Email is now the preferred communication method for many individuals and businesses worldwide, replacing everything from paper bills and phone calls to traditional customer support channels. This means that reliable, trustworthy business email hosting is in demand more than ever.The number of email users worldwide has been steadily growing year by year, and it is estimated that 376.4 billion emails will be sent over 2025. Over 90% of adult US citizens use email, and over 40 emails are sent per day by the average office worker.Considering how important email communication channels are, it's unwise to ignore the need for a professional service to provide the proper infrastructure, security, and business features you need.If you want to go beyond free, basic email addresses, obtain a professional email address, or have a high level of control over your corporate email communications, you'll want to sign up with a reputable email hosting provider. We've found the best email hosting services for small businesses, large organizations, and individuals alike.Also: The best web hosting services: Expert testedWhat is the best email hosting service right now?Our favorite email hosting provider is Google Workspace. If you want a familiar email hosting provider that offers ample storage with a direct and easy-to-understand pricing structure, this is the right host for you. Free email accounts are also available for individuals.Alternatively, if you are looking for a new email hosting provider for a small to medium-sized business, consider Hostinger or A2 Hosting. Hostinger is an affordable option that combines email and web hosting for individuals or SMBs, whereas A2 has a range of plans to suit small businesses.ZDNET has tested many email hosting providers over the years, and we keep an eye on market trends, pricing changes, and market improvements. Below, we have compiled our 2025 recommendations for excellent email hosting providers specializing in email and office productivity, as well as solid web hosts offering email packages with a personalized touch. Sort by All Security Features Price Best email hosting services of 2025 Show less View now at Google Google Workspace integrates an enterprise-level Gmail management interface with Google Docs, Google Meet, Google Calendar, and other tools. Thankfully, it's not just for enterprises.As an email hosting service, given Google's approach to security, tool suite, free service, and the fact it is used by billions of people worldwide, it's no surprise that many use this service as the backbone of their custom email addresses and inboxes.The company is set to roll out new settings and automatic action options soon for Workspace users, giving you more control over your workflow.Pricing is far easier to understand with Workspace than with Microsoft Office 365, as Microsoft offers various licensing pricing structures.Google gives you three simple choices: $6 per month per user, $12/month per user, or $18/month per user on a yearly contract, depending on your desired management features. Features include custom and secure email, pooled storage ranging from 30GB to 5TB, and video meetings for between 100 and 500 participants. Enterprise clients can contact Google for tailored solutions.You can also test out the service for 14 days for free. Google will also give you access to its Gemini assistant. Customers say Google Workspace is a reliable host, although some customer support issues should be ironed out.Google Workspace features: Your own domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:30GB, 2TB, or 5TB |Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Depending on the plan | 14-day free trial Security 10 Features 9 Price 8 Pros Up to 5TB of storage Flexible pricing Familiar to free Gmail users AI tools Cons Doesn't offer unlimited storage for enterprises Google Workspace Best email hosting service overall 4.4 / 5 Score Google Workspace integrates an enterprise-level Gmail management interface with Google Docs, Google Meet, Google Calendar, and other tools. Thankfully, it's not just for enterprises.As an email hosting service, given Google's approach to security, tool suite, free service, and the fact it is used by billions of people worldwide, it's no surprise that many use this service as the backbone of their custom email addresses and inboxes.The company is set to roll out new settings and automatic action options soon for Workspace users, giving you more control over your workflow.Pricing is far easier to understand with Workspace than with Microsoft Office 365, as Microsoft offers various licensing pricing structures.Google gives you three simple choices: $6 per month per user, $12/month per user, or $18/month per user on a yearly contract, depending on your desired management features. Features include custom and secure email, pooled storage ranging from 30GB to 5TB, and video meetings for between 100 and 500 participants. Enterprise clients can contact Google for tailored solutions.You can also test out the service for 14 days for free. Google will also give you access to its Gemini assistant. Customers say Google Workspace is a reliable host, although some customer support issues should be ironed out.Google Workspace features: Your own domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:30GB, 2TB, or 5TB |Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Depending on the plan | 14-day free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Hostg We reviewed Hostinger positively when evaluating website hosting providers and consider Hostinger an excellent option for businesses of all sizes that want to combine email and web services.I signed up with Hostinger last year to operate a website and email, and so far, I have been impressed with the service. I've experienced one incident with downtime for maintenance, but aside from that, everything has functioned as expected. In regards to email, the inbox interface provided is clean and easy to understand.Android and iOS apps are available, alongside read receipts, aliases, email templates, calendars and contacts, forwarding rules, two-factor authentication, anti-spam measures, and more, depending on your plan.The company's standard web hosting plan includes email accounts and mailboxes. Hostinger's dedicated hosting service uses the customer-centricTitan email hosting service.Customers find this host provides the whole package with excellent support.Hostinger's Premium plans combining web and email hosting begin at $2.49 per month per user, and Business plans start at $3.49 per month per user. Three months of free service on both plans are included.If you opt for business email hosting alone, for a $0.79 per month per user starting subscription, you can enjoy up to 10GB of inbox storage, ten forwarding rules, and 50 email aliases. For $2.99 per month per user, you receive 50GB of storage.Hostinger features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:10GB to 50GB or 1GB per inbox|Spam and virus protection:Yes|Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone (surcharge for priority support) |Archiving and storage:No | 30-day money-back guarantee Security 9 Features 9 Price 10 Pros Email hosting included in web hosting plans 24/7 support Cheap plans Cons No archiving options Limited starter email options Hostinger Best email and web hosting combination 4.6 / 5 Score We reviewed