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How to Acquire a Free Email Domain: 5 Different Methods

Updated on December 31, 2024

7 Min Read

Are you thinking of creating a professional email address but don’t want to pay for it?

The good news is that several platforms offer free domain names and email hosting, allowing you to take advantage of their services without spending a penny.

In this blog, we will explain how you can have an email domain without spending money on it. From using free email hosting services to leveraging web hosting platforms that offer free domain names, we’ll guide you through the process step-by-step.

Let’s get started…

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Importance of a Professional Email Domain

Unlike generic email addresses, a custom domain ties every message to your business—this can be particularly valuable in competitive industries where standing out matters.

A professional email domain gives authority and credibility that generic email services like Gmail or Yahoo cannot match.

Custom domains are typically hosted on secure servers with advanced encryption and anti-spam protections, reducing the risk of phishing attacks or unauthorized access.

Moreover, a professional email domain strengthens brand recognition. Every email sent becomes an opportunity to reinforce your business name and identity.

What Are Free Email Domain Options?

Free email domain options are widely available, offering individuals and small businesses an easy way to set up an online communication channel without additional costs. While most free email services like Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook offer standard email accounts (e.g., [email protected]), using a custom email domain (e.g., [email protected]) generally requires a paid service or domain registration.

However, some providers like Zoho and Yandex offer free email hosting with a custom domain. These free email services typically include mobile apps, allowing users to access email on the go.

They also support the ability to link multiple accounts, enabling users to manage communications from a single platform, making them ideal for those with several email accounts.

How to Acquire a Free Email Domain: 5 Easy Methods

Free email domain enhances your professional image by aligning your email address with your brand. Here are several methods to obtain one:

Method 1: Using Free Hosting Providers

Free hosting services are a good option for small businesses or people who want to create a website without spending a lot of money.

These hosting companies offer free email services with their packages, so you can make professional email addresses that use your website’s name.

This combined service is a budget-friendly way to manage web and email hosting together, making it simple for users to handle their online accounts.

Limitations

  • Shared hosting environments can sometimes lead to slower performance and reduced reliability for both websites and emails.
  • Free hosting providers may not include advanced features like encryption, spam protection, or large storage capacities.

Method 2: Using Free Email Services

Free email services, such as Gmail, Outlook, and Tutanota, are rather popular among both individuals and the corporate world of professional communication tools at no upfront cost.

Most of these platforms boast user-friendly interfaces, extended storage, and powerful spam filters, making them quite reliable for day-to-day communication.

Limitations

  • Emails sent from free domains are more likely to be flagged as spam, which could impact deliverability rates.
  • These services may not include advanced business features, such as shared calendars or encrypted messaging, unless you upgrade to paid versions.

Method 3: Using an All-in-One Website Builder

All-in-one website builders offer comprehensive solutions for building and managing an online presence.

These platforms include custom email domains as part of their subscription packages, allowing users to create branded email addresses with ease. This integration simplifies the process of establishing a professional online identity.

Limitations

  • The cost of these services can be higher compared to other options.
  • Users are often locked into the platform’s ecosystem, which may limit flexibility in the long run.

Method 4: Searching for Domain Registrars With Free Email Offers

Many domain registrars include email hosting in their domain name hosting packages for free. This is very attractive to small businesses and startups since having professional email is a necessity but without any extra cost.

For instance, with Proton Mail, you can get an email address along with 50 GB of storage and spam protection included upon purchasing the domain at a price of just $3.99/month, which is quite economical for first-time users.

Limitations

  • Usually, features offered for free are basic; you might have to upgrade to access more advanced functionalities like additional storage or encryption.

Method 5: Using Premium Email Services

Premium email services, such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, offer advanced features tailored to modern businesses’ needs.

These services provide secure, scalable, and feature-rich email hosting solutions that go beyond the basics. Features like shared calendars, integrated video conferencing, and robust data encryption, make them invaluable for organizations that require professional-grade tools.

How to Configure Gmail SMTP on Cloudways?

Sending emails via SMTP on Cloudways involves configuring your mail settings using the SMTP feature on the Cloudways platform.

Step 1: Access Your Google Account

  • Log in to your Google account with your login credentials. First, enter your email address and click Next.

  • Enter your login password and click Next.

Step 2: Enable 2-Step Verification

  • On the top left of your screen, click on your image.
  • Click on Manage your account.

  • Select Security from the left navigation bar.

Step 3: Generating App Password

  • Click on the Create button.
  • Once the app password is generated, you need to save it for later.

Step 4: Configuring SMTP Service On Your Cloudways Server

  • Sign up for a Cloudways account.
  • Existing Cloudways customers can directly log in to their accounts.

  • Once you are in, click on Add Server.

  • I’ll choose DigitalOcean.

  • Go to your server settings, and click on the SMTP option from the left menu bar.

  • Now, click on the drop-down box, which prompts you to Select SMTP. Choose an option called Your Own SMTP.

  • You will see a few more fields down after choosing the Your Own SMTP option.
    • Choose Other,
    • Which prompts you to choose your email gateway provider.
    • Enter smtp.gmail.com as your host.
    • Enter your Gmail account’s email (e.g., [email protected]) in the username field.
    • Enter your App password in the password field.

  • Click on the save button to save your changes.

Until now, you have Configured your Gmail to your cloudways server.

Test Your Email

After configuring the SMTP service on your server, you can verify that emails are being successfully dispatched from the server by sending a test email directly to yourself.

  • To start, simply click on Send Test Email.

  • Next, enter the sender’s email address. You can enter your email address as the recipient.

  • Once the test email is successfully sent, you will also be notified at the top right corner of your screen.

  • Here, you can see how I have received my test email on my account.

Conclusion

Using your personal email address for your business does not give a good impression to your customers. On the other hand, you would prefer not to incur additional expenses associated with professional email domains. Unfortunately, free ones are hard to come by, but you have some options.

For the recap, we provided a basic overview of the importance of a free email domain and explored five methods for acquiring a free email domain and account. Additionally, we covered a step-by-step process for configuring Gmail SMTP on Cloudways.

If you’re willing to pay a small monthly fee, you can also use Gmail with your own custom domain name via Google Workspace.

Q) Is there a way to get a free email domain?
A) Yes, you can get a free email domain through web hosting providers like Zoho Mail or by using free website builders like Wix, which include a free email domain with their plans.

Q) How to get 100% free domain?
A) Some platforms, like Freenom, offer free domains with specific extensions, or providers can bundle free domains with hosting plans.

Q) How do I get a different email domain?
A) You can create a custom email domain by purchasing a domain name and using email hosting services like Google Workspace or Zoho Mail. Alternatively, you can use free domain services with email features.

Q) How to get an email address for free?
A) You can create a free email address using services like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, or Outlook. For custom domains, platforms like Zoho Mail also offer free email plans for personal use.

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Inshal Ali

Inshal is a Content Marketer at Cloudways. With background in computer science, skill of content and a whole lot of creativity, he helps business reach the sky and go beyond through content that speaks the language of their customers. Apart from work, you will see him mostly in some online games or on a football field.

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