Google and Rackspace: Email for your domain names

While Google Apps is a great service, Rackspace email might be better for some users.

More and more web hosting services, especially ones that provide WordPress hosting, are separating email service from site hosting.

For example, one of the biggest WordPress hosts, WPEngine, doesn’t offer email service. This means you are on your own for selecting an email provider.

I recently found a good email option that I didn’t expect to find. Here’s the story.

My usual pick for anyone who needs an email address is to use Google Apps. It’s the gold-standard, easy to use and access, has great spam and security protection, and almost everyone is familiar with the interface. It also comes with extras like calendars and online storage space.

At just $5 per user, it’s the perfect option for an individual or modest business.

But recently I needed a different type of email solution. I was creating a handful of email addresses across multiple domain names. Setting up Google Apps for each of these addresses would have been overly complicated. Plus, I want to pull the email in through my existing Gmail account rather than have an additional Google account for each domain. (You can pull Gmail email into other Gmail accounts, but again, it’s overkill).

I went in search of a simple email solution. My needs were:

1. POP and SMTP. With this, I can easily pull the email into my Gmail inbox and send mail from the email addresses.
2. Ability to turn off spam protection. I want Gmail to handle this when I download mail, not another service provider.
3. Trusted and reliable provider.

I first turned to GoDaddy. I get email from them for Reglike.com. It has been fairly reliable, although for a while last year I had deliverability problems due to its edge network spam blocking.

The firm doesn’t promote its WorkSpace email anymore, at least on its main site. You have to call to order more email addresses, which are sold in batches of 5.

GoDaddy’s current email offerings are Professional Email (starting at $4.99 per month) and Microsoft Office (starting at $9.99 per month bundled with Microsoft Office Online).

I started searching for other providers and came across a surprising option: Rackspace.

I wouldn’t have thought to go to Rackspace for email. My impression is that it’s a high quality but more expensive option. This isn’t true when it comes to email.

The firm offers email service for $2/month per account with a minimum of 5 accounts. That’s the best deal I’ve found, especially from a well-respected provider.

Within regarding 15 minutes I was able to order the service, add MX records at my registrar and set up four email accounts. The email now pulls into Gmail, and I can also send from the addresses in Gmail as well.

The Rackspace account set up tool is great, so I didn’t need to contact Rackspace support. But it’s good to know that the firm is known for “fanatical support”. If the email stops working, they have 24×7 phone, chat and email support.

I recommend considering Rackspace email if you need email service and have similar needs.