Hostinger positively when evaluating website hosting providers and consider Hostinger an excellent option for businesses of all sizes that want to combine email and web services.I signed up with Hostinger last year to operate a website and email, and so far, I have been impressed with the service. I've experienced one incident with downtime for maintenance, but aside from that, everything has functioned as expected. In regards to email, the inbox interface provided is clean and easy to understand.Android and iOS apps are available, alongside read receipts, aliases, email templates, calendars and contacts, forwarding rules, two-factor authentication, anti-spam measures, and more, depending on your plan.The company's standard web hosting plan includes email accounts and mailboxes. Hostinger's dedicated hosting service uses the customer-centricTitan email hosting service.Customers find this host provides the whole package with excellent support.Hostinger's Premium plans combining web and email hosting begin at $2.49 per month per user, and Business plans start at $3.49 per month per user. Three months of free service on both plans are included.If you opt for business email hosting alone, for a $0.79 per month per user starting subscription, you can enjoy up to 10GB of inbox storage, ten forwarding rules, and 50 email aliases. For $2.99 per month per user, you receive 50GB of storage.Hostinger features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:10GB to 50GB or 1GB per inbox|Spam and virus protection:Yes|Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone (surcharge for priority support) |Archiving and storage:No | 30-day money-back guarantee Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Apple Microsoft 365 encompasses all the Office desktop apps, Office online apps, Microsoft Teams, Exchange's benefits, calendaring, mobile apps, and more.If you are comfortable with the Outlook email client and Microsoft software, you should consider Microsoft 365 Business as a trusted, well-known solution for your email hosting.Available in Basic, Standard, and Premium packages -- with prices starting at $6 per month per user -- you can opt for business-class email, security packages, webinar and large meeting virtual solutions, IAM access control, and custom business email addresses, among other features.Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available for $12.50 per month per user, and this may be a better option if you want Loop collaborative workspaces. Microsoft 365 Business Premium, priced at $22 per month per user, includes enterprise-grade device protection and advanced identity and access management. You can purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365 as an add-on with any package.As an alternative, you can purchase digital packages with 12-month subscriptions for individuals or families.Customer feedback indicates that this option is great for businesses of all sizes, although some users prefer more control over their updates. Packages at Best Buy start at $70.Microsoft 365 Business features:Your domain name:Yes |Cloud storage size:1TB|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Depending on the plan | One-month free trial Security 8 Features 9 Price 10 Pros Starts at 1TB cloud storage Spam and virus protection 24/7 support Cons Advanced security only included in Premium plans Microsoft 365 encompasses all the Office desktop apps, Office online apps, Microsoft Teams, Exchange's benefits, calendaring, mobile apps, and more.If you are comfortable with the Outlook email client and Microsoft software, you should consider Microsoft 365 Business as a trusted, well-known solution for your email hosting.Available in Basic, Standard, and Premium packages -- with prices starting at $6 per month per user -- you can opt for business-class email, security packages, webinar and large meeting virtual solutions, IAM access control, and custom business email addresses, among other features.Microsoft 365 Business Standard is available for $12.50 per month per user, and this may be a better option if you want Loop collaborative workspaces. Microsoft 365 Business Premium, priced at $22 per month per user, includes enterprise-grade device protection and advanced identity and access management. You can purchase Copilot for Microsoft 365 as an add-on with any package.As an alternative, you can purchase digital packages with 12-month subscriptions for individuals or families.Customer feedback indicates that this option is great for businesses of all sizes, although some users prefer more control over their updates. Packages at Best Buy start at $70.Microsoft 365 Business features:Your domain name:Yes |Cloud storage size:1TB|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Depending on the plan | One-month free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at A2 A2 Hosting is an excellent option for small businesses. It offers multi-account access, 24/7 support, a variety of migration tools, anti-spam filters, administrator tools, useful email templates, and between 10GB and 30GB of storage per account.As a bonus, this email hosting service is cheap. Plans start at only $1.59 per month per user (10GB storage, up to 200 emails sent per hour limit, or 500 per day), as long as you agree to a 36-month contract.Premium plans begin at $2.59 per month per user (30GB storage, up to 300 emails sent per hour limit, or 1,000 per day). The Pro Plus option also includes features such as read receipts, email templates, 2FA authentication, and send as alias functions.This email hosting service could be your best bet for a new business venture and will serve you well until you need to scale up. Small business owners will also appreciate the configurable mobile access on offer and 24/7 support.Customers enjoy the speed and reliability of this host, but some express frustration at the level of emergency support offered.A2 features:Your domain name:Yes |Inboxstorage size:Up to 30GB|Spam and virus protection:Yes|Aliases:Yes|24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone, Guru Crew Support |Archiving andstorage: Depending on the plan | 30-day money-back guarantee Security 8 Features 7 Price 10 Pros Affordable Long-term, simple plans Migration tools Web and mobile apps Cons Storage relatively low on basic plans Email sending limits 2FA limited to Pro Plus A2 Hosting Best affordable email hosting for small businesses 4.3 / 5 Score A2 Hosting is an excellent option for small businesses. It offers multi-account access, 24/7 support, a variety of migration tools, anti-spam filters, administrator tools, useful email templates, and between 10GB and 30GB of storage per account.As a bonus, this email hosting service is cheap. Plans start at only $1.59 per month per user (10GB storage, up to 200 emails sent per hour limit, or 500 per day), as long as you agree to a 36-month contract.Premium plans begin at $2.59 per month per user (30GB storage, up to 300 emails sent per hour limit, or 1,000 per day). The Pro Plus option also includes features such as read receipts, email templates, 2FA authentication, and send as alias functions.This email hosting service could be your best bet for a new business venture and will serve you well until you need to scale up. Small business owners will also appreciate the configurable mobile access on offer and 24/7 support.Customers enjoy the speed