Yes, we easily port email to all the top remote email services.
We know managing email services can be challenging, particularly when free providers like Hotmail and Outlook arbitrarily block legitimate emails. Unfortunately, Microsoft’s free email services, including Hotmail, Live, Outlook, and others, prioritize blocking potential spam over ensuring that valid emails reach their users. Their approach favors broad, indiscriminate blocks to reduce the workload and infrastructure required for spam management. This often leads to legitimate emails being blocked alongside spam, especially when a single IP address is flagged. For example, if a WordPress site on one IP is compromised and used to send spam, Microsoft may block a large range of neighboring IPs, even if they are not involved in the issue. In contrast, Gmail, which is a superior free service, only blocks the offending IPs.
If your email is hosted on the same server as your website, it’s highly likely that Microsoft email services will block your messages. They take a strict stance to prevent hacked websites from being used to send spam. As a result, to reliably send emails to Hotmail, Outlook, or Live accounts, you’ll need to use remote email hosting.
What is Remote Email Hosting?
Remote email hosting means your email services are hosted on a different server than your website. This separation reduces the risk of your emails being blocked by providers like Microsoft. Below are some popular remote email services, along with their pricing, pros, and cons.
Remote Email Options (Ranked by Popularity)
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Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite)
Cost: Approximately $10–$15 per month
Pros: Highly reliable, integrates with other Google services, includes additional features like file storage
Cons: More expensive, limited customer support
Recommendation: Ideal for businesses that need a full suite of tools and are comfortable with technical setup. -
ZoHo Mail
Cost: Starts as low as $1 per month per email
Pros: Affordable, reliable once configured, easy to set up if you only need email services
Cons: Support can be limited
Recommendation: A great low-cost option for businesses focused purely on email without the need for additional features. -
ProtonMail
Cost: Approximately $10 per email per month
Pros: Emphasizes privacy and security
Cons: Pricing is not transparent, better alternatives available at a similar price point
Recommendation: While ProtonMail is popular, Gmail or ZoHo may offer more value for the price. -
FastMail
Cost: $5 per email per month
Pros: Simple, no-frills service, supports IMAP and full access
Cons: Charges per email account, which can add up
Recommendation: A solid choice for users seeking a straightforward, reliable email service without extra features. -
Apple iCloud Mail
Cost: Affordable, with options to add custom domains
Pros: Highly reliable, integrates well with Apple devices
Cons: Setup is more complex than other services
Recommendation: A great option for Apple users, though it may require more technical effort to configure.
Remote Email Providers to Approach with Caution
- Microsoft Outlook 360, Live, Hotmail: Microsoft services are notorious for blocking large numbers of legitimate emails, though some improvements have been noted with Outlook 360.
- ISPs like Verizon, Xfinity, Cox, CenturyLink, Spectrum, AT&T: These providers frequently block good emails and do not support custom email domains, making them unsuitable for professional use.
