need help when I moved and got help quickly via Discord.

I found the link to get to their Discord on Reddit. If you can’t find it, let me know, I’ll look or send you the link.
 
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OldGuyInTheClub said:
Consolidating with @Just_Kevin 's suggestion.

Thanks. I went through a lot of their documentation and had a look at the Reddit page. They are a possibility and I have a few questions about your experience since they do not offer presale support by design. https://docs.mxroute.com/docs/presales/contact.html

1) Do they provide an outgoing SMTP server? The docs refer to an API but I am looking just to reconfigure my desktop and phone IMAP clients with a new outgoing server.

2) How easy or hard is migrating existing data? The docs suggest two web based options both of which are unfamilar and which require payment.
- I could potentially make a local copy of my emails and have the client do a bulk copy to the IMAP server but I am not sure if that will trigger a block by MXroute
- I don't have calendars or anything to migrate. Only email

3) Sustainability: The service seems to sit on one guy's shoulders. Has this been an issue? I was tracking Purelymail for similar reasons a year or two ago and that was also a one man shop. He recently sold to someone else due to burnout.

4) How is support when you need it? I am not a novice but I'm not capable of rolling my own mail server with all that implies, either. Old Reddit thread at:
Reddit thread




​

Click to expand...

I looked at MXRoute's migration options and they did look like a pain.

I've used both Outlook and Thunderbird as mail clients - it might be better to download the messages locally and upload them to the new mail host with a tool (rather than copying one mailbox at a time).

Fastmail's migration page - it doesn't look like much fun either: https://www.fastmail.help/hc/en-us/articles/360060590593-Migrate-to-Fastmail-from-another-provider

Let's see if more forum members have experiences with these providers.
 
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MacMorrison said:
I looked at MXRoute's migration options and they did look like a pain.

I've used both Outlook and Thunderbird as mail clients - it might be better to download the messages locally and upload them to the new mail host with a tool (rather than copying one mailbox at a time).

Fastmail's migration page - it doesn't look like much fun either: https://www.fastmail.help/hc/en-us/articles/360060590593-Migrate-to-Fastmail-from-another-provider

Let's see if more forum members have experiences with these providers.
Click to expand...
Again consolidating with @Just_Kevin.

Very helpful answers.

Any idea how migration works under the hood? I think one has to change DNS to point to the new host and set up accounts through a web interface. But, what happens to the data on the old host? If the DNS is updated, does new mail get sent to the new host and the old data just sit on the old host until the service is cancelled?
 
OldGuyInTheClub said:
Again consolidating with @Just_Kevin.

Very helpful answers.

Any idea how migration works under the hood? I think one has to change DNS to point to the new host and set up accounts through a web interface. But, what happens to the data on the old host? If the DNS is updated, does new mail get sent to the new host and the old data just sit on the old host until the service is cancelled?
Click to expand...
When you sign up, they send you directions, but that's the main part, changing DNS. You also have to do something to prove you own the domain names. There's some additional things I had to do, which I'm sorry I do not recall all of it.

I have two domain names with six(?) total addresses between them. A big draw for me to MXroute, is the pricing model. They charge based on how much storage you need. Nearly every other provider I looked at charges per mailbox, that gets pricey quick if you have different addresses set up for different purposes like I do. The exception to that are the companies that are geared more towards web hosting so the price is already multiples over an email only host.

I'd say I spent an hour or two getting everything switched over, including the issue I needed assistance with. Again though, I had no data to move over. I know that made things smoother for me, but cannot really say how much so.

They recently did a total remake of the control panel to make it easier to navigate and understand.
 
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Mr. Heckles said:
I 2nd Fastmail. I've been using them for 3 years and it's been great. I have 4 domains on mine now, and so far so good.
Click to expand...
I'll 3rd fastmail, although they don't host a domain for me. I just use their @fastmail.com email service.

I've been using them for about four years and I'm quite happy with them.
 
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To the Fastmail users: Can you elaborate on which plans you use? MXRoute offers Small, Medium, and Large which I understand while Fastmail has Family and Business with subcategories and some of these don't support 3rd party clients... Thanks.
 
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OldGuyInTheClub said:
To the Fastmail users: Can you elaborate on which plans you use? MXRoute offers Small, Medium, and Large which I understand while Fastmail has Family and Business with subcategories and some of these don't support 3rd party clients... Thanks.
Click to expand...
The o my plan you can’t use a 3 party client is the business Basic ($3 USD a month).
I had the Standard (now Individual plan) and moved to the Family Plan and both I can use. 3rd party email client.
 
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Mr. Heckles said:
The o my plan you can’t use a 3 party client is the business Basic ($3 USD a month).
I had the Standard (now Individual plan) and moved to the Family Plan and both I can use. 3rd party email client.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I am discussing with Fastmail support at the moment and the Family plan with 6 users seems like an option. Are these 6 separate accounts with separate usernames, passwords, independent IMAP folder structures, etc.?
 
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