and reliability of this host, but some express frustration at the level of emergency support offered.A2 features:Your domain name:Yes |Inboxstorage size:Up to 30GB|Spam and virus protection:Yes|Aliases:Yes|24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone, Guru Crew Support |Archiving andstorage: Depending on the plan | 30-day money-back guarantee Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Proton Mail Proton Mail should be considered if you want a security-first email hosting solution, a VPN, or a free email hosting plan.Developed by the same organization that offers Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass, Proton Mail offers free, business, individual, and family plans. Email is end-to-end encrypted, and storage levels range from 1GB to a massive 3TB on shared family subscriptions.The company is headquartered in Switzerland and adheres to the country's strict data protection and privacy laws.Proton Mail's free plan provides users with one email address and 1GB of storage. However, if you are happy to pay for a subscription, Mail Plus ($3.99/month) comes with ten email addresses, 15GB of storage, and a custom email domain if you need a basic option.Proton Mail's business plans start at $6.99 per month per user and include features such as secure business email, custom email addresses, a calendar, access to a writing assistant, and cloud storage.If you'd like a VPN included, you can choose Proton Unlimited ($9.99/month), which provides 500GB of storage, 15 email addresses, three custom email domains, access to Proton VPN, a password manager, and cloud storage. This is a rather good deal because Proton VPN alone usually costs $4.49/month on a two-year plan.Customers say they like the simple interface and security provisions but note that customer support needs improvement.Proton Mail features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:1GB to 3TB|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Email, online form | End-to-end encryption | Desktop app | Free option | 30-day money-back guarantee Security 9 Features 7 Price 10 Pros Security focus Free plans available Family options Swiss company, strong privacy laws Cons Poor customer support reviews Proton Mail Best free email hosting service 3.9 / 5 Score Proton Mail should be considered if you want a security-first email hosting solution, a VPN, or a free email hosting plan.Developed by the same organization that offers Proton VPN, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass, Proton Mail offers free, business, individual, and family plans. Email is end-to-end encrypted, and storage levels range from 1GB to a massive 3TB on shared family subscriptions.The company is headquartered in Switzerland and adheres to the country's strict data protection and privacy laws.Proton Mail's free plan provides users with one email address and 1GB of storage. However, if you are happy to pay for a subscription, Mail Plus ($3.99/month) comes with ten email addresses, 15GB of storage, and a custom email domain if you need a basic option.Proton Mail's business plans start at $6.99 per month per user and include features such as secure business email, custom email addresses, a calendar, access to a writing assistant, and cloud storage.If you'd like a VPN included, you can choose Proton Unlimited ($9.99/month), which provides 500GB of storage, 15 email addresses, three custom email domains, access to Proton VPN, a password manager, and cloud storage. This is a rather good deal because Proton VPN alone usually costs $4.49/month on a two-year plan.Customers say they like the simple interface and security provisions but note that customer support needs improvement.Proton Mail features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:1GB to 3TB|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Email, online form | End-to-end encryption | Desktop app | Free option | 30-day money-back guarantee Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at IceWarp Great name aside, IceWarp is an excellent browser-based email hosting option that combines cloud and on-premise technologies.Its offerings include shared contacts and calendars, collaborative document editing, mailing list management, web meetings, ChatGPT integration, audio and video calls, mobile apps and synchronization, and archiving. The dashboard, too, is an attractive interface for accessing emails, calendars, meetings, and files.IceWarp offers various subscriptions. The basic plan for startups and small businesses (up to 10 accounts) is $23 per month, including 200GB of email storage and 1TB of file storage per user. One month of free service is added to the length of the contract.Business plans are the next step up, starting at $3.50 per month per user, but you will need to agree to 10 user accounts at a minimum. This plan covers up to 500 users, with 200GB of email storage and 1TB of file storage per user. There is an optional desktop app suite. Custom plans, starting at 500 user accounts, are also available.Customers find this service reliable and easy to use, although some say migration can take a while.IceWarp features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:200GB + 1TB file storage|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Included | 14-day money-back guarantee Security 7 Features 9 Price 7 Pros Desktop app suite Cloud or on-premise ChatGPT integration Cons 10 users minimum for business plans IceWarp Best email hosting service for cloud servers 3.9 / 5 Score Great name aside, IceWarp is an excellent browser-based email hosting option that combines cloud and on-premise technologies.Its offerings include shared contacts and calendars, collaborative document editing, mailing list management, web meetings, ChatGPT integration, audio and video calls, mobile apps and synchronization, and archiving. The dashboard, too, is an attractive interface for accessing emails, calendars, meetings, and files.IceWarp offers various subscriptions. The basic plan for startups and small businesses (up to 10 accounts) is $23 per month, including 200GB of email storage and 1TB of file storage per user. One month of free service is added to the length of the contract.Business plans are the next step up, starting at $3.50 per month per user, but you will need to agree to 10 user accounts at a minimum. This plan covers up to 500 users, with 200GB of email storage and 1TB of file storage per user. There is an optional desktop app suite. Custom plans, starting at 500 user accounts, are also available.Customers find this service reliable and easy to use, although some say migration can take a while.IceWarp features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:200GB + 1TB file storage|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Included | 14-day money-back guarantee Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Rackspace Rackspace is one of the original cloud infrastructure providers. The company offers many infrastructure-as-a-service options, including complete Exchange hosting, Microsoft 365 management, and traditional email hosting suitable for small- to medium-sized businesses and beyond.The company offers migration assistance from other hosts, a large team of MCSA-certified staff, and the ability to support an existing Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. Free migration is provided on all plans.Subscriptions