Ask HN: Which email service do you use for multiple custom domains?

[Abundnce10]

I've taken advantage of Zoho's email service for a custom domain. I now have new side project (different domain) that I'd like to add email to, with another project coming in a few months. So, I'm trying to figure out what my options are with respect to setup and cost.

I'd prefer not to pay $5/user per domain if possible. Should I run my own mail server? Any advice is much appreciated!

[jeffmould]

I currently use Google Apps for business. You can associate multiple domains to a single account and have a single user ($5 per month) that has multiple email aliases from each domain.

So for example, if you set up Google Apps for ExampleA.com, you can then add/verify additional domains under that account. Once you have done that, you can create a user on ExampleA.com (i.e. SomeUser@ExampleA.com) and have aliases for the other domains (i.e. AnotherUser@ExampleB.com). While all the mail comes into one inbox (I set up rules to dump each domain to a separate folder to make it easy), you can customize the TO field to allow you to send from any of the addresses. In the end you only pay $5 for all the email addresses though (or at least $5 per user you set up if you want to have more than one user on the account).

It may not be the perfect solution, but it is effective and inexpensive. I don't have worry about it, it works great with my Android phone. The only downside is that if you later decide to separate out the accounts it can be a little bit of pain and confusing.

[Abundnce10 → jeffmould]

This definitely sounds like the most cost effective solution.

What does the process look like when you're changing the FROM field when composing an email (e.g. sending from SomeUser@ExampleA.com and then another email from AnotherUser@ExampleB.com)? I'd hate to forget to change it and send out an email from the wrong email address. But it would be nice to manage all emails from one account.

[jeffmould → Abundnce10]

If you use the gmail interface you can show the FROM field to the proper email address. For other email clients, as long as it allows you to set the FROM field you are good to go.

Another option is to create a default email address for each domain under the account so if you have DomainA.com and DomainB.com in the account, create user@DomainA.com and user@DomainB.com. Then create the aliases under those two users. That way if you forget to change the FROM field, at least the email comes from the same domain. While it costs an extra $5 a month for the added user, it is a safeguard if you are concerned about forgetting.

The other benefit is that Google surprisingly has decent phone support for Apps for Business. I have had a couple issues over the years and a quick call got them resolved quickly. There is typically no wait time and you speak directly with a support person. Not really a deal breaker, but it is an added plus when evaluating products.

[pseudo_monkey → Abundnce10]

If you're using their web service it's simply a dropdown box to select alias to send from.

[DrScump → pseudo_monkey]

... after a simple confirmation process to connect the account (involves a confirmation link received by the target email host).