Back to articles

6 Best Email Service for Small Business (Our Top Picks)

April 7, 2025
By
Cindy Graciella

One of the things that help business owners build credibility with their target audience is a custom professional email address that uses their business name rather than “@gmail.com.”

To get this, however, you need a dedicated email service provider. But with so many options out there, picking the right one can easily become confusing. That’s where we come in! 

In this guide, we’ve rounded up the six top email services for small businesses. Whether you need something budget-friendly, feature-packed, or easy to use, there’s one for you on this list!

What are the best email providers for small businesses?

Email Provider Best For Starting Price Security Features Productivity Tools Custom Domain
Google Workspace All-in-one productivity and collaboration on the cloud $6.30/user/month AI-powered security, phishing protection Google Docs, Drive, Meet, Sheets, and others.
Microsoft 365 Businesses using Microsoft apps $6/user/month AI security, compliance tools Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and others
Zoho Mail Budget-friendly, privacy-focused email $1/user/month End-to-end encryption Zoho Docs, Cliq
ProtonMail Maximum security and privacy $6.99/user/month End-to-end encryption, zero-access email Secure calendar and cloud
Namecheap Affordable, no-frills email $1.24/user/month Spam and virus protection Basic email tools
Fastmail Private, ad-free email $3/user/month No tracking, strong spam filters Email-only service

6 Best Email Services for Small Businesses

1. Google Workspace

Google Workspace, best email service for small business

Google Workspace delivers a robust email experience through Gmail for Business, offering professional custom domain email addresses that provide a polished corporate identity. 

It also offers a generous 30GB of storage per user and powerful spam and phishing protection powered by Google's advanced AI.

Google Workspace includes advanced email management tools like scheduled sending, and confidential mode, which lets you set expiration dates and revoke access to sensitive emails, while preventing recipients from forwarding, copying, downloading, or printing emails.

Key Features

  • Business email with custom domain support
  • 30GB+ cloud storage per user (varies by plan)
  • Seamless integration with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Meet
  • AI-driven security features, including phishing protection

Pros

Familiar and intuitive interface

Excellent spam and malware protection

Reliable uptime and cloud-based accessibility

Cons

Higher cost compared to some competitors

Pricing

  • Starts at $6.30 per user/month, billed annually (Business Starter plan).

2. Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365, best email service for small business

Microsoft 365 is perfect for businesses that rely on Microsoft Office tools such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.

The platform provides professional custom email hosting, advanced spam filtering, 50GB mailbox storage, and seamless integration across Office applications. Its email hosting service offers advanced email security, compliance features, and scalability.

Unlike Google Workspace tools, which are more cloud-driven, Microsoft 365 allows for both online and offline access, making it ideal for businesses that require a mix of web-based and desktop applications.

Key Features

  • Professional custom email hosting with Outlook
  • 50GB+ mailbox storage per user
  • Full access to Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  • AI-powered security and compliance tools
  • 1TB OneDrive cloud storage per user

Pros

Best for businesses already using Microsoft apps

Strong data security and compliance options

Offers both desktop and cloud-based productivity tools

Cons

Can be overwhelming for beginners due to feature complexity

Slightly higher cost for advanced plans

Pricing:

  • Starts at $6 per user/month, billed annually (Microsoft 365 Business Basic).

3. Zoho Mail

Zoho Mail, best email service for small business

Zoho Mail is an excellent choice for small businesses looking for an affordable and privacy-focused email service. 

It offers a clean, ad-free interface with strong encryption. It also provides essential business applications like Zoho Docs and Zoho Cliq for team collaboration.

Zoho Mail’s other features include custom domain emails, 5GB storage, and built-in encryption for secure, professional communication at an affordable price point.

Key Features

  • Ad-free, business email hosting with custom domains
  • End-to-end encryption for secure communication
  • Built-in calendar, contacts, and task management
  • Integration with Zoho’s ecosystem of business apps
  • Free plan available for up to five users

Pros

Very affordable pricing compared to competitors

Strong security and privacy features

Forever free plan available for small teams

Cons

Limited third-party integrations outside the Zoho ecosystem

User interface may take some time to get used to

Pricing:

  • Starts at $1 per user/month, billed annually (Mail Lite plan).

4. Proton Mail

Proton Mail, best email service for small business

Proton Mail is designed for businesses that prioritize security and privacy above all else. It follows strict data privacy regulations and offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring that emails remain private and inaccessible to third parties. 

It provides support for custom email domains, anonymous email hosting, hide-my-email aliases, and Swiss privacy protection, offering businesses a highly secure communication platform.