start at $2.99 per month per user and increase to $3.99 per month per user for premium service. If you want unlimited archiving, prices begin at $6.99 per month per user. A trial is available, although you have to make up your mind within 14 days. Mailboxes are sized at 25GB each. Each user is also given 30GB of file storage with premium plans.Customer feedback indicates that Rackspace's migration help and uptime are notable, but customer support can be lackluster.Rackspace features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:25GB mailboxes, 30GB storage|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Depending on plan, additional fee| 14-day free trial Security 8 Features 9 Price 7 Pros Microsoft integration Migration assistance Mobile support Antivirus, spam protection on all plans Cons Short trial Rackspace Best email hosting service for migration assistance 4 / 5 Score Rackspace is one of the original cloud infrastructure providers. The company offers many infrastructure-as-a-service options, including complete Exchange hosting, Microsoft 365 management, and traditional email hosting suitable for small- to medium-sized businesses and beyond.The company offers migration assistance from other hosts, a large team of MCSA-certified staff, and the ability to support an existing Microsoft Enterprise Agreement. Free migration is provided on all plans.Subscriptions start at $2.99 per month per user and increase to $3.99 per month per user for premium service. If you want unlimited archiving, prices begin at $6.99 per month per user. A trial is available, although you have to make up your mind within 14 days. Mailboxes are sized at 25GB each. Each user is also given 30GB of file storage with premium plans.Customer feedback indicates that Rackspace's migration help and uptime are notable, but customer support can be lackluster.Rackspace features: Your domain name:Yes |Mailbox size:25GB mailboxes, 30GB storage|Spam and virus protection:Yes |Aliases:Yes |24/7 support:Chat, ticket, or phone |Archiving and storage:Depending on plan, additional fee| 14-day free trial Read More Show Expert Take Show less Top email hosting providers, compared When you're on the hunt for a new email hosting provider, you may end up paying only a few dollars per month unless you have a large team to support, all of which may need a dedicated email address. To help you decide, we've highlighted each email hosting provider's noteworthy features below.Email hosting serviceStarting priceStorageYour domainGoogle Workspace$6/user/month30GB, 2TB, or 5TBYesHostinger$2.49/user/month (email alone: $0.79/month)10GB+YesMicrosoft 365 Business$6/user/month1TB+YesA2 web hosting$1.59/user/month30GBYesProton Mail$3.99/user/month1GB - 3TBYesIceWarp$3.50/user/month200GBYesRackspace$2.99/user/month25GB+Yes Show more Free vs. paid email hosting You don't necessarily have to pay for email hosting. There are free options out there, offered by reputable companies -- including Google and Microsoft -- that tick many of the boxes for average users. Some of these free services, too, can be bumped up with extra storage for a small monthly fee.However, small and medium-sized businesses should consider email hosting services as an investment. They provide far more customization options than paid plans. This includes custom domains, collaboration and productivity tools, setup assistance, enhanced privacy and security measures, and flexible storage options. Show more Which is the best email hosting service? There are countless email hosting providers, and we've done our best to highlight the top picks in the market. The best email hosting providers are listed below, depending on your need and use case.Choose this email hosting serviceIf you wantGoogle WorkspaceA comprehensive office suite and you prefer the Google ecosystem. Google is familiar as an email hosting service and offers straightforward pricing with different storage options.HostingerEmail hosting, and you're also buying web hosting. As a combination, Hostinger is a solid choice to manage both.Microsoft 365 BusinessA comprehensive office suite and prefer the Microsoft ecosystem. If you want an email host focused on Outlook, stick with Microsoft.A2 web hostingAn affordable email hosting plan over the long term. A2 is popular in the market for its offerings to smaller businesses, and rightly so.Proton MailA security-first email solution or a free plan. Proton Mail is an end-to-end encrypted service with extremely high security standards. Specialist security support is available.IceWarpComprehensive email services, but prefer to avoid Microsoft and Google. This is an excellent option for startup companies, too, that need up to 10 inboxes.RackspaceMicrosoft features, but want to work with a non-Microsoft provider. Rackspace should be considered if you want assistance with migration. Show more Factors to consider when choosing an email hosting service Choosing the right email hosting provider can be tricky, especially as you will likely be tied to a contract for at least a year. When you are on the hunt for a new email hosting provider, consider the factors below.Features: Different features can help you choose the right email hosting service. Software bundles, AI tools, custom domains, billing options, and more could sway your choice, so you need to decide what features are the most important to you.Affordability: Most email hosting providers require customers to sign up for at least a year or more. You must consider the rolling fees over time and match your budget with the right host. In addition, keep in mind that promotional prices may not last.Reliability: Ensure you pick an email hosting provider with minimal downtime. There's no point in paying for an unreliable host that could impact your access to the services you signed up for.Scalability: If you own a small or midsize business, you may need to expand your operation. Consider choosing a provider that can quickly scale to match your evolving needs.Security: As email services are often the gateway to our other online services, choosing an email provider with a strong security record is worthwhile. Unfortunately, even the largest and best companies may eventually experience a breach, but you want to at least find a company that constantly works to improve its security posture.Contracts: Before you sign up, consider how long you will likely use the service. You may choose a month-to-month service or a rolling contract over years, and you may want flexibility in the contract's terms. Read them carefully before you commit to a new email service. Show more How did we choose these email hosting providers? Many of us at ZDNET have decades of experience with email hosting providers. In making recommendations, we take this experience and combine it with crucial factors, including:Familiarity: We have included vendors that ZDNET authors are personally familiar with and feel comfortable recommending. After all, if we wouldn't use the service, it's probably not worth consideration.Pricing: We have included a range of email hosting providers that offer services and price points suitable for different clients. There's no point in paying for multiple inboxes or advanced features if you are unlikely to use them.Email-only: Many email hosting providers now package their email solutions with other services. We want to include a variety, including