Free options
Free email with your own domain
There are a few real ways to use an address at your own domain without paying for a mailbox. Each one has limits. Here is what each option does, what it can’t do, and how to set it up.
The free options at a glance
| Detail | Cloudflare Email Routing + Gmail | Zoho Mail Free | Hostinger Mail trial (with hosting) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free (“Mail Free” plan) | Free trial with eligible hosting plans |
| Receive mail | Yes, forwarded to Gmail or any inbox | Yes, in Zoho mailboxes | Yes, in Hostinger mailboxes |
| Send as you@yourdomain.com | Yes, with Gmail “Send mail as” and Brevo (300 sends a day free) | Yes, from Zoho’s own apps | Yes |
| Main limits | DNS must be on Cloudflare; no mailbox of its own | Up to 5 users, 5 GB each, one domain; no IMAP/POP; only in some data centers | Trial; your hosting plan’s email limits apply |
Which one fits you?
- Just want mail to your domain to land in your Gmail? Use Cloudflare Email Routing, and add Brevo if you also want to reply from your domain. See how
- Need separate mailboxes for a few people? Try Zoho Mail Free, if it’s offered in your region. See how
- Already paying for Hostinger hosting? Start the Hostinger Mail trial that comes with eligible plans. See how
Option 1
Cloudflare Email Routing + Gmail
Forward your domain’s mail to the inbox you already use, and send from Gmail.
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Email Routing is available on Cloudflare’s Free plan. It forwards mail sent to your domain to destination addresses you verify.
Source: Email Routing (Cloudflare Docs)
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It only works when your domain’s DNS is on Cloudflare.
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It receives mail only. To reply as you@yourdomain.com, add the address in Gmail’s “Send mail as” with an SMTP server such as Brevo’s. Brevo’s Free plan includes 300 email sends per day.
Source: Email Routing (Cloudflare Docs), Send emails from a different address or alias (Gmail Help), FAQs - What are the limits of the Free plan? (Brevo Help)
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Limits: 200 routing rules per domain, 200 destination addresses per account, messages up to 25 MiB.
Option 2
Zoho Mail Free
Real mailboxes at your domain for a small team.
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Zoho’s “Mail Free” plan covers up to 5 users with 5 GB of mail storage each, for one domain.
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IMAP, POP and ActiveSync aren’t included, so you use Zoho’s own apps.
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Zoho says the free plan is available only in select data centers.
Option 3
Hostinger Mail trial (with hosting)
If you already host your site at Hostinger.
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Eligible Hostinger hosting plans include a free Hostinger Mail trial, and you can claim it for any domain you own.
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Hostinger doesn’t state the trial length on that page, and your hosting plan’s email limits still apply. Check both in hPanel before you rely on it.
What isn’t free
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Google Workspace has no free plan, only a 14-day free trial.
Source: Compare Flexible Pricing Plan Options (Google Workspace)
The other providers we cover aren’t listed here because we haven’t confirmed a free plan on their official pages. Their setup guides work the same way.
Already set something up? Fix My Email checks your domain and tells you what is still missing.
Free domain email: questions
Can I get email with my own domain for free?
Yes, with limits. Cloudflare Email Routing forwards your domain’s mail to an inbox you already use for free, Zoho Mail’s free plan gives up to 5 mailboxes for one domain in some regions, and eligible Hostinger hosting plans include a free Hostinger Mail trial.
Is Cloudflare Email Routing really free?
Email Routing is available on Cloudflare’s Free plan. It only receives and forwards mail; to send as your domain from Gmail you also need an SMTP service, and Brevo’s Free plan includes 300 email sends per day.
Can I send email from my domain address with Gmail for free?
Yes. Gmail’s “Send mail as” lets you add an address you own with an SMTP server. Brevo’s SMTP relay works for this, and its Free plan includes 300 email sends per day.
Is Zoho Mail still free?
Zoho lists a Mail Free plan for up to 5 users with 5 GB each on one domain, without IMAP or POP, and only in some data centers.
Is Google Workspace free?
No. Google Workspace has no free plan, only a 14-day free trial.
Do I still need to buy a domain?
Yes. These options give you email at a domain you own; they don’t include the domain itself.
Sources
Plans and limits change. Every fact on this page comes from these official pages.
- Compare Flexible Pricing Plan Options (Google Workspace)
- Email Routing (Cloudflare Docs)
- Email Routing limits (Cloudflare Docs)
- Enable Email Routing (Cloudflare Docs)
- FAQs - What are the limits of the Free plan? (Brevo Help)
- Hostinger Mail: How to create mailboxes (Hostinger)
- Send emails from a different address or alias (Gmail Help)
- Zoho Mail Pricing | Compare Editions (Zoho)