There are dozens of ways to get email on your own domain, from big productivity suites to email-only hosts. The right choice depends less on brand names and more on a few practical points. Use this checklist to compare any provider — including us.
1. Price per mailbox — including renewals
Look at the price per mailbox per month after introductory offers, and whether GST is included. A plan that is cheap for the first year and triples on renewal isn’t cheap.
2. Number of mailboxes and storage
Count the people and roles who need their own mailbox, and estimate storage: 5 GB is plenty for most single users; teams that email large files need more. Check whether storage is per mailbox or shared across the plan.
3. Help with DNS setup
For non-technical owners this is the hardest part. Good providers show the exact records, check them for you and explain errors. See what those records are in our DNS guide.
4. Works with the apps you already use
Insist on standard IMAP and SMTP so Outlook, Apple Mail, Thunderbird and phone apps work. Webmail should be clean and work well on mobile. Setup guides or one-tap profiles are a bonus — see our setup guide.
5. Deliverability and authentication
Your provider should support SPF, DKIM and DMARC, filter spam and viruses, and keep its sending servers clean. Ask how they prevent abuse by other customers.
6. Security
- Encrypted connections (SSL/TLS) for webmail, IMAP and SMTP
- Strong password rules and protection against password-guessing
- Easy password resets for each mailbox from one dashboard
7. Billing in rupees with proper invoices
Paying in rupees avoids card currency fees and gives you invoices you can use for your accounts. Check the accepted payment methods.
8. Real support
Find out how to reach a human and how fast they reply. For email, “we’ll look at it next week” is not good enough.
9. No lock-in
You own your domain, so you can always move. Make sure the provider supports standard IMAP so you can take your mail with you, and doesn’t hold your domain hostage.
10. Extras you’ll actually use
Some providers include useful extras: newsletter campaigns, ChatGPT integration, domain registration. Value the ones you’d really use — not long feature lists.
Quick comparison table
| Question | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Price after the first year? | Same as or close to the first-year price |
| Who adds the DNS records? | Clear instructions plus automatic checks |
| Outlook / phone support? | IMAP + SMTP, setup guides |
| Can I leave? | Yes — standard IMAP export, you keep your domain |
| Billing? | Rupees, proper invoices |
Want to see how WhySharedMail scores? Compare our plans, or read why business email beats free email if you’re still deciding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest business email in India?
Prices change often, so compare the price per mailbox per month including GST and renewal prices, not just introductory offers. WhySharedMail plans start from ₹49 a month.
Do I need a big suite like Google Workspace or Microsoft 365?
Only if you also need their documents, video calls and storage. If you mainly need reliable email on your domain, a dedicated email host is usually simpler and cheaper.
Can I change providers later?
Yes, as long as your provider supports standard IMAP. You can copy mail to the new provider and change your MX records — your address stays the same because you own the domain.