cheaper email-only options.Reliability: We only pick vendors with a track record of high uptime and stable service. Reliability is crucial to managing workflows, and email communication is key for today's businesses.Backups: We like to see email hosting providers that provide a range of backup options, including scheduling.Security: In today's world, filled with data breaches and cyberattacks, security must be at the forefront of your online communication channels. We selected providers known for their robust security practices and frequent upgrades, improvements, and audits. Encryption options are a must.Scalability: We like to see various email and hosting plans, including family and business options and contracts with different time frames. It's important that customers have the option to scale over time.Customer support: Signing up for a new email hosting service or switching providers can be stressful. We prefer to showcase companies that provide solid customer support over email, phone, and chat. Show more Email hosting features: Are they that important for small businesses? Over the years, I've helped several small businesses launch, from website designers to miniaturists and artist e-commerce shops. When you start a new venture, every cent counts, but I always advise that new business owners consider email a priority and as something worth investing in.It's one of the main ways your customers communicate with you, and a branded email address tends to instill more trust in you than a generic free one. Dedicated email addresses also add a layer of professionalism to a new brand, and for the sake of what might only be a few dollars a month, it's worth it. Show more FAQs on email hosting What is email hosting? Email hosting is a service that allows customers to use their own custom domain names in their email addresses rather than being stuck with the email provider's domain. For example, I could set up admin@mybusiness.com rather than myname@gmail.com. Email hosting often provides a wide range of useful add-ons, including email management suites and collaboration tools. Show more Should I host my email? While it is undoubtedly possible to self-host your email, and local backup options seem attractive, you will need some technological acumen and be willing to undergo the setup process, whether at home or by renting a server. For most users, signing up for an email hosting service is easier, quicker, and requires less management.However, if you are absolutely sure you want to self-host, we recommend that you check out Mailcow or Roundcube. Show more What is the difference between email hosting and forwarding? When you sign up for an email hosting service, you pay for email addresses, the storage required to store your emails, and the platform to send, receive, and organize your email. An email forwarder does none of these things: all a forwarder does is redirect emails received by one email address -- such as hello@yourbusiness.com -- to another email address, like hello@yoursecondbusiness.com. Show more Email hosting services vs web hosting providers: What's the difference? Email hosting and web hosting are both online services, but each serves a different purpose. Email hosting focuses on providing customers with custom email addresses and associated services, such as email storage and archiving. In comparison, web hosting services provide storage for files and content used by websites, rather than email platforms. They may also give subscribers a free domain name.There are also differences in terms of cost. Email hosting services are typically priced per account (or in groups for business use), whereas web hosting pricing structures can be based on time periods, storage requirements, and services, including e-commerce or CMS support. Show more Do you get free email with a GoDaddy domain? Domain purchases alone will not net you free email services. Instead, you will need to sign up for hosting, of which some plans will grant you free, professional email hosting for a year. Show more Is GoDaddy an email host? GoDaddy provides a range of services, including web and email hosting. You can buy standalone email hosting services with plans starting at $1.99. The company's email services center around the Microsoft 365 suite, including additional tools such as web apps and improved security. Show more What is the best free email hosting service? In most cases, you get what you pay for. Some robust and functional free email services are available, but keep in mind that they likely have limitations. These could include the number of emails you can send daily, your email addresses, or the amount of storage available.Our best recommendation for a free email service is Proton Mail, which offers 1GB of storage, one user account, and one email address. Show more How do I recover a stolen Google email account? This doesn't just apply if you're using Google for your email -- you might have another hosting provider but still use Gmail. Even if you can't log in, Google offers a set of steps for you to follow.Here's Google's pageto get you started.The best way to avoid recovering a stolen email account is to protect it properly. Set upmulti-factor authenticationandget your recovery codes from Google. Show more What free email service ends in .org? There are free email services, but be careful: free services often come with other costs, including privacy. Since it's costly to maintain an email hosting service, using free services may not get you much support or may bombard you with ads every time you access your inbox.Also, be careful of free services that are essentially phishing sites, capturing all the emails you get, including personal identifying information. That said,mail.comis a reasonably safe service that offers email addresses with the linuxmail.org and musician.org domains. Other free services, like Yahoo and Google, allow you to set up email aliases, so if you have another mailer that supports .org, you can get that email at your Yahoo or Gmail account. Show more My web-hosted email stopped forwarding to my phone. How do I fix it? There's not one single answer. It generally depends on your email provider and phone OS. If you use any standard email providers, you can go tothis troubleshooting pagefor iPhone or iPad andthis troubleshooter for the Google Android email app. Sometimes, you may need to update or reinstall your app. Show more Are there alternative email hosting services worth considering?There is a tremendous number of hosting providers on the market. As we said, just about every web hosting provider also offers email. Here are a few more providers that provide excellent email hosting services and support. Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 8: Firefighters fight the flames from the Palisades Fire burning ... [+] the Theatre Palisades during a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThere are numerous severe weather events happening across the U.S. this week, from devastating wildfires on the West Coast to a major winter storm shutting down schools, businesses and travel and knocking out power across the eastern areas of the country.Both events have been prominently covered in the news. My colleague Renny Vandewege spoke about the raging wildfires and Santa Ana winds earlier this week on Forbes Breaking News. What may be less known is that although the two distinct events are not directly related to the same weather system, they are influenced by broader atmospheric patterns and seasonal phenomena that can coexist and interact.California WildfiresThe wildfires in California are driven by a combination of dry vegetation, low humidity and strong Santa Ana winds. January is not a typical month for wildfires. California typically experiences its peak wildfire season June through late October, although in recent years the season has extended to year-round.A warming climate complicates everything. Hotter and drier seasons mean that big fires in January, once very rare, are now more common. The lush foliage dried by scorching temperatures and high winds are a dangerous combination.Winter SnowstormsThe winter storms sweeping across the U.S. South and Midwest are associated with a different weather phenomenon, often tied to cold air masses (polar vortex) interacting with moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. This leads to snow, sleet or freezing rain depending on local temperatures.MORE FOR YOUInfluence By Atmospheric PatternsWhile these events are distinct, they can be indirectly connected through larger atmospheric patterns such as the jet stream.The jet stream is high-altitude, west to east wind current that circulates the Northern Hemisphere. It moves weather systems along, which means it plays a significant role in shaping weather systems. This NASA video is a good visual on how the jet stream flows.NASA demonstration of the global jet streamNASAIts waviness can create ridges (areas of high pressure) and troughs (areas of low pressure). For example, a ridge over the western U.S. may contribute to drier, windier conditions in California, enhancing wildfire risk, while a trough over the central and eastern U.S. can pull cold air southward, fueling winter storms in places not used to experiencing heavy snow and ice.It is the plunging jet stream we are currently experiencing that is turbocharging the intense Santa Ana winds, clocked up to 100 mph, causing the fueling of the fires and rapidly spreading them to adjacent areas.The same plunging jet stream is the primary cause of the current major winter storm. Cold air from the polar vortex is dipping southward, bringing significant snowfall and frigid temperatures to large parts of the United States. As you can see from the precipitation map, heavy snow and ice currently across portions of the Southeast states will spread into the Northeast over the weekend with millions in the path of this storm.DTN winter weather forecast indicates heavy snow and ice across most of the country.DTNLa Nia conditions have finally taken hold, bringing a more typical pattern for the rest of January. At least two to three additional southern storms are expected to move up the East Coast, as shown on the National Weather Service map. This first storm will track across to the Carolinas and then out to sea but will spread snow up into the Great Lakes and Northeast. The storm moving into the Northwest will move across the north-central U.S. into the Great Lakes by Sunday, bringing the snow shown across the western and northern U.S. Most of next week looks quieter until a new storm moves in the following weekend.Additional winter storms are expected to move up the East Coast over the weekend. National Weather ServiceThe other atmospheric pattern contributing to the fire and ice phenomenon is atmospheric blocking. Atmospheric blocking refers to a large-scale, persistent weather pattern where the normal west-to-east flow of the atmosphere is disrupted, often causing weather systems to stall over a region for days or even weeks. In blocking situations, the jet stream becomes wavy or distorted, like we are experiencing now.While the atmospheric river flow remains shut down, it will offer some respite but prolong dry conditions in Southern California's fire-ravaged areas.Climate ChangeIve written about attribution science before and how researchers use scientific methods to determine if the weather event was caused by climate change or contributed to the severity of the event. The wildfires are a good example of climate change contributing to the severity of the event.While there is not a definitive link between the Santa Ana winds happening later than usual, there are studies that show climate change exacerbates extreme weather by making conditions for wildfires (e.g., drought, heat) more severe.The waviness of the jet stream that contributed to the 100 mph winds is also debated within the scientific community. Some studies suggest that rapid Arctic warming, known as Arctic amplification, reduces the temperature gradient between the Arctic and mid-latitudes, potentially leading to a more meandering jet stream. This increased waviness can result in prolonged weather patterns, such as extended cold spells or heatwaves.Another study found minimal influence of reduced Arctic sea ice on mid-latitude weather patterns.Two Sides Influenced by the Same SystemThe California wildfires and U.S. winter snowstorms are separate weather events resulting from different immediate causes. However, both are influenced by large-scale atmospheric patterns and potentially by the impacts of climate change. Both have had devastating health, infrastructure and economic effects on the country and again point to weather resiliency and the imperative to further the science of weather.

In a nutshell: Despite increasing competition from AI, there are still plenty of folks that earn a living writing content for the web. Astrohaus sees you, and has designed its latest keyboard specifically for such users. The Freewrite Wordrunner is a mechanical keyboard meant for writers. It sports a tenkeyless design with a set of custom function keys catering to common writing tasks, and utilizes backlit keys with Kailh switches. At the top left of the board is a bright red media control knob that doubles as a joystick / button. Engadget spent some time with the Wordrunner at CES and said the knob moves in all four directions, can be turned like a dial, and pressed like a button.The board also features a pair of mechanical counters across the top. The timer, positioned just to the right of the media controller, can be used to measure writing sprints or to otherwise manage productivity, while the Wordometer functions like the odometer in your car except instead of miles, it tallies your word count.They're neat additions that serve as fun talking points although if we're being honest, existing software does a fine job of accomplishing these same tasks.Keys labeled Zap, Pow, and Bam on the far right of the board can be customized to perform any task you wish, like launching your favorite word processor.Other noteworthy features are said to include an extended wrist rest and a polished aluminum chassis with a bit of heft to it. The Wordrunner relies on Bluetooth wireless, and can be paired with up to three devices simultaneously. A fourth device can be attached via USB-C, we're told. // Related StoriesThe Freewrite Wordrunner set to launch on Kickstarter in February 2025. Pricing is unknown at this time, but Astrohaus is accepting priority reservations for just a buck. This will give supports access to the best possible pricing when the Kickstarter goes live. Should everything go according to plan, Astrohaus will ship the first batch of boards to backers by the end of 2025.

