Compare business email hosting: the best options
Last updated: 31 December 2025
Why business email?
A professional email address on your own domain (name@yourbusiness.com) inspires more trust than a free Gmail or Outlook.com address. Additionally, business email offers more storage, better security, and professional features.
Options for business email
Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)
The market leader for business email, including the familiar Office apps.
Advantages:
- Outlook desktop and web
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint included
- 50GB mailbox per user
- Teams for video calling
- Excellent spam/malware filtering
Disadvantages:
- Complex license structure
- More expensive than alternatives
Price: from €5.60/user/month
Google Workspace
The Google variant with Gmail as the foundation.
Advantages:
- Familiar Gmail interface
- Google Docs, Sheets, Slides
- 30GB to unlimited storage
- Google Meet included
- Strong search function
Disadvantages:
- Less Office-compatible
- Less suitable for traditional office environments
Price: from €5.75/user/month
Email with your hosting provider
Most hosting packages include email.
Advantages:
- Often included with hosting
- Easy to manage
- No extra costs
Disadvantages:
- Limited storage (usually 1-5GB)
- Less advanced features
- Spam filtering varies
Price: €0-5/month
Dedicated email providers
Providers like Zoho Mail or ProtonMail focus purely on email.
Advantages:
- Focus on email = better service
- Often cheaper than Microsoft/Google
- Privacy-friendly options (ProtonMail)
Disadvantages:
- No office applications
- Fewer integrations
Price: €1-4/user/month
Comparison table
| Feature | Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace | Hosting email |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price/user | €5.60+ | €5.75+ | €0-2 |
| Storage | 50GB | 30GB+ | 1-5GB |
| Office apps | Yes | Web-based | No |
| Video calling | Teams | Meet | No |
| Uptime SLA | 99.9% | 99.9% | Varies |
Which to choose?
Choose Microsoft 365 if:
- Your team uses Office apps
- You share Office documents with external parties
- You have a traditional office environment
Choose Google Workspace if:
- You prefer Gmail
- Your team collaborates a lot in documents
- You have a modern, web-first approach
Choose hosting email if:
- Budget is limited
- You send little email
- You don't need extra features
Migration considerations
When switching to new email hosting:
- Plan at least a weekend for migration
- Inform employees in advance
- Test thoroughly before disabling old mail server
- Maintain access to old mailbox for archive
Was this article helpful?
Compare hosting packages directly to find the best choice for your situation.
Related articles
What is web hosting? Explanation for beginners
Discover what web hosting is and how it works. Complete explanation about servers, domains and different hosting types for beginners.
What is VPS Hosting?
VPS hosting explained: what is a Virtual Private Server, who is it suitable for and what are the advantages compared to shared hosting?
What is an SSL Certificate?
Everything about SSL certificates: what is SSL, why do you need it and how do you recognize a secure website? Essential for every website.
What is Uptime in Web Hosting?
What does uptime mean in web hosting? Learn about uptime percentages, SLA guarantees and why 99.9% uptime is important for your website.
How much storage do I need for my website?
Discover how much disk space you really need for your website. Practical guide with examples per website type.