Key Features

  • End-to-end encrypted emails
  • Custom domain and email alias support
  • Zero-access encryption, meaning even Proton Mail can’t read emails
  • Open-source and independently owned
  • Secure calendar and cloud storage options
  • Some plans come bundled with the VPN and crypto wallet

Pros

Best-in-class security and privacy features

No ads, tracking, or data mining

Intuitive and clean user interface

Cons

Limited storage on lower-tier plans

Fewer third-party integrations compared to Google and Microsoft

Pricing:

  • Starts at $6.99 per user/month, billed annually (Proton Mail Essentials plan).

5. Namecheap Private Email

Nameheap, best email service for small business

Namecheap Private Email is a great option for small businesses looking for a simple, budget-friendly email hosting solution. 

It provides secure, reliable email with custom domain support and impressive spam protection at an affordable cost. It only offers the email service, making it the perfect choice for businesses that only need professional email addresses without additional software.

Overall, it’s a great option for small businesses that need a low-cost solution while establishing their brand.

Key Features

  • Business email with a custom domain
  • 5GB+ mailbox storage per user
  • IMAP/POP3 support for third-party email clients
  • Built-in spam and virus protection
  • Affordable pricing plans

Pros

One of the most budget-friendly options

Easy to set up and manage

Good email performance with reliable uptime

Cons

Lacks productivity and collaboration tools

Limited storage compared to other providers

Pricing:

  • Starts at $0.99 per month on promo. Actually $1.24 per month, billed annually (Starter plan).

6. Fastmail

Fastmail, best email service for small business

Fastmail is an independent email service provider that offers a fast, privacy-focused alternative to mainstream providers. It prides itself as the “fastest email money can buy.”

The platform focuses solely on providing a clean, reliable private email experience. It’s best for businesses that want an ad-free, no-tracking email service with solid spam protection and reliable performance.

Of course, it offers custom domain email hosting along with excellent email organization features, as well as email masking for added protection.

Key Features

  • Private, ad-free email hosting
  • Custom domain and alias support
  • Advanced email organization tools
  • Strong spam protection and security measures
  • Fast and responsive webmail interface

Pros

No ads, tracking, or data mining

Highly customizable email management

Fast and intuitive interface

“Undo send” up to 20 seconds

Cons

No free plan available

Lacks deep integration with business productivity suites

Custom domain email not available on Basic plan

Pricing:

Starts at $3 per user/month (Basic plan).

Key features to look for in an email hosting for small businesses

Affordability and pricing plans

When evaluating email hosting solutions, it is important to prioritize pricing strategies that align with your business budget constraints and operational requirements. 

Look for providers that offer:

  • Transparent pricing without hidden fees.
  • Flexible plans that accommodate business growth.
  • Competitive rates for additional user accounts or storage.

Security and privacy

Email security is paramount for protecting sensitive business communications and confidential information. A trusted email hosting solution should provide multiple layers of security protection, including:

  • Advanced encryption protocols.
  • Comprehensive spam and malware filtering.
  • Two-factor authentication.
  • Regular security updates and threat monitoring.
  • Compliance with data protection regulations.

Integration with other tools

An effective email hosting service extends beyond basic communication capabilities. It should offer connections and integrations that help it serve as a central hub for business productivity. 

Try to go for solutions that offer:

Ease of use and setup

Ease-of-use and a visually appealing interface are essential features an email service provider should offer so new users can easily pick it up with little to no technical guidance.

The best platforms typically offer:

  • Intuitive, user-friendly interface.
  • Straightforward initial setup process.
  • Responsive and knowledgeable customer support.
  • Minimal learning curve for team members.
  • Comprehensive onboarding resources.

Our verdict: what’s the best email provider for a small business?

Choosing the right email provider for your small business depends on your unique needs. If seamless collaboration and productivity tools matter most, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are top contenders. Zoho Mail and Namecheap offer budget-friendly solutions without sacrificing essential features, while Proton Mail is the go-to for businesses prioritizing security and privacy. Fastmail is equally solid for those seeking a simple, ad-free, privacy-minded platform.

Ultimately, the best choice comes down to your priorities—security, integrations, budget, or ease of use. Evaluate what matters most to your business, and select the provider that aligns with your goals.

Read more: 11 Best Email Marketing Software For Your Business

Have questions

No items found.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.

Cindy Graciella

Cindy is an Outreach Manager and SEO Specialist at ONSAAS who helps SaaS companies grow through strategic link building and SEO. Outside of work, she loves spending time in nature, especially hiking in the mountains.

On this page:

No items found.

Related Articles

By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.