Bottom line: Market analysts at IDC have released their latest insights into trends in the PC industry. While consumers continue to purchase computers and retailers are replenishing their stock, significant changes are expected in the coming months, leaving the market's future uncertain. The International Data Corporation said the PC market experienced modest growth in 2024, with hundreds of millions of systems shipped to distribution channels and end customers. Echoing predictions made by other analysts, the Blackstone-owned market research firm confirmed that 2025 is shaping up to be a turbulent year for the technology sector.According to IDC, PC shipments in the fourth quarter of 2024 rose by 1.8 percent compared to the same period in 2023, with 68.9 million units reaching the market. Over the full year, vendors shipped a total of 262.7 million PCs, marking a one percent year-over-year increase. While the growth rate was modest, IDC Research Manager Jitesh Ubrani noted that it signals a slow but steady recovery, leaving room for optimism in the market.Several factors contributed to the growth in PC shipments. In China, substantial state subsidies boosted consumer demand, leading to better-than-expected performance in the segment. In the US and Europe, holiday sales promotions incentivized customers to purchase new PCs. Meanwhile, the enterprise market saw a surge in hardware upgrades as businesses prepared for the end of Windows 10 support, scheduled for October 2025.According to IDC figures, Lenovo maintained its position as the world's largest PC manufacturer in 2024, capturing a 24.5 percent market share and achieving a 4.8% percent year-over-year growth. HP Inc. ranked second with a 19.9 percent market share, though it was the only company to experience negative growth in 2024, posting a 1.7 percent decline. Dell, Apple, and Asus secured the third, fourth, and fifth spots, with market shares of 14.4 percent, 10.1 percent, and 6.9 percent, respectively.As other research firms have highlighted in recent months, IDC notes that the next US administration could have a significant impact on the technology market. The looming threat of new or increased tariffs is raising concerns across the industry, leaving some brands facing a period of considerable uncertainty. // Related Stories"The overall macroeconomic concerns seem to be overshadowing some of the progress and excitement around AI PCs," IDC VP Ryan Reith said.While the industry is pushing for customers to adopt new systems equipped with NPUs and other advanced technologies, organizations are still debating the tangible use cases for AI. Furthermore, users are not rushing to purchase new PCs specifically for AI purposes. IDC acknowledges that on-device AI for PCs is inevitable, though it will likely take longer to become mainstream than initially anticipated.

The big picture: Many startups are working on personal flying aircraft that you could park at your home and take off whenever needed, much like a car. But some are closer than others when it comes to delivering that vision or at least they claim to be. One such company is Rictor, which unveiled its Skyrider X1 concept at CES 2025, billing it as the world's first flying motorcycle that could allow personal air travel as soon as next year. The Skyrider X1 is essentially a hybrid between an electric moped and a quadcopter drone. It features two wheels for driving on roads and eight propellers providing stability while airborne. The vehicle is designed to fly at speeds up to 62 mph for up to 40 minutes on a single charge, depending on the battery size.Renderings showcase an aggressive, angular body design with sleek lines, and a sporty ride stance when grounded. It appears to have a cabin capacity of a single person, much like a bike.The Skyrider X1's biggest selling point is the promise of autonomous operation. According to Rictor, it will automatically plan optimal routes, adjusting for weather conditions, altitude, and airspeed as needed. Riders just need to input a destination, and the vehicle will get them there while avoiding obstacles and traffic on the ground. It can take off and land vertically on its own too.If this all sounds too good to be true, that's because there are still massive technical and regulatory hurdles to overcome. Other air taxi companies like Joby Aviation and Volocopter have spent years trying to certify their piloted electric aircraft for simple airport routes, with little success so far. The idea of a self-flying personal vehicle zipping around populated areas seems exponentially more complex.Even if Rictor does manage to get its product flight-ready, it's likely that autonomous flying will come much later, largely due to regulatory challenges. Thankfully, the X1 also offers manual control with joystick functionality. // Related StoriesStill, Rictor is insisting the Skyrider X1 will be a reality very soon and with an unbelievably low $60,000 price tag. It even claimed that the vehicle was "the star exhibit of the show" on the floor in Las Vegas.The startup is certainly talking a big game for an unproven company. Its only previous product is a traditional electric moped called the K1. But they assert that "robust innovation capabilities" are allowing them to spearhead new solutions for the masses.

Hisense started releasing TVs stateside nearly a decade ago, and today, the China-rooted manufacturer is one of the top TV makers the world over! Hisense TVs are renowned for budget-friendly pricing, but dont let the word budget dissuade you these are some of the brightest and most colorful TVs on the market.Were always throwing the spotlight on QLED TV deals, and as luck would have it, we came across this gem of an offer earlier today: For a limited time, when you purchase the Hisense 75-inch U7N Series ULED, youll only pay $1,200. The full MSRP on this set is $1,500. We tested this TV last year, and reviewer Caleb Denison said the U7N was, absolutely incredible bang for your buck.Why you should buy the Hisense 75-inch U7N SeriesSitting just one rung below Hisenses 2024 non-UX flagship, the U8N Series ULED, the U7N harnesses the powers of mini-LED lighting and quantum dot-enhanced colors to deliver the kind of picture quality youd expect from a higher-priced Samsung or Sony. The U7N really pops and has zero issues with getting bright enough to combat ambient light sources like lamps (and that stupid sun thing in the sky). This TV was our pick for the best budget option in our roundup of the best TVs of 2024.RelatedOn top of class-leading HDR performance (the U7N supports every HDR format) and a native 144Hz refresh rate, the U7N supports gaming features like VRR and ALLM too, so PS5 and Xbox gamers get down-to-the-millisecond optimizations. Expect minimal input lag and some of the fastest response times youve ever seen on a TV.Apps, AirPlay, Chromecast, and other web-connected features are made possible by the TVs built-in Google TV OS. We wish this TV would stay on sale for the whole month, but this $300 discount could be gone tomorrow. So, if youve been shopping for a big QLED TV, this is definitely a markdown you dont want to miss. We also recommend taking a look at our roundups of the best QLED TV deals and best TV deals for even more discounts on Hisense sets and other TV brands, too!Editors Recommendations

One of the biggest surprises in the world of TVs is that the once-reigning champ of plasma displays, Panasonic, is stateside once more. For a minute, you could only get Panasonic sets outside the US, but this year, there are three Panasonic TVs for sale in North America, and the best one is already on sale for its lowest price yet:Right now, when you purchase the Panasonic 65-inch Z95A Series OLED TV, youll only end up paying $2,500. The full MSRP on this model is $3,200. Not only is this one of the best TV deals of the week, but its the sort of-TV homecoming weve all been waiting for! As our editor at large Caleb Denison said in his Z95A review: Stunning picture and shockingly good sound help make the Panasonic Z95A one of the top 5 TVs weve ever reviewed.Why you should buy the Panasonic Z95APlasma TVs were once the videophiles dream come true, and Panasonic stood at the summit of plasma stardom. And while the Z95A Series OLED may have a far thinner chassis than plasmas of yesteryear, this 2025 flagship is a brilliant homage to Panasonics 2010s heyday. Rocking a WOLED display with an MLA-enhanced sublayer, the Z95A delivers gorgeous colors and a near-infinite contrast ratio with perfect blacks.RelatedViewers will also be treated to an ultra-wide viewing angle, class-leading HDR support, and some very elevated SDR capabilities. We didnt think wed see the day when an OLED looked this good in a brightly lit room (though LGs long-standing Gallery Series has helped us prep for this moment). The Z95A has two HDMI 2.1 ports (four inputs total), as well as numerous gaming optimizations to give PS5 and Xbox gamers a fast-acting display to work with.Smart TV features are handled by Amazons Fire TV OS, which gives you access to numerous apps, including Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube. Youll also be able to use Alexa to search for movies and shows, switch inputs, and more.While we wish this TV would stay on sale forever, it likely wont be this price as soon as next week. Heck, maybe even tomorrow. So, if you like the idea of saving $700 on a Panasonic OLED in 2025, today might be your best chance. Oh, and before you go, you may also want to look through our lists of the best OLED TV deals and best 65-inch TV deals, too.Editors Recommendations

Now that CES 2025 is wrapping up, we have a solid idea of what home theater tech is on the horizon. And, like clockwork, many of the best sets of 2024 are already going on sale, likely to make way for the new fleet. One brand that made waves at this years CES was TCL, so it makes perfect sense that the companys 2024 flagship QLED dropped in price.Right now, if you purchase the TCL 65-inch QM8 Series (2024) at Walmart, youll only wind up paying $950. The full MSRP on this set is $1,400, and the $450 youll save can go toward one of the best soundbar deals of the week! Both Amazon and Best Buy are selling the 65-inch QM8 Series (2024) for a reduced price too, though the Walmart offer is $50 cheaper.Why you should buy the TCL 65-inch QM8 Series (2024)QLED TVs are renowned for bright-room performance, and the TCL QM8 Series takes illumination to the next level (and has been since 2023). With its densely-packed mini-LED backlight array, the QM8 maintains up to 5,000 local dimming zones, ensuring picture maladies like light bloom and poor greyscale presentation are left by the wayside. Throw in some class-leading HDR capabilities (the QM8 supports every HDR format) and TCLs AIPQ Pro-powered 4K upscaling, and prepare to be amazed by this QLEDs 5,000-nit peak brightness!RelatedMovie buffs and gamers are in great shape when it comes to motion clarity, too. Not only does the QM8 support up to a 144Hz native refresh rate, but the TV also supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro ALLM and includes an Auto Game Mode that automatically optimizes picture settings to cut down on input lag and improve response times.Other awesome features include apps, AirPlay, and other web-connected capabilities via the QM8s Google TV OS, and an Onkyo 2.1.2 audio system with a built-in subwoofer!Were not sure how long this markdown is going to stick around, but well likely see some ebb-and-flow activity until the new QM8 Series hits shelves later in 2025. That being said, it could be a while before the 2024 edition drops in price again. Purchase today and save $450 on the TCL 65-inch QM8 Series (2024). You may also want to check out our lists of the best TCL TV deals and best QLED TV deals for even more discounts on top sets!Editors Recommendations

The producers of the dark maple-syrup-heist comedy knew they had to tap into something authentic to make it work. Here, a behind-the-scenes look at their obsessive pursuit, plus the recipe for the sticky toffee pudding that fueled it.

The rivalry of Hannibal and Scipio, a visit to logo land, the most mysterious sense and more.